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CNN Asks Catholic Bishop 'Why Not Get on Board' and Support Gay Marriage
mrc ^ | March 8, 2012 | Matt Hadro

Posted on 03/09/2012 1:56:31 PM PST by NYer

CNN's Kyra Phillips asked a Catholic bishop on Thursday "why not get on board" with dissenting Catholics who favor gay marriage. Given CNN's past [1] support [2] for LGBT causes, they clearly would not question the motives of a religious minister favoring gay marriage.

In fact, in 2010 Phillips fawned [3] over a Christian pastor who publicly began accepting the lifestyle of gays and lesbians. 

Phillips had cited a statistic saying 43 percent of American Catholics favor gay marriage. "So, Bishop, times are changing. Views are changing. You're changing your tactics even," Phillips said. "So, why not get on board with the 43 percent of Catholics?"

"Well their thinking is outside the realm of Catholic teaching for 2,000 years," Bishop Malone responded.

Phillips' interview with Bishop Richard Malone of the Diocese of Portland, Maine, was over the Catholic Church's new tactic concerning the state's referendum vote in November asking voters to approve same-sex marriage.

[Video below. Click here [4] for audio.]

 

 

The bishop wanted to focus the resources of the diocese on educating Catholics about a "more profound" understanding of marriage between a man and a woman. But as he told Phillips, "let there be no confusion about the fact that the diocese and I will still be very involved in the effort to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman."

Phillips hyped the diocese's change in tactics as a "stunning move." She saw the opportunity to pop the question to the bishop, "Are you softening your stance on same-sex marriage?" To which  Bishop Malone responded "Not at all. It will be even stronger and more vigorous."

A transcript of the segment, which aired on March 8 on Newsroom at 11:19 a.m. EST, is as follows:

KYRA PHILLIPS: Well, in the battle over same-sex marriage, a stunning move by the Catholic Church in Maine. The church says it will not actively campaign against a November referendum asking voters to approve gay marriage. Now, that stands in stark contrast with the church's position in 2009 when it waged a campaign to overturn a law passed that same year legalizing same-sex marriage.

Now, the gay activist group, Human Rights Campaign, says the church spent nearly $2 million in the fight to repeal that law. Joining us now, the bishop of Portland, Richard Malone. Bishop, thanks so much for being with me. You're not going to take an active role, from what I see here, in fundraising, staffing, advertising, or campaigning against the gay marriage referendum this time around. Why?

Bishop RICHARD MALONE, Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine: Good morning, Kyra. Well, let there be no confusion about the fact that the diocese and I will still be very involved in the effort to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman. But we've decided this year that our best efforts can be to put our energies and resources into educating our Catholic community better about the very nature of marriage.

PHILLIPS: So, Bishop, let me ask me – ask you. You know, this plan of action has changed quite drastically since 2009, you know, where you had very active campaign. And now you're moving toward education and putting funds towards that. Are you softening your stance on same-sex marriage?

MALONE: Not at all. It will be even stronger and more vigorous. One of our discoveries in 2009 was that really, many of our Catholic people in Maine could use a bit more profound understanding of how the church has understood marriage for 2,000 years. So, I decided, while we will certainly be in close contact with our allies who will lead the political battle, we intend to focus on the education and formation of consciences of our people.

PHILLIPS: Now, let me ask you, Bishop, according to the Public Religion Research Institute, right now – this is a recent survey that was conducted – Catholics are more supportive of legal recognition of same-sex relationships than members of any other Christian tradition and American overall. It reports 43 percent of Catholics nationally favor gay marriage. Is that why you're taking a different approach here?

MALONE: Well, you're on to something there, Kyra. To the extent that we can trust that those numbers are accurate – and that's always a question, of course – but that proves exactly the motivation for the approach that we're taking. We're taking no chances that our people will not have a really accurate understanding of what marriage is and to the impact on society should anyone try to change that definition of marriage.

PHILLIPS: So, Bishop, times are changing. Views are changing. You're changing your tactics even. Or your – I guess you say your strategy. So, why not get on board with the 43 percent of Catholics?

MALONE: The 43 percent who –

PHILLIPS: Who have no problem with gay marriage.

