Posted on 01/12/2013 10:30:38 AM PST by marshmallow
More than 1,000 priests have signed a letter voicing alarm that same-sex marriage could threaten religious freedom in a way last seen during “centuries of persecution” of Roman Catholics in England.
In one of the biggest joint letters of its type ever written, they raise fears that their freedom to practise and speak about their faith will be “severely” limited and dismiss Government reassurances as "meaningless".
They even liken David Cameron’s moves to redefine marriage to those of Henry VIII, whose efforts to secure a divorce from Katherine of Aragon triggered centuries of bloody upheaval between church and state.
They claim that, taken in combination with equalities laws and other legal restraints, the Coalition's plans will prevent Catholics and other Christians who work in schools, charities and other public bodies speaking freely about their beliefs on the meaning of marriage.
Even the freedom to speak from the pulpit could be under threat, they claim.
And they fear that Christians who believe in the traditional meaning of marriage would effectively be excluded from some jobs – just as Catholics were barred from many professions from the Reformation until the 19th Century.
The comments are contained in a letter to The Daily Telegraph, signed by 1,054 priests as well as 13 bishops, abbots and other senior Catholic figures.
They account for almost a quarter of all Catholic priests in England and Wales.
It comes as opponents of gay marriage launch a lobbying campaign targeting MPs in 65 of the most marginal seats.
The Coalition is due to publish its Equal Marriage Bill, allowing couples of the same sex to wed at the end of this month.
Legal opinions commissioned by opponents have argued that teachers could face disciplinary measures under equality laws if they refuse to promote same-sex marriage once the change...
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Some “couples” will go to a Catholic church and ask to be “married”. They will be rejected. They will sue. It will be well planned. It will drain the resources of the church. That is the intention.
Whoa...the Church is unexpectedly vocal and strong and showing more leadership than I would have predicted. Prayers really are answered.
This is brave. With all those names in one place, activists could target them all.
More than likely true - a brilliant plan to bankrupt catholicism. So, what are the catholics going to do about it? Are they going to do what everyone else has done since the government began denigrating religion about 25-30 years ago, nothing?
Wise decision.
PLacemark
Now, since the family and human society at large spring from marriage, these men will on no account allow matrimony to be the subject of the jurisdiction of the Church. Nay, they endeavor to deprive it of all holiness, and so bring it within the contracted sphere of those rights which, having been instituted by man, are ruled and administered by the civil jurisprudence of the community. Wherefore it necessarily follows that they attribute all power over marriage to civil rulers, and allow none whatever to the Church; and, when the Church exercises any such power, they think that she acts either by favor of the civil authority or to its injury. Now is the time, they say, for the heads of the State to vindicate their rights unflinchingly, and to do their best to settle all that relates to marriage according as to them seems good.
—Pope Leo XIII, 1880
It was always a danger in the modern era.
Freegards
We may survive the persecution a little longer in the United States than those in Europe and Canada, but maybe not much. They don’t care about our conscience on the HHS mandate. I don’t think gay marriage is as much about marriage as it is about making everyone, including people of faith, stop criticizing their behavior. They think that will ease their consciences, but it won’t.
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