Posted on 07/08/2011 12:31:34 PM PDT by wagglebee
NEW YORK, July 8, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - American Christians may one day find themselves facing legal penalties simply for believing marriage can only exist between a man and a woman, a fate already suffered by believers in other countries, said the leader of America’s most influential Catholic pulpit this week.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York reflected on his blog Thursday on the recent legalization of gay “marriage” in New York, and what repercussions true marriage supporters can expect in the future.
He called it “haunting” that the marriage bill became law on the day Catholics celebrate the feast of the Birth of John the Baptist, “whom King Herod would behead because the saint dared to defend the God-given truth about marriage.”
“If the experience of those few other states and countries where this is already law is any indication, the churches, and believers, will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court for their conviction that marriage is between one man, one woman, forever, bringing children into the world,” wrote the archbishop.
Christians in the UK, Canada, and elsewhere have lost their jobs, been dragged through lengthy “human rights” proceedings, and faced steep fines for questioning the dangerous homosexual lifestyle, declining to facilitate gay “marriages,” or even failing to acknowledge “gay pride” events.
Dolan pointed out that editorials nationwide have been calling for an end to the Catholic Church’s religious liberties as a growing percentage of Americans consider defending true marriage a form of discrimination against homosexuals. The archbishop insisted the Church’s position was “never anti-gay.”
“As I replied recently to a reporter who asked if I had any message to the gay community, ‘Yes: I love you. Each morning I pray with and for you and your true happiness and well-being,’” he recalled.
Meanwhile, he says, the true aggressors have proven to be the gay “marriage” lobby.
“As one respected columnist has observed, the problem is not homophobia but theophobia — a hatred by some of God, faith, religion, and the Church,” he said.
Although Dolan said his brother bishops in New York were “particularly prophetic” in acknowledging an uphill battle on the marriage issue, Dolan said Christians would not back down on the truth.
“Like St. Thomas More, we’re willing to take the heat and even lose our head from following a conscience properly formed by God’s revelation and the teaching of His Church, even if it is politically incorrect, and clashes with the King’s demands to re-define marriage,” he said.
Read Archbishop Dolan’s full post here.
I personally know a priest who will die before ever giving in on this issue or ever “ marry “ any of these deeply troubled people.
How about, "There's no such thing; anymore than there are square circles."
Historically accurate, and the no longer "useful idiots" are usually systematically murdered.
I'm surprised the "intellectually superior" leftie pawns can't seem to notice the fact.
Comrade Stalin, save me!
I think it was Stalin himself that said
if they’ll betray their countrymen, they can’t be trusted not to betray the revolution
Sure they do. The SBC excommunicated at least 2 entire congregations over the past several years for homo affirming. It simply means to disfellowship.
Inherent in leftist/communist ideology is the mindset that "I'm special" and that "I'll end up in charge".
Tolerance for the perverts but not for the Believers. Its a one way street only.
And yes, it will end in blood.
BTW, I'm a Protestant. Heck, I'm a Calvinist Protestant. But in this I will stand with my Catholic brothers and sisters 100%. Nothing makes me more passionate than uniting with Christians to defend the Word of God and His Church!
We can disfellowship them, though.
Of course, they can just go down the road to that liberal BAptist church, or even start their own
Did the SBC use that word? Disfellowship, yes but I’d have to see a reference from the SBC that they excommunicate anyone or entity.
Yes it is and that is why they try to disarm us.
Mine also. But, I told him I would share the cell with him, that he wasn’t going alone because I believe as he does. I have one fine Christian, Gospel believing, Bible teaching pastor. In the traditional southern style. I love him and his message he brings from his heart and what the Holy Spirit inspires him to say.
Speaking of the tax exempt "subsidy" (not taxing someone isn't a subsidy) my pastor shocked me in a good way several months ago by saying he would not let the government dictate what he preached as the Gospel. He said if they threatened to take his tax exempt status, he'd say "take it!"
The "Theophobes'" constant threats and expressions of hatred is to "tax the churches" nowadays. But, predictably, revoking the tax exempt status of churches that won't bow before the state agenda won't placate the raving anarchists. They won't stop their vicious attacks until the church is pounded into dust. The "tax-exempt" excuse is just that - an excuse.
I’ve seen web pages calling for the Knights of Columbus to be labeled a “Hate Group”.
It was also heard in the Gulags and prison camps before execution for hoarding and black market crimes. It was heard a lot.
Pastors and their congregations need to get informed on the actual laws concerning tax exempt status.
You can give a whole sermon on politics, endorsing a particular candidate. If that is one out of 52 sermons given in a year, or better yet, one out of 100 (if you have Wednesday services and special services on holidays),
then your church would owe taxes on one dollar out of $100 for the time spent on the non-tax exempt activity.
No, they use the word “disfellowship,” which is as strong as it gets in Baptist circles. Nobody “excommunicates” anymore, which implies treating as if the excommunicated is a heathen. It’s a shame, because treating an obstinate, willful offender as an unbeliever is thoroughly biblical.
Yes...it is going to come to blood...ours. It will not be long before there will be protestors marching around churches on Sunday mornings demanding masses be stopped. It will not be long before Christians are pulled before human rights courts to explain their “conversion” to pro-gay attitudes...or lose their jobs.
It’s coming and it’s coming fast.
Can we add the Governor to that list?
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