Posted on 06/28/2006 6:04:33 AM PDT by wagglebee
BOSTON, June 27, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A group of clergy including members from a number of mainline Christian denominations and other religious organizations, including a number of Catholics, is calling on the Catholic hierarchy to end its opposition to homosexual “marriage,” claiming that it is in violation of “religious freedom”.
The group, calling itself the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, will release an open letter to Cardinal Sean O’Malley and Roman Catholic bishops of Massachusetts asking the Catholic hierarchy “to respect religious freedom and stop lobbying for a constitutional amendment that would deny civil marriage rights to couples married by other denominations.”
The group consists of clergy from the American Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Quaker (or Society of Friends), Southern Baptist and United Methodist denominations.
The letter says that although the group disagrees with the “position” of the Catholic Church that homosexual acts are gravely sinful, they “honor your right to believe as you wish. We respect your right to practice your faith according to your laws.”
That “honor” reaches only so far as the strictly private sphere however. Public defence of Traditional marriage is beyond the pale.
“You are promoting prejudice through your political campaign, intentionally or not,” the letter says.
“By proclaiming homosexuality and same-sex unions to be universally immoral and worthy of second-class status under state law, you are sending a message that our faith communities are immoral. You are harming us and our families and your own faithful as well. Thousands of Roman Catholics have signed our Roman Catholic Statement in support of marriage equality. They have signed out of their pain and their love and concern for the Church.”
The largest group in the Coalition is from the Unitarian Universalist church – a non-Christian organization – followed by the Episcopalians.
In meetings last week, the US Episcopal Church (ECUSA) pushed the Worldwide Anglican Communion to the point of disintegration by refusing a moratorium on ordaining homosexual bishops and other clergy. Last week, ECUSA’s House of Deputies voted overwhelmingly to refuse to consider a resolution that affirmed Jesus Christ as the "only name by which any person may be saved,” a defining Christian doctrine.
Read the full text of the letter:
http://www.rcfm.org/LettertoRCBishops.htm
They may get "leads" off the wires, but they do their own reporting.
Which organization do you mean?
To respectfully paraphase our Holy Father, Pope Benedict :
"Go pound sand!"
I think they obviously ARE that stupid!
On your second point, however, there is no point of dogma that forbids priests to marry, it is simply a discipline that is enforced in the Roman Church (instituted mainly to prevent the passing down of parishes and bishoprics from father to son) and could be relaxed by the Holy Father if he so chose. I too would find an experiment along these lines to be something that should be studied.
As for pedofiles in the priesthood, you should do a litte research here. According to several published studies, there is no greater incidence of pedofilia in the Catholic clergy than there is in the general population of any other clergy group (Christian or otherwise). The reason that this bit of misinformation is so widely believed is that the MSM has chosen the Church as a target of attack because it does not fit into their template for much the same reason that this letter was sent to Cardinal O'Malley.
Last week, ECUSA’s House of Deputies
This group, what ever their function should be thrown out of ECUSA. This last paragraph is "add on" info, not relating to the lies in the majority of the article.
"The group consists of clergy from the American Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Quaker (or Society of Friends), Southern Baptist and United Methodist denominations."
They should publicly identify all these "clergy". I have doubt that they really exist but if they do they need to come forth and be honest about their beliefs and agendas.
Southern Baptist??? Somehow that doesn't seem to fit in with the other "churches". I don't recall the SB's "getting on board" the "queer train".
Nothing is happening that Christ didn't warn us about. We should not be so amazed.
Peter,
They are the governing body elected by people back home. So they ARE the Episcopal Church.
Actually, such an experiment IS happening. With the influx into the RC church of married Episcopal priests AS RC PRIESTS, the ability of married clergy to perform as RC priests is being tested. That influx is only likely to increase with the current hoo-hah in the Episcopal church over selecting a woman as presiding bishop.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
- 2 Timothy 3:1-8
I guess these people at the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry haven't really read the Bible much. As the above states..."from such turn away."
Not surprised, but saddened. It is never fun to watch the slide to ruin, even when it is expected.
Hey Christian Clergy groups...what part of Leviticus 18:22
don't you get? Is the Word of God now irrelevant?
"Do not lie with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination". Lev. 18:22
Seems most forget, the Church is the Lord's, not mens. "He loved the Church and gave Himself for it." Christ puchased it with His own."Just maybe, they should consult the founder and owner of the Church!Also,maybe they should examine themselves and see if they are a part of His Church."
In other words, you can't legislate your morality, but we can.
Fair enough - I was not aware of that. The UM church in my neighborhood and the UM church in PA my wife's cousin attends both approve of homosexual marriage and the ordination of practicing homosexuals.
That meaans they are not Christian and should be thrown out of the organization.
You have said. They have alot of nerve demanding that another church join their heresy. Sounds like the men of Sodom demanding the "favors" of Lot's angelic guests.
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