After New York’s marriage vote, Archbishop Dolan warns of further redefinition {Ecumenical}

Catholic News Agency ^ | 10 July 2011 | Marianne Medlin

[Cronos]

After marriage was redefined to include same-sex couples in New York, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan is warning that this step could lead to a further redefinition ..

The New York City archbishop said that in recent decades, the Church has been a prophetic voice warning that no-fault divorce, contraception, cohabitation and promiscuity would lead to “a cheapening of the marriage bond and harm our kids.”

“And now we ring the steeple bell again at this latest dilution of the authentic understanding of marriage, worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity,” he said.

..Archbishop Dolan said he and his brother bishops “were on the frontiers” against the bill in their writings, sermons, personal lobbying, and interviews...

“We have been bloodied, and bruised, and, yes, for the moment, we have been defeated. But, we’re used to that. So was the Founder of our Church,” he wrote.

He said that while Catholics have no concern for political “clout” or how they're perceived in the media, “we do worry indeed” about our freedom of religion, would could potentially be threatened by same-sex “marriage” legislation.

“Editorials already call for the removal of guarantees of religious liberty, with crusaders calling for people of faith to be coerced to acceptance of this redefinition,” he said.

Archbishop Dolan noted that ironically, “the real forces of 'intolerance' were unmasked” in the debate by those defending traditional marriage being consistently depicted as “right-wing bigots and bullies.”

“the problem is not homophobia but theophobia – a hatred by some of God, faith, religion, and the Church.”

..“If the experience of those few other states and countries where this is already law is any indication,” believers “will soon be harassed, threatened, and hauled into court for their conviction that marriage is between one man, one woman,”

[Cronos]

“We have been bloodied, and bruised, and, yes, for the moment, we have been defeated. But, we’re used to that. So was the Founder of our Church,” he wrote.

Well said -- Jesus was bloodied, bruised and worse, but He triumphed in the end. Our own battles are nothing compared to his, but we try to follow in His path

[Wings-n-Wind]

I urge respectfully -- with much prayer -- that the Archbishop turn words into action:

Please petition for the swift and just excommunication of the sitting governor of New York.

The "gay marriage" law is his baby - to coin a phrase...

He "pridely" took ownership of muscling the legislation through to approval, and signed his own name at the bottom.

It doesn't get more blatant!

If the church is found unwilling to act in this scenario...
--What will become of the public perception of discipline and correction??

Have we lost our voice...
... Or shall we now find our courage?

[verga]

I have said it before we are taking the first step on a very slippery slope. What is next marriage between mother and son, father and daughter, Man and beast? Once you define deviance downward it is difficult, if not impossible to regain our moral losses.

[sport]

You nailed it. And every sexual perversion such as man and child, man and infant, woman and child, woman and infant will be legalized and participation encouraged.

As the road to preversion widens, the road to decency narrows.

[aimhigh]

This man is wonderful.