Cardinal Egan targets gay marriage

AP Wire (direct feed) | March 9, 2004 | MICHAEL GORMLEY

[NYer]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) _ Cardinal Edward Egan and the state's Roman Catholic bishops told lawmakers Tuesday that marriage must remain a bond between a man and a woman for the good of society. ``Marriage is not just a government issue,'' said Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, a lead spokesman in Tuesday's annual lobbying day at the Capitol by the Catholic Conference of New York.

DiMarzio said allowing gay marriage could lead _ if taken to the absurd _ to marriage between pets and three or more people. ``It could be anything once you say marriage is something other than what it is,'' DiMarzio said.

The lobbying effort by the cardinal and bishop comes as New York and other cities in the country are embroiled in a controversy over whether gay marriages are legal. Twenty-five same-sex couples were married in late February in the small upstate village of New Paltz.

The controversy elevated the prohibition of gay marriage to one of the cardinal's chief lobbying priorities, said Catholic Conference spokesman Dennis Poust. There is currently a bill before the Legislature that would make gay marriage legal and another that would make it illegal.

Democratic Assemblyman Steven Sanders, who has seen his gay-rights bills opposed by the Catholic Conference in the past, said he supports the cardinal's right to lobby on the issue. ``I think they are absolutely entitled to their views,'' Sanders said. ``But I don't think it comes as any large surprise that the Catholic Conference is opposed ... I don't believe this changes the dynamic of the issue.''

In an interview before Egan was to deliver a homily at the cavernous Convention Center near the Capitol, DiMarzio said, ``I believe in the separation of church and state. I don't believe in the separation of religion and society.''

``There's a big difference,'' DiMarzio said. ``I think that religious institutions have been upholding the family, supporting the family as part of our society, certainly.'' He said laws recognize religion's role in marriage. That requires religious leaders to defend the institution, the bishop said. ``If we are going to change (marriage) that would be a major public policy change, as well as the whole understanding of our society and religion,'' he said. ``That's why we're concerned. That's why we believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Other things are other things, but marriage is marriage.'' He said homosexuality is a disorder, but that gays should be seen like all people as having innate dignity.

The bishop said recent scandals in the Catholic church involving pedophile priests and their sometimes quiet transfers to other parishes, where they abused more children, does not diminish the church's moral authority when discussing gay marriages and other issues. ``Moral authority doesn't come from being perfect,'' the bishop said. ``I think the church has a history of understanding human nature, of having a philosophy that is based on truth, and has been able to develop positions. ``Now, the witness may be weakened, because people say we can't trust you because you made a mistake. Well that's a different case,'' he said. ``It doesn't mean your moral authority is weakened or taken away.''

Egan also planned to speak to Gov. George Pataki and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno about the need to increase funding for affordable housing for the poor and education issues involving funding for Catholic schools and other measures to improve resources for all schools.

There are about 7.3 million Catholics in New York state.

AP-ES-03-09-04 1232EST

[raloxk]

Catholic politicial who support gay marriage should be excommunicated

[NYer]

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[presidio9]

The Catholic Church does not recognize marriages outside the Church. Since no gay couoples will be getting married in a church any time soon, this is a non-issue. As far as Catholicism is concerned, there is no such thing as gay marriage, and there never will be.

[jjm2111]

Hmm....Egan and homosexuals....hmmmmm.....

[longtermmemmory]

No but their refusal to recognize homosexual marriages WILL be used against them. Imagin if tax exempt status is refused because of homosexual marrige.

This is an incidiou evil.

It reachs to all . The church does not live in a vacume. It teachings are not valid only within their four walls.

You don't need religion to oppose homosexual marrige but the added moral position is private strength to keep going.

[Protagoras]

Catholics politicial who support gay marriage should be excommunicated

Edited to show my opinion.

[Integrityrocks]

You couldn't be more wrong. You should research better before you make such statements about the Catholic Church. They recognize marriages outside the Church every day. Just try to be a Catholic trying to marry someone who was previously married in any other church, or even civilly. The Catholic church totally recognizes marriages of other faiths and beliefs - JUST NOT HOMOSEXUAL ones.

