Man Disturbs Mass to Defend Gay Marriage

AP via yahoo News ^ | 3/28/04

[marshmallow]

CANTON, Mass. - A gay man interrupted a church Mass on Sunday when he told congregants he objected to a video opposing same-sex marriage that was shown moments earlier.

 Chuck Colbert created a brief disturbance when he stood up after the eight-minute video, identified himself as a Catholic and said he objected to the video, said the Rev. Michael Doyle of St. John the Evangelist church.

"We called police to maintain order," Doyle said. "We had no interest in pressing charges against anyone." Canton police said they went to the church but made no arrests.

The video was shown during the 9 a.m. Mass and Doyle decided to not show it during the 11:30 a.m. service.

The video was shown a day before the Massachusetts Legislature renews debate on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.

In the video, a female voice, played over various images, urges listeners to contact lawmakers to urge them to vote against gay marriage and civil unions. It says civil unions "discriminate against the poor and needy," and will hurt the economy by paying out Social Security (news - web sites) survivor benefits.

"I just found it to be such a scurrilous, scandalous piece of misinformation," Colbert said. "For me to sit there and take it is out of the question."

Colbert is a freelance writer who contributes stories to the National Catholic Reporter, an independent weekly newspaper that has endorsed same-sex marriage.

"My life is very similar to the people in there," Colbert told New England Cable News outside the church. "I want to be married, I have a wonderful partner, we're building a life together, it in no way threatens anyone else."

Archdiocese spokesman the Rev. Christopher Coyne said it was appropriate to show the video and said only Colbert objected.

"He's not even a member of that parish," he said. "He doesn't even worship in Canton. He was obviously alerted and decided to disrupt that Mass."

Colbert acknowledged he was alerted about the video, but that he's free to attend any Mass.

"I wanted to see how it was presented," he said. "I've never seen anything like that."

Doyle said the video was supplied by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference.

[Coleus]

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
LETTER TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
ON THE PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS 

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS 

Guidelines for Education within the Family
THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILY
THE TRUTH AND MEANING OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

Catechism on Homosexuality

[Coleus]

I've never seen a video at mass,>>>

Archbishop Myers from The Archdiocese of Newark, NJ, just had all his parishes show a video (some churches showed it right on the Sanctuary) at all their masses for the Bishop's annual appeal!!

[marshmallow]

See my post #28.

I'm in the Diocese of Savannah and we do the same as New Jersey.

[Aquinasfan]

I've never seen a video at mass, and I question its propriety, no matter how edifying the content.

I've been at Mass when a tape of the bishop's comments have been played as part of the homily.

In some ways, it's better than having the priest read it. In our parish, for example, our priest rarely reads bishop's statements. He puts it in the bulletin as an insert, where few people read it.

[marshmallow]

I'd be grateful for any light you could shed.

I have no information, pro or con, on this matter.

Would your objection be on the basis of the technology, or the fact that it is substituting for a homily, which Canon Law says must be given except in serious circumstances?

[B Knotts]

This guy wrote a lot of stuff for NaCR regarding the abuse crisis, particularly about the situation in Boston.

Some of his articles

[B Knotts]

If NCR is so heresy prone and teaches error, why do so many speak to their reporters?

I have no idea, but I hope that will change. Although, maybe they figure NaCR needs to hear the Truth for a change.

[Petronski]

National Catholic Reporter

Well, it is 'national,' I guess one out of three ain't bad.

[George from New England]

"Umm...how come the priest was showing a video during Mass?"

Videos are not appropriate at mass - having said that...

There are many parishes where the priests don't have the courage or conviction to speak at length about the gay attempt at marriage issue. A well put together piece, on video, can do alot more good in front of the parishioners than a priest or deacon that is wishy washy. One would find less than five percent coming to a separate gathering to view this video - unfortunately it must be in the mass to reach the masses.

I pray that the video was done right.

Does anybody have a link to the video online or an online description about it?

[kidd]

I think Catholics are going to see a lot more of these disruptions by homosexual activists. The Catholic church will become a target because it will stand firm while this gay "marriage" issue gains momentum.

My question to Catholic Freepers is: If I'm at Mass and its disrupted, what should I do? Let the activist rant, wait for the police or physically remove him? Or does it depend on whether the activist is merely vocal or if he's physically disruptive (or even destructive)?

On one hand, Jesus went physical on the moneychangers in the temple, but OTOH physical restraint is the sort of thing that activists are seeking. If there is any Church policy on this sort of thing, it would be appreciated.

[Aquinasfan]

The question is why is so much rubbish tolerated?

There's no copyright on the word "Catholic," and you can't excommunicate a newspaper. I suppose they could receive some kind of reprimand, like "Catholics for a Free Choice," but it's a fuzzy area, and they know how to make the most of it. Plus, there seems to be a contingent of bishops of indeterminate size that's sympathetic to them.

[Aquinasfan]

If I'm at Mass and its disrupted, what should I do?

I think shouting him down is the thing to do. Most people would be too shocked or frightened to say anything, and might get the idea that no one objects.

[Romulus]

The latter point is what causes me concern, though I confess the I also question the seemliness of recordings during mass.

I'm kind of busy the next few days, but when I get a break I'll browse canon law and the GIRM to see if I notice anything. Truth is though, that I'm way over my head in these matters, with no formal instruction -- so whatever I may find you'll have to treat it strictly conditionally.

[kidd]

How's this:

"I think that I speak for the rest of the parish when I ask you to keep your personal opinion to yourself so that the rest of us can hear the Mass"

and if he continues (which he will)

"If there is any one else who wants this guy to be quiet during Mass, please stand up and say 'Stop it'"

[johnb2004]

It is not just some "liberal" bishops that lend credibility to NCR.

[Walkingfeather]

did this interuption impinged on their freedom to practice their religion? If so wouldnt he be intitled to be prosecuted for civil rights violations?

[biblewonk]

because it will stand firm while this gay "marriage" issue gains momentum.

Will it?

[iconoclast]

The video was shown during the 9 a.m. Mass and Doyle decided to not show it during the 11:30 a.m. service.

Yep that was real courageous. I have to think its a pretty good bet that Fr. Doyle will never be a martyr.

[iconoclast]

If I'm at Mass and its disrupted, what should I do?

In this particular case I think I know what my Irish forebearers would have done. They'd have thrown him out on his pitifully abused arse.

[kidd]

Well its my favorite "Arnold loves gay adoption and I love Arnold" Catholic-bashing bigot! And he came here to a gay marriage thread to give his two syllable opinion! Will biblewonk take the side of the gay activists or the Catholic church? Or, more importantly, will anyone care what this hypocrite's opinion is?

I would guess "no one cares". Goodbye.