Bishop objects to group in parade (St. Patricks's Day),Serratelli rallies priests against NOW

Star-Ledger ^ | 2/23/06 | MAURA McDERMOTT

[Salvation]

Bump for Action!

[Coleus]

I went to a catholic school where one of my teachers wore orange. No big deal the war is in Ireland.

[Coleus]

Morris Township/ Morristown--May 31, 2004--The Morris Township and Morristown Memorial Day parade and service. The parade comes down South Street towards the Morristown Green.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Why don't gays, lesbians, and every other misfit create their own day, get together and have a goodie good good march and get it over with? Why do they love to put their noses where they aren't invited? Just bizarre!

[ELS]

Kenneth Lasch, a retired priest

What, the reporter couldn't find a working priest in any of the parishes to interview? After that article on The Passion of the Christ did the reporter put Fr. Lasch in his rolodex? Sheesh.

[Clemenza]

I do. Its not like its a family oriented parade (LOTS of drunks and brawlers always show up). Those who march in the Dublin or Boston parades usually don't do anything THAT disgusting. As long as they break no laws, they should be allowed to march under their own banner.

The Thanksgiving Day parade, which is geard toward families, should be free of any sexuality. The St. Pat's parade, on the other hand, is a different story.

NOW should NOT be invited to ANY parade.

[Clemenza]

St. Pat's, like Mardi Gras/Carnaval, lost most of its religious significance a long time ago. Few know this but the original St. Pat's parade in NY was started by Irish protestants in the early 1830s.

Which brings me to an old joke we told when we were kids.

Q: How do you know who the gays are in the St. Patricks Day parade?

A: They're the ones wearing collars and cassocks!

[Alberta's Child]

That's a great idea. LOL.

I think they've already done that in some places. It's called Halloween in New York City.

[Cagey]

Actually, the first official Saint Patrick's day parade in New York was held in 1766 by Irishmen in a military unit recruited to serve in the American colonies.

[Theoden]

You are absolutely correct with that. Washington had so many Irish fighting in the Continental Army, that he felt obligated to grant them St. Patrick's day as an official holiday.

[Theoden]

Bishop Serratelli is my bishop. I will meet him in a couple of months from now at his meeting with the NJ legislature. From what I know, he is a really good man. I am glad to hear that he is not allowing NOW members to march in the St. Patrick's day parade. I might actually attend the parade in Morristown this year, I haven't been to one in a long time.

[Cagey]

It had to be King George's Army in 1766 because the Washington didn't take charge of the Continental Army until 1775.

[trisham]

In a letter dated Feb. 13, Bishop Arthur Serratelli wrote that the National Organization for Women's support for "abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women ... stands against the teachings of the Church and the Catholic values that St. Patrick in his life as a missionary and bishop worked tirelessly to promote."

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Good for him! I hope he inspires others in the clergy to stand up as well.

[Theoden]

I just noticed that. It has to be a typo, probably 1776, because the French and Indian war would have been over for a few years, and it is not likely that the Irish would be willingly fighting for the crown, especially in the colonies. My father is a history teacher, I'll have to ask him about this later.