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RI Passes Gay Civil Unions: Bishop Says, ‘God Will … Pass Judgment Upon Our State’
LifeSite News ^ | 6/30/11 | Christine Dhanagom

Posted on 07/01/2011 6:59:36 AM PDT by marshmallow

PROVIDENCE, June 30, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – “Can there be any doubt that Almighty God will, in His own time and way, pass judgment upon our state, its leaders and citizens, for abandoning His commands and embracing public immorality?” That was how Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin reacted to today’s passage of legislation approving homosexual civil unions in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Senate approved the final version of the bill by a vote of 21 to 16. Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who advocated the legalization of homosexual “marriage” in his inaugural address, is expected to sign it into law.

The bill was passed by the House in May and made it through the Senate without amendment, despite opposition from both sides of the issue.

Homosexual advocacy organizations have objected to the legislation because it includes a provision protecting religious entities, including hospitals and schools, from being forced to recognize the legal standing of same-sex unions.

Martha Holt, Board Chair of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, called the bill “hurtful and ill-conceived,” and asked the Governor to veto it, in a statement released today.

Defenders of traditional marriage, however, argue that the provision does not go far enough to protect people of faith.

“By not extending these protections to individuals the Senate has put at risk the myriad of small businesses and practices run by people of faith,” read a National Organization for Marriage blog post. “These voters do not have the resources to defend against lawsuits and as such are left with the tragic choice of betraying their faith or risking their livelihoods.”

(Excerpt) Read more at lifesitenews.com ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: gaymarriage; homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes; ri

1 posted on 07/01/2011 6:59:38 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

The nice bishop better watch his step, or the people of RI will run him out of their little state.


2 posted on 07/01/2011 7:29:41 AM PDT by Theodore R.
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To: marshmallow
Lincoln Chafee left the Republican Party. He was obviously a RINO and Rhode Island got it's just deserts.

The death of free speech and the diminishment of freedoms is on the way.

Just ask the Pastor's in Canada who quoted the Scriptures on homosexuality feel about their jail time.

Oh, and there's that Pesky phrase "THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY"

3 posted on 07/01/2011 7:30:20 AM PDT by sr4402
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To: marshmallow

I always wonder if two straight men can use this to get special benefits? do they have to be gay? How do they prove their gayness if so?

Freegards


4 posted on 07/01/2011 7:35:20 AM PDT by Ransomed
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To: Theodore R.

The state has nothing to say about the comings or going of Bishop Tobin. That is up to Pope Benedict!

**“Can there be any doubt that Almighty God will, in His own time and way, pass judgment upon our state, its leaders and citizens, for abandoning His commands and embracing public immorality?” That was how Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin reacted to today’s passage of legislation approving homosexual civil unions in Rhode Island.**

God bless Bishop Tovin!


5 posted on 07/01/2011 7:46:26 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: marshmallow

Well that puts the Bishop singing the same hymn as the Westboro Baptist Church.


6 posted on 07/01/2011 7:52:17 AM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb
Not at all. Westboro Baptist (not supported by any other Baptists in the country, as far as I know) preaches hatred of homosexual people: this is is certainly not a Gospel perspective. Bishop Tobin speaks of God's love for all people, together with His judgment of public immorality: this IS a Gospel perspective.

I'm thinking you can see the distinction between a person, whatever his or her sexual complications (we love such a person) and an institution which promotes and sponsors immoral behavior (we find such behavior objectionable, and its sponsors subject to judgment); but if not, please let me know, and I can make it clear.

7 posted on 07/01/2011 8:04:28 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne." Psalm 89:14)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I hear what YOU are saying, but I responded to what the Bishop said.

“pass judgment upon our state, its leaders and citizens”

To me that’s a bit indiscriminate.


8 posted on 07/01/2011 8:34:47 AM PDT by tlb
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To: tlb
A valid point, tlb: I understand you're responding to Bishop Tobin's remarks as quoted here.

My own observation, befitting my grey hairs, is that God most often visits His judgments on us in this life via inevitable but unintended consequences, sometimes hitting the guilty perp (speaking of myself) and sometimes, painfuly, also hitting innocent bystanders, (e.g. our children and others.)

You've probably heard of the Life History of the Fool, a Two-Act Play:

We will all pay for the consequences of this, ranging from the bankruptcy of the public treasury to the legal demolition of religious institutions (e.g. Catholic adoption services shut down), the deepening sexual confusion of our vulnerable sons and daughters, and the accelerated decomposition of civil society. We will pay, and our children.

As Lincoln saind in his Second Inaugural Address:

"Shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a Living God always ascribe to Him? ...As was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said "the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether"

9 posted on 07/01/2011 9:05:00 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne." Psalm 89:14)
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To: tlb
Not that "gay" "marriage" is doing the whole demolition-of-cultues project on its own: just part of the bigger picture:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2742719/posts

10 posted on 07/01/2011 9:22:58 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o ("Justice and judgment are the foundation of His throne." Psalm 89:14)
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To: marshmallow

Can I just cry now?!


11 posted on 07/01/2011 10:44:10 AM PDT by diamond6 (Check out: http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/home.php and learn about the faith.)
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To: marshmallow
See this thread for more: RI passes gay civil unions: bishop says, ‘God will … pass judgment upon our state’
12 posted on 07/01/2011 12:43:32 PM PDT by markomalley (Nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good-Pope Leo XIII)
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To: marshmallow; netmilsmom; thefrankbaum; Tax-chick; GregB; saradippity; Berlin_Freeper; Litany; ...
Homosexual advocacy organizations have objected to the legislation because it includes a provision protecting religious entities, including hospitals and schools, from being forced to recognize the legal standing of same-sex unions.

And THAT is what this is all about - eradicating religion.

13 posted on 07/01/2011 1:16:21 PM PDT by NYer ("Be kind to every person you meet. For every person is fighting a great battle." St. Ephraim)
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To: marshmallow

Placemark.


14 posted on 07/01/2011 10:39:19 PM PDT by little jeremiah (Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. CSLewis)
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To: marshmallow
“By not extending these protections to individuals the Senate has put at risk the myriad of small businesses and practices run by people of faith,” read a National Organization for Marriage blog post. “These voters do not have the resources to defend against lawsuits and as such are left with the tragic choice of betraying their faith or risking their livelihoods.”

Of course the homosexual activists would love to sue anyone who disapproves of their activities right out of existence.

15 posted on 07/02/2011 7:30:43 PM PDT by SuziQ
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