Catholic bishop supports benefits for gay couples

Ch 6 ^

[narses]

Boston-AP) -- The Catholic Church in Massachusetts may be open to extending some benefits to gay couples.

That was the message of Worcester Bishop Daniel Reilly at today's Statehouse hearing on legalizing gay marriage.

Reilly said the church is firmly against gay marriage and civil unions, but believes that the state should provide gay couples with certain economic and social benefits, including bereavement and hospital visitation rights.

Gay rights advocates welcomed the Catholic Church to the debate, but said that denial of marriage would be a violation of same-sex couples' civil rights.

The Judiciary Committee today hosted the first-ever legislative hearing on the legalization of gay marriage or civil union.

The panel also heard testimony on an abortion bill that would require women to wait 24 hours before consenting to the procedure.

[NeoCaveman]

After all, Mother Teresa said we should try to make Muslims good Muslims, Jews good Jews, and Hindus good Hindus.

Mother Teresa? You know what she says about priestly celibacy.

Well I guess you can pick and choose from the cafeteria.

[Antoninus]

Sex is the chief sacrament of the worldly man.

Amen. And all one has to do is flip on that chattering box that lives in most living rooms to figure it out.

[sinkspur]

I wouldn't put you anywhere near Bl. Mother Theresa. For you to do so is an act of extreme hubris on your part.

Would she care for a dying gay man without regard to his orientation, or be preaching at him and scolding him, as you would?

[Jorge]

Compassion is the key here, Qwinn. It costs nothing.

Well said and worth repeating.

[Antoninus]

You hate sex, do you? Perhaps you should read some of what JP II has written on the subject.

He didn't say that. You're putting words into his mouth. You are bearing false witness, 'deacon.'

[sinkspur]

After all, Mother Teresa said we should try to make Muslims good Muslims, Jews good Jews, and Hindus good Hindus.

Do you agree with this?

If not, then get in the cafeteria line.

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

From what I've heard about her "aids hospices" for the dying in New York, not one homosexual who died there, died unrepentant for his sin. That's true compassion--helping the sinner recognize his sin and confess it.

[sinkspur]

What's your opinion of sex, Tony?

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

What cafeteria line? Since when is it Catholic doctrine to make "Muslims good Muslims, Jews good Jews, and Hindus good Hindus"???

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

Sex is sacred. It is the source of life, and life is sacred.

--GOP_Thug_Mom

[NeoCaveman]

Do you agree with this?

I'm unsure.
First I'd want to be sure she said it.
Then I'd want to know what the Majesterium thinks. I'm not finding anything about Hindus in the Cathecism.
The saying seems to fly in the face of 2,000 years of evangalism.

Seems like an open question to me.

[eastsider]

Having volunteered at her AIDS hospice on Washington Street in years past, I can assure you that she was as interested in the spiritual healing of her patients as she was in their physical comfort. That meant, when visitors came -- no porn, no drugs, etc. She ran one tight ship, and the Missionaries of Charity continue her fine work.

[Spunky]

From Article:"....but believes that the state should provide gay couples with certain economic and social benefits, including bereavement and hospital visitation rights."

I would like to know under what law is a homosexual prevented right now from going in to see his homosexual partner?

With the new Health Initiative Privacy Act (HIPA)When you go to the hospital, doctor, dentist, eye doctor etc; you fill out a form naming all those you want to see you or have information given out to.

They just want some special law on the books saying Homosexuals can have this or that or do this or that.

[sinkspur]

Seems like an open question to me.

Me too. You're a wise man.

[NeoCaveman]

Thanks. I think.

[Antoninus]

Would she care for a dying gay man without regard to his orientation, or be preaching at him and scolding him, as you would?

Once again, you rashly assume too much while knowing too little. However, on this subject a little Church history is instructive.

In the early 1600s, when the Huron Indians of Ontario captured an enemy, they commonly tortured and burned them to death over the course of many hours. During this time of incredible suffering, courageous Jesuit priests would approach the miserable captive and attempt to get them to renounce their previous sins and accept the teachings and baptism of Jesus Christ. On dozens of occasions, they were successful and their ministrations to these afflicted ones gave them courage to endure their ordeal with the knowledge that they would soon be in heaven with God. Indeed, they were so successful that the Hurons often attempted to forbid the Jesuits from taking up this ministry because they wanted their captives to have no hope either in this life or the next.

Now I ask you, as a Catholic 'deacon', what would be better for a dying man who had lived his life as a homosexual--for his "partner" to be at his bedside when he draws his last breath, confirming him in the "gravely disordered" hedonistic lifestyle they had lived, or someone else offering them the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ?

[Antoninus]

What's your opinion of sex, Tony?

See the CCC. You do have a copy, right, 'Deacon'?

[philetus]

Worcester(Fake) Bishop Daniel Reilly

[sinkspur]

What do you think Mother Teresa would do? I think she would allow the partner and offer the saving grace of Christ?

It doesn't have to be one or the other, Tony.

[Antoninus]

From what I've heard about her "aids hospices" for the dying in New York, not one homosexual who died there, died unrepentant for his sin. That's true compassion--helping the sinner recognize his sin and confess it.

Now THAT is the compassion of Almighty God! sinkspur's weak-kneed compassion is perfect for a Unitarian church but ridiculous for the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.