MALONE: Well their thinking is outside the realm of Catholic teaching for 2,000 years. And those are the folks that we want to focus on so they'll perhaps be able to have what I would call an intellectual conversion about a very key building-block of society, that is the nature of marriage as the union of one man, one woman.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: catholic; cnn; gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; homosexualmarriage; liberalmedia; media; moralabsolutes; samesexmarriage; ssm
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To: NYer
"Phillips had cited a statistic saying 43 percent of American Catholics favor gay marriage. "So, Bishop, times are changing. Views are changing."

Both Jesus and Paul warned us that in the last days many would fall away from the true faith and try to corrupt it. They also warned us not to follow this sign of the times - but to read it for what it is. ".....and those who find it are few."

21 posted on 03/09/2012 2:13:39 PM PST by circlecity
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To: stephenjohnbanker; mtg

Or maybe the survey was taken in Nancy Pelosi’s district.


22 posted on 03/09/2012 2:15:33 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: NYer
Geeze, it didn't seem that Kyra Philips was listening to a single word the Bishop said. Because his Parish was not planning on actively campaigning for the defeat of the latest homosexual 'marriage' measure, she was interpreting this to mean that he was now supporting such depravity. Instead he said, repeatedly, that he was devoting their resources to shore up their ranks. Ideally teaching the Biblical basis of marriage (a gift of God, who made man and woman to be joined as one).
And I'd have to agree with the Bishop on this point. We can try to pass whatever measures we want, and elect whomever we want -- but if the foundation is crumbling, due to a people who no longer revere and worship God, it doesn't matter who is at the top -- the building will come crumbling down. So if the Bishop wants to focus his efforts on teaching his flock - his efforts are well spent.

As far as responding to Kyra Philip's question as to why he wasn't joining the ranks of the 43% of Catholics who allegedly support homosexual marriages, the Bishop should have just pointed out that it is wrong to support anyone marching off to an eternity in hell: 99% could support it, but he would not.

23 posted on 03/09/2012 2:16:55 PM PST by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: reaganaut
The Bible is clear about the fate of practicing homosexuals.

Romans 1:26-28

24 posted on 03/09/2012 2:19:57 PM PST by NYer (He who hides in his heart the remembrance of wrongs is like a man who feeds a snake on his chest. St)
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To: Argus
My response to this is that anyone who truly supports this aberrant life style should then engage in it fully. If they are married to someone of the opposite sex, they should then divorce that person and start living with someone of the same sex as they are. Lead by example. If they don't, then STFU and leave the rest of us alone. And never suggest that the rest of us change our minds and attitudes about this subject. It ain't gonna happen.
25 posted on 03/09/2012 2:20:06 PM PST by NCC-1701 (In Memphis on January 20, 2009, pump price were $1.49. We all know what happened after that.)
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To: Argus
My response to this is that anyone who truly supports this aberrant life style should then engage in it fully. If they are married to someone of the opposite sex, they should then divorce that person and start living with someone of the same sex as they are. Lead by example. If they don't, then STFU and leave the rest of us alone. And never suggest that the rest of us change our minds and attitudes about this subject. It ain't gonna happen.
26 posted on 03/09/2012 2:20:06 PM PST by NCC-1701 (In Memphis on January 20, 2009, pump price were $1.49. We all know what happened after that.)
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To: NYer
This reads like the dialogue from "Full Metal Jacket":

Colonel: Now answer my question or you'll be standing tall before the man.

Private Joker: I think I was trying to suggest something about the duality of man, sir.

Colonel: The what?

Private Joker: The duality of man. The Jungian thing, sir.

Colonel: Whose side are you on, son?

Private Joker: Our side, sir.

Colonel: Don't you love your country?

Private Joker: Yes, sir.

Colonel: Then how about getting with the program? Why don't you jump on the team and come on in for the big win?

Private Joker: Yes, sir.

Colonel: Son, all I've ever asked of my Marines is that they obey my orders as they would the word of God. We are here to help the Vietnamese, because inside every gook there is an American trying to get out. It's a hardball world, son. We've gotta keep our heads until this peace craze blows over.

Private Joker: Aye-aye, sir.


