Worcester bishop shocks gays with `evil' statement

Boston Herald.com ^ | 5/25/04 | Thomas Caywood

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

The new leader of the Catholic Diocese of Worcester stunned gay rights supporters by writing in a church newsletter that Catholics, especially public officials, pushing to legalize same-sex marriage are ``in cooperation with evil.''      

``Oh, my God. Wow,'' gasped Marianne Duddy-Burke of Boston Dignity, a group of gay Catholics. ``It's an appalling statement on so many levels. It disregards a civil servant's duty to the entire community.''      

Responding to Worcester City Clerk David Rushford's public statements that allowing gays and lesbians to marry is in line with church teachings on inclusivity, Worcester Bishop Robert McManus penned a ``pastoral note of clarification'' published Friday.      

After recognizing gays and lesbians as ``brothers and sisters in the human family,'' the note ends with a bombshell: ``Moreover, it must be pointed out that Catholics, especially public officials, who willingly and with approval facilitate the legal sanctioning of same-sex unions are involving themselves in cooperation with evil.''      

``That's pretty strong language,'' Rushford said on hearing the paragraph yesterday. ``I just would hope that people from all walks of life and our society would agree that the civil rights of individuals are not debatable.''      

Diocesan spokesman Ray Delisle cautioned that McManus was writing in the precise ``language of moral theology.''      

Josh Friedes, advocacy director of the Freedom to Marry Coalition, said, ``Not only is he villainizing gay and lesbian couples and Catholics who support civil rights,'' Friedes said, ``he is also attacking reform Jews and Protestant faith traditions that consider the unions of same-sex couples worth blessing.''

[TEXOKIE]

As an outsider, I am so grateful to see that some in the RC leadership are locating their spines and speaking out the Truth. God bless and protect them.

[johnb2004]

"I just would hope that people from all walks of life and our society would agree that the civil rights of individuals are not debatable."

Since when is committing an unnatural act, which is a grave evil, a civil right?

[Mr. Lucky]

By his quotation, apparently necrophilia, incest and bestiality are also civil rights.

[Salvation]

**``in cooperation with evil.''**

This Bishop speaks up! Hooray!

Maybe there is hope for some parts of Massachusetts.

[Salvation]

I'm liking it too.

Maybe someday we (as Catholics) will thank Kerry for helping the Catholic Church to clean house.

(No really, I think it is coming from the Vatican!)

[Salvation]

Thanks, I remembered the quote but had forgotten to whom to credit it!

[Salvation]

**
We must stand together to defeat evil...God will work out the denominational differences in the day of resurrection!**

Amen!

[Sabertooth]

Josh Friedes, advocacy director of the Freedom to Marry Coalition, said, ``Not only is he villainizing gay and lesbian couples and Catholics who support civil rights,'' Friedes said, ``he is also attacking reform Jews and Protestant faith traditions that consider the unions of same-sex couples worth blessing.''

After recognizing gays and lesbians as "brothers and sisters in the human family,'' the note ends with a bombshell: "Moreover, it must be pointed out that Catholics, especially public officials, who willingly and with approval facilitate the legal sanctioning of same-sex unions are involving themselves in cooperation with evil.''

By his choice of words and their context, it's clear the Bishop was making an effort to be polite.

[Jorge]

``Oh, my God. Wow,'' gasped Marianne Duddy-Burke of Boston Dignity, a group of gay Catholics. ``It's an appalling statement on so many levels. "

This so-called "gay Catholic" needs to read what the Bible says about homosexuality, much less "gay marriage".

It's described as an abomination worthy of the death penalty.

And Marianne is "appalled"?

[Bernard]

I think it was the Boston Diocese - anyway, I saw an announcement on some news show that the diocese was closing 34 of 280 parishes (or something along those lines) because it was running short of money. Seems the cash drain from protecting all the homosexual pedophiles is to blame.

So when the real Catholics take the church back, there will be an empty piggy bank.

[Sockdologer]

Apparently Marianne has no grasp of the God or Bible she pretends to believe in.

I was about to point out the exact same thing :)

[steplock]

So when the real Catholics take the church back, there will be an empty piggy bank.


May be, but the Church will be back

[SauronOfMordor]

She's saying that the Bishop has no business telling a civil servant (Worcester City Clert David Rushmore) that said civil servant is in league with evil if he follows the law

Somehow I don't think she would have been saying the same thing about a civil servant enforcing the segregation laws in 1960 Alabama

[John Lenin]

What's up with the Catholic Bishops lately?

Maybe they figured out the homos have infiltrated their churches.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed. Amen!

[DLfromthedesert]

They will need to be protected, and I shall pray for all who are unafraid to speak the truth.

[TEXOKIE]

Thanks, DL. I join you in calling for the protection of those who are challenging the Beast of homosexuality as it seeks to invade the Holy Places where they ought not.

[Polycarp IV]

http://www.worcesterdiocese.org/bishop.html
(Diocese of Worcester web page - bio/photo of bishop)

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/printer-friendly.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38670

comments: WorldNetDaily reports that Bp.McManus (the good bishop who
warned that anyone working towards the advancement of sodomite marriages are
'cooperating with evil') is getting hit with pressure to retract his stance.
No where on his web page (above) is his original statement to be found.
We need to strengthen him with encouragement. Please email:
rdelisle@worcesterdiocese.org

or Fax: 508-754-2768 your comments of encouragement that what he
stated 'cooperating with evil' is not only what the church teaches but
it is necessary for him, as a bishop, to reiterate Church teachings to his
flock. Don't back down from truth.