[mvpel]

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.

In line with "teachings on inclusivity," perhaps, but out of line with Article 7 of the Catholic Catechism.

[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?

[Salvation]

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

This Bishop speaks up! Hooray!

Maybe there is hope for some parts of Massachusetts.

[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"?

[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.

[SuziQ]

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.''

What the article apparently does not mention is WHY Bishop McManus wrote the letter. He was responding to a comment that Mr. Rushford made in an article in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Mr. Rushford made a comment about homosexual marriage being accepted by the Church. This was COMPLETELY false, and the Bishop wrote the letter to dispute it and set the record straight.

I'm glad the Bishop said what he did. The Church teaches that people with homosexual orientations are our 'brothers and sisters in Christ", but when they engage in homosexual ACTIVITY, they are committing sinful acts. By encouraging homosexual marriage, which by extension is encouraging homosexual ACTIVITY, people ARE in cooperation with sinfullness and evil. Active Catholic homosexuals don't like to hear it, but the truth needs to be spoken.

[dansangel]

``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.''

Well, *duh* - civil rights in the secular world and the teachings of the Church based on Scripture from the Bible are separate issues. What a dork - typical of the liberal left to cry "foul" based on lies, twisted facts and innuendo.

[Delbert]

If this freaked 'em out, they really wouldnt like what the Apostle Paul had to say about the matter.