Posted on 03/28/2004 6:10:43 PM PST by chance33_98
Catholic Nun Sr. Rosemary Brennan Joins Protestant, Jewish Leaders Today in Song, Prayers Today for Marriage Rights for Gay, Lesbian Families
3/28/2004 9:41:00 AM
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To: City and Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor
Contact: Rabbi Devon Lerner, 781-643-7759, or Brad Reichard, 617-536-1122 Web: http://www.rcfm.org
News Advisory: On the eve before the Massachusetts legislature resumes its Constitutional Convention, the Right Rev. Thomas Shaw, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts; Rabbi Ronne Friedman, senior rabbi of Temple Israel, the largest Temple in New England; United Church of Christ Rev. Carl Schultz, interim minister of Old South Church -- and others -- join clergy from across the commonwealth in an interfaith service titled "Praying for Freedom, Confronting Oppression, Celebrating Justice" at Old South Church in Boston's Copley Square.
Why:
As the Constitutional Convention resumes, there has been a crescendo of support for equal marriage rights from people of faith across the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts State constitution protects individuals' civil rights and freedom of religion, and the hundreds of clergy who have been active in the freedom to marry movement help remind legislators that there is no rational basis upon which to deny gay and lesbians their civil rights. This service serves as a testament to these religious leaders' commitment to equality, as well as their desire to ensure that gay and lesbian couples who have valid religious marriages or go to a justice of the peace will also be able to obtain a state marriage license.
Who:
The program is sponsored by the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry (RCFM), which is comprised of clergy and faith leaders from 18 different faith traditions, including the United Church of Christ, Episcopal, Unitarian Universalist Association and Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism. The RCFM supports civil marriage rights for same gender couples and opposes any attempt to amend the Massachusetts constitution to deny gay and lesbian couples the right to civil marriage. The RCFM is a proud founding member of MassEquality.org
Where / When: Today (March 28) from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. (Old South Church, 645 Boylston Street, Boston)
VISUAL / AUDIO: (audio malt box / press patch available for crew use)
4 p.m. -- Processional of more than 40 clergy from across the Commonwealth in full vestments entering the church singing "We Are Marching in the Light of God"
4:05 p.m. -- Welcome: Rev. Carl F. Schultz Jr., Rev. Jennifer Mills-Knutsen (Old South Church)
4:08 p.m. -- Choir of more than 40 voices singing "Marry Us" (Boston Gay Men's Chorus) to Celebrate Justice
4:15 p.m. -- Rabbi Ronne Friedman speaking on Freedom of Religion (Temple Israel)
4:25 p.m. -- The Right Rev. Thomas Shaw speaking on Freedom of Spirit (Eioscopal Diocese of Massachusetts)
4:40 p.m. -- State Rep. Byron Rushing speaking on Confronting Oppression
For more information, contact Rabbi Devon Lerner at 781-643-7759 or Brad Reichard at 617-536-1122.
What a sad image for a representative of Catholicism to put herself in that position. I suspect more will follow her and laud her 'brave leadership'. Ugh.
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