(The statement is no longer at the link above. See screen capture below. Click on the image for the larger view.)
The Chicago Gay Pride Parade has been organized and attended for many years without interfering with the worship of God in a Catholic church. When the 2012 Parade organizers announced a time and route change this year, it was apparent that the Parade would interfere with divine worship in a Catholic parish on the new route. When the pastor's request for reconsideration of the plans was ignored, the organizers invited an obvious comparison to other groups who have historically attempted to stifle the religious freedom of the Catholic Church. One such organization is the Ku Klux Klan which, well into the 1940's, paraded through American cities not only to interfere with Catholic worship but also to demonstrate that Catholics stand outside of the American consensus. It is not a precedent anyone should want to emulate.I read the first statement in bold type over three times, because I could not believe what I was reading. I even did a screen shot to show that the statement was on the website in the event the words are taken down. That Cardinal George put out such a statement, even after the Gay Pride paraders agreed to postpone the start time of the parade, is shocking to me.
It is terribly wrong and sinful that gays and lesbians have been harassed and subjected to psychological and even physical harm. These tragedies can be addressed, however, without disturbing the organized and orderly public worship of God in a country that claims to be free. I am grateful that all parties concerned resolved this problem by moving the Parade's start time so as not to conflict with the celebration of Mass that Sunday.(My emphasis in both paragraphs)
"It was all the fault of the gays. They brought it on themselves." How many times have we heard similar excuses for prejudicial words and actions against other groups? I sit here shaking my head. Cardinal George may not be embarrassed by his words, but I am embarrassed for him.
What an asshat!!!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable! Do the folks who use that sort of twisted rhetoric think we are too dumb to see their bigotry for what it is?
ReplyDeleteDo the folks who use that sort of twisted rhetoric think we are too dumb to see their bigotry for what it is?
ReplyDeleteYes.
Why do you think they objected so to moveable type and the translation of Scripture? They like 'em strong, submissive and dumb.
When the 2012 Parade organizers announced a time and route change this year, it was apparent that the Parade would interfere with divine worship in a Catholic parish on the new route.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, it's all about youuuuuuuuu....
Drama Queen. And @sshat.
@sshat doesn't even begin to describe....
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely one of the saddest, unChristlike statements of the season. Why anyone continues to support individuals like Cardinal George is beyond my comprehension. I guess it works in fear based religion.
ReplyDeleteThis is all part of the all too common RC-leadership's model of "head in a hole in the ground" attitude towards reality. Gays don't exist, and if they do they shouldn't. And doesn't the Archbishop realize that the teachings of the RC church on many important matters do in fact "stand outside of the American consensus." One need not be gay or a member of the KKK to recognize a reality that the Cardinal seems not to want to acknowledge. Instead he wishes to don the red cloak of martyrdom, whinging about the terrible distractions of the real world going on outside the walls of the sanctuary.
ReplyDeleteAn elevated train runs directly past my parish church. On Sundays the train runs about every 10-15 minutes one way or the other, and the noise of the train is very distracting. Back in the 1930s the parish tried to bring its then hefty weight to urge the city to bury the train for at least a few blocks. This plea fell on deaf ears, and my congregation is now regularly "disturbed" by this noise every time we worship. We deal with it. It is a reality of life in this world. Would the MTA were able to be as courteous as the G/L group that did, after all, accommodate the parish and change the time of their parade.
If I sound peeved, I am. Esp. given the hypocrisy of a man claiming persecution who works -- through his organization -- to restrict the actual rights of the people he blames for "oppressing" him!
When those who persecute claim persecution for themselves, my head feels ready to explode. I truly thought the statement might disappear from the website overnight, but the cardinal and his advisers apparently have no shame. I cringe for them. How crazy is that? Why do I cringe?
ReplyDeleteFor me the cringe factor is the same as when I watch a sports figure or a performer make a horrible mistake. It is whatever the opposite of Schadenfreude is. Schadenschmerz? I hate to see anyone make a fool of him/herself, or fumble badly.
ReplyDeletewv, appropriately enough, is "sting"
As I noted, and it was not appreciated, on the YouTube clip at MP's:
ReplyDeleteNow, was it the "gay liberation" folks who had a former Hitler Youth as their elected leader?
The person posting the YouTube clip seems to be a right-wing Catholic (one of his clips is entitled "Rick Santorum is awesome") and decided that bit of free speech was outside the pale.
Soon after I posted to this thread, I checked my email: I GOT EMAILED this verkakte rationalization from the Archdiocese!* Can you believe it??? :-0
ReplyDelete* Because I had signed a petition saying George ought to resign.
Needless to say, I WILL write back, to say how this response added insult to injury.
Hey, Your Eminence? When you're in a hole, STOP DIGGING.
The Bay Area Reporter reports that three gay speakers have been "disinvited" as speakers at the Advent Vespers services of the RC church of the Most Holy Redeemer, SF, on the instructions of Archbishop Niederauer. The banned speakers are Bishop Otis Charles, Jane Spahr and Roland Stringfellow.
ReplyDeleteMark, then the person who posted the video thinks what the cardinal said is just fine?
ReplyDeleteHey, Your Eminence? When you're in a hole, STOP DIGGING.
JCF, my thought, too.
I tried to comment on this yesterday but couldn't get the words out, and I still can't.
ReplyDeleteCathy, I added a note saying that the statement was no longer at the link above, and I bumped up the screen capture of the cardinal's words. Yes, he said that.
ReplyDeleteI believe so - I didn't delve too deeply, but, conservative, like the rest of us, are frequently prey to "my _____ right or wrong" thinking.
ReplyDeleteI am afraid this kind of crap from RC Bishops is a glimpse into the tactics they will be using in the future. This is merely a taste of what is in their playbook.
ReplyDeleteThe ability of the American bishops to make pronouncements on moral issues has been destroyed by the obvious moral bankruptcy of their Council as evidenced by the child abuse scandals. So, the new tactic will be to try and hide their hate behind the constitution.
The American public (as well as most Roman Catholics in the pews) are fully aware of their hypocricy, and can see the bigotry, fear, and hate that fuels statements like the one from Cardinal George.
David and John, this is nothing new. Certain leaders in the church today claim persecution at the drop of a hat. They should visit and talk to Christians in certain countries in the Middle East if they want to know what real persecution of Christians is like. Shame on them.
ReplyDelete