Posted on 12/02/2005 8:32:39 PM PST by darkangel82
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino has raised the level of rhetoric and insulted religious Catholics across the state by telling a homosexual newspaper this week that those who want to enforce the Church's teachings and instructions are, in his words, "hateful."
Catholic Charities, an arm of the Archdiocese of Boston but run by a separate (and unfortunately, left-wing) board of directors, had announced that it was honoring Mayor Menino at its annual fund-raising dinner to be held next Friday, Dec. 9, at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Many religious Catholics were outraged and communicated with Archbishop Sean O'Malley that he should not attend a dinner for a Catholic politician who publicly disavows the Church's teachings. Last week, the Archbishop agreed not to attend. As the Boston Globe reported on Wednesday:
After pressure from activists, O'Malley announced last week that he would not attend the Catholic Charities fund-raising event. O'Malley said in a statement that his decision was in accord with a policy of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops to avoid honoring or providing a platform to public officials who are in conflict with important Catholic teachings.
[Carol] McKinley and other activists say O'Malley's withdrawal does not put the archbishop in compliance with the policy. They assert that Menino should be denied the Catholic Charities honor and platform altogether, something they say O'Malley could demand if he so desired.
The Catholic Action League of Massachusetts says in a memorandum posted on the Internet that the mayor is a ''supporter of the culture of death" and is involved in the ''aggressive de-Christianization of municipal government." The same memo attacks the mayor's wife for criticizing the treatment of women in Catholicism.
C.J. Doyle, executive director of the league, defended the statements last night. ''Mayor Menino has not dissented on one or two issues," Doyle said. ''He has rejected Catholic teaching across virtually the entire spectrum of social issues."
But Menino, belligerent as ever, did an interview with the graphic Boston homosexual newspaper "Bay Windows" and expressed his true sentiments (as if we didn't already know). As Bay Windows reports in this week's issue:
In fact, Menino calls the controversy "much ado about nothing," though he is clearly incensed with activists criticizing him for his longstanding support of the gay community.
"This is, once again ... the right wing was trying to divide," Menino told Bay Windows. "I've been a supporter of the gay rights movement since day one. I'll always be. The Church has told me to treat people with respect."
"Catholic Charities allows gay couples to adopt kids," Menino points out. "Gee whillikers, this is an extension of what they do everyday - what I'm doing is what they do. It's about people and how we help people. We still clothe more people, we still house more people, we still feed more people. And to have this controversy, it blows my mind really," he adds. "Who are these people that are so hateful?
Apparently, the Mayor of Boston considers himself to be a better Catholic than the Archbishop of Boston, and even the Pope.
Only hatred I see is from you, Mayor.
Give him time, he'll come to love us ;)
ping
I don't know whether he is or just panders to these groups, either way, I really don't want to know.
Mumbles strikes again!
Howie should be good monday!!
I don't believe he is. I do, however, agree with the general impression of the article that the boston chapter of Catholic Charities is a bit left leaning. Got that vague impression from several of their events I attended in recent years...
It's an epidemic. If you give the guy a chance, he'd probably love to tell you how much smarter he is than everyone else, too.
what a bigot ...
http://www.mumblesmenino.us/
Mumbles Menino speaks for himself.
The Catholic Church was once the most powerful institution in Massachusetts.
But its influence has been vastly diminished, and the Church has only itself to blame. And the Church is at war with itself. The continued gay influence within the clergy is at war with the new conservative leadership.
In my opinion, the Church will only right its course when it allows married (heterosexual) priests. That's just my opinion. I just don't see any other way.
"He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me, despiseth Him that sent me." Luke 10:16
Sounds like the mayor is hateful.
What a total jerk.
Not Surprising, I am sure he is much smarter than them, as well. What a clown.
+
For Catholic Charities to honor a guy like this is beyond comprehension. The Board of Directors should be summarily fired for alienating it's donor base.
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