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.

[narses]

Divorce is common too, let's ask him to approve of that. And pornography, and abortion too. You really are a pip "deacon".

[narses]

St. Sebastian's website might find new helpers. Gag. Puke.

[NeoCaveman]

The bishop is expressing support for a fait accompli.

At one point so was slavery
And the Arian heresy was almost a fait accompli too.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Hey! Why not include pets??

[Dan from Michigan]

What a disgrace to my Faith and those with my first name.

[narses]

Most fortune 500 companies pay for birth control pills (abortificants) and sterilizations too. I wonder, is the alleged 'deacon' suggesting the Bishop support that as well?

[eastsider]

The bishop is expressing support for a fait accompli.

Baaa-aaa-aaa-aaa

[GOP_Thug_Mom]

Come on, Sink. NO ONE in The Church should be publicly supporting this political maneuvering. This is giving recognition to relationships that are unequivocally condemned by The Church. If the bishop feels the need to say something, he should say, "The Diocese will be happy to send a priest to visit the dying, especially those left alone in their last hours".

You need to go to Dignity's website and see what they've got planned for The Catholic Church before you say, "...they know they're not going to get it".

[Jorge]

Boiling the frog slowly.... one degree at a time.

That is a risk..when we are going as far as we can to be "nice" without violating our moral convictions.

There's a fine line between tolerance and moral compromise.

But I still can't see denying people many of these things simply because they are gay and we want to see them suffer for it.

I wouldn't want God to judge me so harshly for my sins.

[narses]

BOSTON (AP) - Concerned about children with gay parents, a Roman Catholic bishop said Thursday that he and other church leaders from Massachusetts would support extending some benefits to same-sex couples - though they are strongly opposed to gay marriage.

Worcester Bishop Daniel P. Reilly told a state legislative committee that the issue of benefits should be dealt with separately from same-sex unions.

Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill that would legalize gay marriage. Reilly spoke at a hearing on behalf of the leaders of the four Massachusetts dioceses, including Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston.

``If the goal is to look at individual benefits and determine who should be eligible beyond spouses, then we will join the discussion,'' Reilly told the Judiciary Committee.

The Rev. Christopher Coyne, spokesman for O'Malley, said the church is specifically concerned about addressing benefits that affect children in gay families, such as education and health. Extending these benefits would not in any way contradict the Catholic Church's commitment to matrimony, he said.

``I think what's actually being said is that the benefits that are necessary for the protection of children and families don't necessarily involve any kind of a redefinition of relationship or marital status,'' Coyne said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3302073,00.html

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Cannot we have a splended Auto Da Fe'? Just once in our time!

[narses]

See 50, this is about much more than hospital visitation. It is a wholesale embrace of deviant parenting and a denial of the truth of the Gospel.

[narses]

Weekly would be better. Can we start with Mahoney and Kennedy?

[Antoninus]

The self proclaimed Deacon says it's just the Compassion of Christ, not incrementalism. Is he right?

Sure. If by right you mean "in accord with the teachings of the world." He doesn't understand that Christ taught that oftentimes, standing up for the Truth meant taking a hard stand. Many liberal Catholics like Sinky and this particular bishop think following the lead of the Holy Spirit means "going-along to get along" with a sick culture. They are wrong and should be rebuked when they teach such falsehoods.

[sinkspur]

``I think what's actually being said is that the benefits that are necessary for the protection of children and families don't necessarily involve any kind of a redefinition of relationship or marital status,'' Coyne said.

It is good to see that Archbishop O'Malley supports the welfare of children. Narses, you're not in sync with the Church here.

[narses]

We agree on that. We are out of sink with sinky though. Again.

[sinkspur]

You're out of step with the good Archbishop as well, Tony.

[narses]

How is supporting sexual deviants economic benefits supporting children "deacon"? Your worldview is sick and sickening.

[sinkspur]

The Rev. Christopher Coyne, spokesman for O'Malley, said the church is specifically concerned about addressing benefits that affect children in gay families, such as education and health. Extending these benefits would not in any way contradict the Catholic Church's commitment to matrimony, he said.

This is the Archbishop of Boston, recently appointed by John Paul II, saying this, narcissist.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!