Posted on 01/27/2013 12:55:55 PM PST by Steelfish
Gay Marriage: Catholic Church Tells Priests 'Time To Act Is Now' The Roman Catholic Church has launched a final push against the Government’s plans for gay marriage with just 10 days before MPs vote on the issue.
By John Bingham 27 Jan 2013 The Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, spoke of a desire to “mobilise” opposition in the Church. He urged them to capitalize on the decision by all three main party leaders to allow free votes on the matter and increase pressure on their local MPs to halt such a “fundamental change in the law”.
A million postcards, designed for Catholics to complete and send to their MP asking them to vote against the Government’s plan, were distributed at masses over the weekend. The issue to due to come up for a vote in the Commons as early as February 5. It would open the way for the first same-sex weddings to take place as early as the beginning of next year.
In a letter on behalf of bishops, Archbishop Smith, the second most senior active Catholic cleric in England and Wales, told priests: “The time to act is now.”
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
The time to have acted was in the beginning when all of this crap raised its ugly head.
But because of a lack of fortitude and leadership it is now an uphill battle that probably can't be won.
You are probably right, but fight we must.
I am awaiting persecution and martyrdom because of the late hour. But I will be speaking boldly. Saints of whom we presently dont know who they are, will turn this around.
Celibacy does not cause homosexuality.
Celibiacy does not cause pedophilia.
Study: Homosexuality, celibacy didn't cause abuse (Catholic Church)
Celibacy is Cry to The Secularized World that God is Present, States Cardinal
Cardinal Kasper: I Was Never Against Priestly Celibacy [Catholic Caucus]
Cardinal Lehman Attacks Cardinal Brandmüller's Letter in Defense of Celibacy
Cardinal Piacenza's Address to Priestly Celibacy Congress
As a Young Priest Benedict XVI ‘Called For The Church to Investigate Priestly Celibacy’
A Catholic Bishop Looks Back Gratefully on 87 Years of Celibacy
Pope's Q-and-A at End of Priestly Year (Pt 3) "Celibacy...Is a Great Sign of Faith" Catholic Caucus]
Pope rethinks, clarifies and reinforces celibacy, asserts Vatican analyst
The Pope "Rethinks" Clerical Celibacy. In Order to Reinforce It
Priestly Meeting Shows "Beauty" of Celibacy
Celibacy is Nonsense...
Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven. The Argument over Celibacy
Does Celibacy Contribute to Clerical Sex Abuse?
A “Celibacy Problem”? Catholic-Bashing, NAMBLA and the Dalai Lama
Vatican: DON'T blame it on celibacy
Is Priestly Celibacy Psychologically Dangerous? (Catholic Caucus)
No Greater Love: Speakers Say Celibacy Mirrors Jesus' Love For All
5 Arguments for Priestly Celibacy
5 Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
The Charism of Celibacy and Concupiscence
Radio Replies First Volume - Celibacy
Provision for Anglicans published, celibacy question answered
Vatican Holds Line on Celibacy for Anglican Rebels [Apostolic Constitution published today]
Celibacy and the Priesthood
Cardinal Levada: no “celibacy issue” in reception of Anglicans into Catholic Church
Celibacy Issue Holds Up Apostolic Constitution
The Jewel of Celibacy
TENDENCY FOR PRIESTS IS TOWARD CELIBACY, SAYS EGYPTIAN BISHOP
Bad Examples Do Not Invalidate The Value of Priestly Celibacy, Says Bishop
Married [converts] priests inspire flock Why Can't (Roman) Catholic Priests Get Married?
Priestly Celibacy: Yes, it is Apostolic [Ecumenical]
Roman Catholic Priests the Case For:
Married man considers turn as Catholic priest
Angelo Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) and Priestly Celibacy
Ukrainian cardinal says married men not answer to vocations crisis
The Nature of Priestly Ordination: Theological Background and Some Present Concerns
Married man considers turn as Catholic priest
Why Celibacy? [Catholic Caucus]
Messori: Married priests no remedy for “vocations crisis”
Married Priests Back Celibacy (Part 1 of 2)
Should Catholic priests have the right to marry?