27 posted on 03/09/2012 2:21:29 PM PST by Iron Munro ("Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight he'll just kill you." John Steinbeck)
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To: NYer

Get on board the soul train.

The soul train to Hell.


28 posted on 03/09/2012 2:23:37 PM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: NYer

I must have missed the part in Scripture where it says, “Take ye a vote on what’s a sin”...

Wow. You can’t explain right and wrong to somebody who doesn’t get it.


29 posted on 03/09/2012 2:24:01 PM PST by jagusafr ("Write in Palin and prepare for war...")
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To: Argus

AAAAA-MEN!!! From now on, when anyone tries to tell us we need to believe contrary to what the Word of God says, that needs to be our response. That would tick them off so bad, lol!!..... but I’m gonna do it!! :)


30 posted on 03/09/2012 2:24:01 PM PST by dannibp (I must remind myself daily that God is in control.)
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To: NYer

If Kyra Phillips is a Catholic, she must be of the cafeteria type. Obviously has never read or understand the Bible.


31 posted on 03/09/2012 2:25:30 PM PST by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: Vigilanteman; mtg

Well, Pelosi’s district is not quite human : )


32 posted on 03/09/2012 2:28:54 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: stephenjohnbanker
""Totally fraudulent numbers.""

Not at all. Catholics in large numbers see their Faith as cultural and not spiritual. I taught my daughter's grade level in the parish religious ed program. Of the 103 students who were confirmed in 2001 only my daughter and two or three others were to be seen at Sunday Mass less than two years later.These are the 43% and that number IMO is low.

33 posted on 03/09/2012 2:30:24 PM PST by xkaydet65
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To: NYer

And..

Romans 1:18-32 —.
1Cor 6:9-11—
Galatians 5:19 —
Ephesians 5:3-7—
Colossians 3:5-7 —
1 Tim 1:10 —
Titus 1:16 —
Jude 1:4,7,19 —

That doesn’t even address the OT verses either. It is wrong, period. I have also known a few people with homosexual desires who, through Christ, overcame those desires and are in (some for over 30 years) God centered Heterosexual unions and testify that God removed the temptation from them.

In short, Christ can change them. Not a popular view, but a true view nonetheless.


34 posted on 03/09/2012 2:34:01 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian "I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: xkaydet65

You would never see my two girls attend Mass at the parish where they were baptized/First Communion either. That is because we attend Tridentine Mass 10 miles away.


35 posted on 03/09/2012 2:35:48 PM PST by steve86 (I have Schizoid Personality Disorder and am exercising the privileges thereof)
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To: xkaydet65

Sorry to hear that. I am not Catholic, but our church is probably 98% against homos getting married.....and that includes the HS and college kids.


36 posted on 03/09/2012 2:37:10 PM PST by stephenjohnbanker (God, family, country, mom, apple pie, the girl next door and a Ford F250 to pull my boat.)
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To: Jack Burton007

As stupid as their liberal followers.


37 posted on 03/09/2012 2:37:56 PM PST by Jaded (Really? Seriously?)
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To: NYer
This question never has and never will be asked by the MSM to any Muslim.

While the MSM is busy trashing Christianity with all their might and force, they are busy portraying the murdering, wife beating, pedophiles, psychopaths, as lovey peaceful people.

All in the name of objectivity...of course.

The next time anything is done to the Catholic Church, the first response has to be, "Let the Muslims do it first." Muslims will never support contraception or gay-anything. Muslims will never support any of the loony-tune nonsense coming from the Left. And, so far, they have never been asked to. The focus of the MSM is always exclusively on Christians.

38 posted on 03/09/2012 2:38:31 PM PST by 240B (he is doing everything he said he wouldn't and not doing what he said he would)
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To: NYer

Islam shares the same exact view on homosexuality.

Liberals are Islamaphobic.


39 posted on 03/09/2012 2:38:52 PM PST by NoLibZone (Liberal concern for womens rights is fake. I submit their love of Bill Maher as proof.)
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Good grief, get the damn govt out of marriage.


40 posted on 03/09/2012 2:40:20 PM PST by Gene Eric (Newt/Sarah 2012)
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