Posted on 12/13/2017 5:02:33 PM PST by marshmallow
The Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin, who has been under fire from various homosexual activist groups and media outlets, stresses that anyone with “same-sex attraction is a child of God, that God died for him or her, that such a person has a heavy cross to carry and our job is to help them carry it, not to kick them when they’re down.”
An online petition at Change.org is asking Pope Francis to remove Bishop Robert C. Morlino, 70, from his position as Bishop of Madison, alleging that in his ministry since he came to Wisconsin in 2003 “has put bigotry and hatred front and center.” DignityUSA’s executive director, Marianne Duddy-Burke, is unhappy with the bishop as well, stating that the diocesan practices relating to funerals for those who were involved in homosexual civil unions are “outrageous and shameful,” “heartless,” “cruel” and “unchristian in the extreme.”
The controversy relates to a private statement to priests by Madison’s vicar general, Fr. James Bartylla, leaked to the Pray Tell blog in October. In it, Fr. Bartylla advises diocesan priests to exercise prudence when approached by the family of a deceased person who had been involved in a same-sex union requesting a Catholic funeral lest such a service cause “scandal and confusion.”
Fr. Bartylla asks, “Did the deceased express repentance before death?” and “Would a short Scripture service graveside or in a funeral home suffice?” He also notes that the surviving “partner” should not be given a public or prominent role in the funeral, nor should the partner’s name be included in a funeral homily or related printed materials.
Bishop Morlino spoke recently to CWR about the controversy.
CWR: Have your priests contacted the Diocese of Madison for direction on funerals for those involved in same-sex unions?
Bishop Morlino: Yes, regularly.
CWR: Do you......
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicworldreport.com ...
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Bishops don’t worry about what’s true, they worry about what is expedient.
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Truth and morality in radical liberal Madison.
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