[NYer]

Chicago's Cardinal George came to Saints Faith, Hope and Charity in wealthy Winnetka this Sunday to say mass and field questions.

A fellow freeper, also in attendance, has posted the following thread, with his commentary. Would value your input as well.

A Fireside Chat with Cardinal George

[EdReform]

Ping

What We Can Do To Help Defeat the "Gay" Agenda

Homosexual Agenda: Categorical Index of Links (Version 1.1)

The Stamp of Normality

[WOSG]

Your comment completely misses the point.

The Catholic Church takes stands on moral issues that impact our society. Marriage is a moral issue.
The biggest private charity in America is Catholic Relief.
Do you think they only help impoverished who are Catholics?
No, the poverty of all affects them, so millions of non-Catholics are helped by that aid; so does the impoverishment of marriage in our society concern them.
More non-Catholics are taught in Catholic parochial schools than in any other denominational private schooling (I believe this is the case). Their moral concern goes beyond what happens inside the walls of a church, and they have as much right to lobby and educate others as the liberal gay activist, secularists, ACLU, or whomever.

From the article: "``There's a big difference,'' DiMarzio said. ``I think that religious institutions have been upholding the family, supporting the family as part of our society, certainly.'' He [Bishop DiMarzio] said laws recognize religion's role in marriage. That requires religious leaders to defend the institution, the bishop said. ``If we are going to change (marriage) that would be a major public policy change, as well as the whole understanding of our society and religion,'' he said. ``That's why we're concerned. That's why we believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman. "

[steve-b]

The bishop said recent scandals in the Catholic church involving pedophile priests and their sometimes quiet transfers to other parishes, where they abused more children, does not diminish the church's moral authority when discussing gay marriages and other issues.

Here, he's just whistling in the dark.

"Moral authority doesn't come from being perfect," the bishop said.

Oh, puh-leeze. There is a fundamental difference between being a basically good person who commits minor transgressions and being a sleaze who covers up one of the scummiest crimes imaginable.

[babygene]

"You couldn't be more wrong."

The poster you were replying to is wrong. However, the point of his post may lie the answer to the dilemma.

The state did not invent marriage, and the state has no right to define it. Perhaps the churches, including the Catholic church, should no longer recognize "state" marriages, and only recognize other church marriages where the "church" in question agreed to the definition of marriage.

The churches then would perform marriages without a marriage license, and if the parties involved wanted to get state "sanction" for civil reasons, they could do so. (optional)

This would split church marriages from civil marriages, making civil marriages nothing more than a civil contract.

[Integrityrocks]

It would be fine if the Church could go along and not recognize civil (government) marriages, but not fine if the government did not recognize Church marriages. Marriage carries with it certain responsibilities and privileges. I would be thrilled if we didn't have to get a marriage "license", but the IRS wouldn't like that much. We are stuck with the government wanting their piece of the "marriage" pie; that isn't going to change. But we can certainly put our foot down on the definition of marriage issue, ie., the morality of the union being between a man and a woman.

[presidio9]

Marriage is a religious sacrament in the Catholic religion. If you are not married by a priest, you are not married. Period. The Church almost never annuls Catholic marriages. It does so all the time for "marriages" outside the Church.

[Ann Archy]

You need more info on the Catholic Church.

[presidio9]

16 years of Catholic schooling, thankyou. Who else besides a priest do you think can consecrate a marriage?

[babygene]

"but the IRS wouldn't like that much."

Actually, the IRS doesn't care much since there's little benefit in the IRS code for being married. A couple of years ago, it actualy cost you more to be married

What it would effect would be Social Security benefits. If you wanted that, you would have to get a civil union as well as a marriage. (or change the laws regarding Social Security)

[little jeremiah]

Homosexual Agenda Ping.

Moral traditionalists of every belief - every religion, every philosophical bent including atheists [not there are that many of them...] need to put aside differences and fight the destruction of marriage and the social foundation which is based on marital fidelity.

If this doesn't happen, the outcome is very dark.

Let me know if anyone wants on/off this pinglist.