On Priests, Marriage and the Sacraments
Vatican Said (Again!) Not Revising Celibacy Rule
Pope, Curia Aides Reaffirm Value of Priestly Celibacy (detailed Vatican response)
Vatican Reaffirms Celibacy for Priests
The Gift: A Married Priest Looks at Celiba[cy]
Jesuit defends priestly celibacy (a lengthy but worthy read)
Ex-Lutheran bishop found Catholic rock: Joseph Jacobson to be ordained Catholic priest by Christmas
New, stricter Priestly Formation Program issued for U.S. Catholic seminaries
Long Journey to Rome (Former Southern Baptist Pastor Now a Traveling Crusader for Catholic Church)
That sneaky desperate Catholic Church is at it again
Following the Signs (to a priestly vocation)
Another One Takes the Plunge [swims the Tiber]
Getting It Right:The Foundation of Friendship (What can a celibate priest really teach us about love
Married, ex-Episcopalian ordained a Catholic priest in California
The biblical foundation of priestly celibacy
Why Not Married Priests? The Case for Clerical Celibacy
(Catholic) Church makes a clear distinction between chastity and celibacy, says Priest
5 Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Married Priests Aren’t the Answer (a seminarian states his view)
Synod Affirms Priestly Celibacy
Vatican synod rules out married priests (for Latin Church)
Priest shortage stems from crisis of faith, ignorance of the infinite, not celibacy, say Bishops [at Synod]
Cardinal Pell: Ending Celibacy Rule Would Be a Blunder
Patriarch of Venice deemphasizes ordination of married men to the priesthood
Ordination of married men is raised at Vatican synod
Defending Chastity in the Priesthood
ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SCRANTON TO RECEIVE FIRST ECUSA PRIEST
The Catholic Church - East-West Difference Over Priestly Celibacy
Spain (R) Catholic Church ordains first married priest
Spain gets first married priest
From Anglican to married Catholic priest
Vatican Prepares Draft Directives Against Admitting Gays as Priests
More (Priestly) Celibacy, Not Less
An Unneeded Headache (Vatican document on [NOT] admitting homosexual to the priesthood)
Fathers, Husbands and Rebels: Married Priests
Cardinal says Priests will marry
Yes, Gay Men Should Be Ordained
A small, sturdy band of 'John Paul priests'(JPII legacy of conservative priests)
40% of Scots priests want end to celibacy
Is it time to ordain married men to the Catholic priesthood?
Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
New Vatican Document to Eliminate 1961 Papal Ban on Ordaining Homosexuals
Saying Yes to God: a Look into Vocations
Married Priests? The English Experience
Alternative Priests´ Council Hits Back on Mandatory Celibacy
Catholic priests urge Church to reconsider celibacy rules
Catholic priests demand the right to marry
New Vatican Document on Homosexuality and the Priesthood Coming Before Fall 2005
Why A Married Priesthood Won't Remedy the Priest Shortage
5 Arguments Against (Catholic) Priestly Celibacy and How to Refute Them
Fr. Shannon Collins Discusses Celibacy
For Priests, Celibacy Is Not the Problem
John Paul II Hails "Inestimable Value" of Priestly Celibacy
The (Catholic) Church Has Always Prospered When Celibacy Is Honored
Call To Action: Dump Celibacy
Celibacy Defended by EWTN's Fr. Levis
Celibacy Will Save the Priesthood
Celibacy is gift cherished by church
Archbishop Dolan:"We Need to Be Renewing Our Pledge to Celibacy, Not Questioning It"
The gift of Priestly celibacy as a sign of the charity of Christ, by Mother Teresa of Calcutta
A response to Fr. Joseph Wilson's defense of mandatory celibacy
Bishop Attacks Move to End Celibacy
Vatican Says Celibacy Rule Nonnegotiable
God’s call to celibacy for the sake of His Kingdom - by Card. George
Tracing the Glorious Origins of Celibacy
Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy Reflects Who - and Whose - We Are[Father George W.Rutler]
How to Refute Arguments Against Priestly Celibacy
Priestly Celibacy And Its Roots In Christ
The celibate superhero
Don't end celibacy for priests
Giving Thanks for the Good Shepherds ( A Defense of Priestly Celibacy)
Pope: Priests Must Stay Celibate
Celibacy s history of power and money
Celibacy of the priesthood is a church strength, not a liability
Catholic Scandals: A Crisis for Celibacy?
Has the Time Come to Consider Making Celibacy Truly Optional In the Western Church?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.