Posted on 11/13/2001 4:25:45 PM PST by RobertBauman
ROME -- The helmet of Mychal Judge, the 68-year-old chaplain for the New York Fire Department killed while administering last rites to a dying firefighter on September 11 in New York, was presented to Pope John Paul II following Sunday mass at the Vatican.
Judge was a member of Dignity, the organization that represents the interests of lesbian and gay Catholics, though there was no mention made of this during the mass.
"I offer a warm welcome to the delegation from the New York City Fire Department, so many of whose members lost their lives in the terrorist attack of September 11," John Paul II said in English to the New York delegation made up of family members and fire fighters attending the Mass at St Peter's Basilica.
The delegation approached the pope and knelt before him as one of the firefighters gave John Paul the white helmet emblazoned with a gold cross.
Former President Bill Clinton and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton were among the more than 3,000 mourners who attended the chaplain's funeral on September 15 in New York. The president called Judge's death a special loss and said, "We should live his life as an example of what has to prevail."
He was a close friend of New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.
AIDS philanthropist Edward Maloney told the Advocate he once asked Judge how he survived in New York's conservative archdiocese. "He put his fingers to his lips as if to shush the question."
Said Maloney, "Father Judge was neither out nor closeted. He knew how to walk that fine line and work behind the scenes. He brought bravery, dedication, loyalty -- and a touch of sexuality -- to the two institutions he cherished: the church and the fire department."
Ann Archy, why would all the people quoted about Judge, including the city's fire commissioner, say that he was gay if it weren't true? Or is Thomas Von Essen part of the vast lavendar conspiracy, too? Are you even aware of what the organization Dignity is? Did you even bother to read the New York magazine link? It seems like unless someone shows you a picture of Mychal Judge in flagrante delicto with another man, you will be in denial about this.
Oh, so Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen is gay, too?
Why is it so important in your eyes that Father Judge not have been gay? It seems it's for the same reason that the anti-gay folks here refuse to believe that Mark Bingham did anything to overtake the hijackers on September 11. It's easier to hate gays if they can all be shown to be people who live completely immoral, evil lives. But Judge and Bingham were heroes, and they shatter the sterotypes of gays being cowardly and effeminate. For the same reason Andrew Sullivan has pointed out Judge's bravery -- to show that these sterotypes are false -- you say that Judge *isn't* gay, because otherwise you would have to admit that a homosexual man could be brave, too.
As for Judge's sexuality, nobody is suggesting that he had any gay affairs as a priest. By all accounts, he stuck to his vow of celibacy. But that doesn't make him "ex-gay" anymore than calling a heterosexual priest, or even a guy without a girlfriend, "ex-straight"!
But Judge and Bingham were heroes, and they shatter the sterotypes of gays being cowardly and effeminate. For the same reason Andrew Sullivan has pointed out Judge's bravery -- to show that these sterotypes are false
Surely there were acts of heroism by pedophiles among the thousands involved in the tragedy. Did they shatter the stereotypes we have of pedophiles?
otherwise you would have to admit that a homosexual man could be brave, too.
So you seem to agree that effeminate gays are not brave.
By all accounts, he stuck to his vow of celibacy. But that doesn't make him "ex-gay"
Then what is your definition of the thousands of men and women who have left the gay lifestyle? Dr. Laura has even supported and written the forward on a book about the subject. Are you calling her crazy?
As I said before, no evidence, other than a picture of Father Judge in flagrante delicto with another man, will convince you. Not the fact he was a member of Dignity, a gay Catholic group, not the fact that all sorts of people, including the fire commissioner, said he was gay.
Perhaps it's because of people like you, who label them as pedophiles and sex fiends?
Surely there were acts of heroism by pedophiles among the thousands involved in the tragedy. Did they shatter the stereotypes we have of pedophiles?
Typical -- you can't have a discussion of gay people without throwing the pedophile card in. Then you wonder why gay people want to point out their heroes?
So you seem to agree that effeminate gays are not brave.
Where did you get that idea?
Then what is your definition of the thousands of men and women who have left the gay lifestyle?
In denial!
Dr. Laura has even supported and written the forward on a book about the subject. Are you calling her crazy?
Did she write the forward for the book of the "ex-gay" who was on the cover of Newsweek, and then was caught in a gay bar? Or the one who got together with another "ex-gay" and became "ex-ex-gay"?
A gay man can give up sex, but that doesn't make him straight any more than Michael Jackson bleaching his skin makes him white.
This is BS. It's AMAZING what the homosexual agenda is trying to have people believe. If I find that the thought of a hairy man's butt, doesn't sexually attract me, then suddenly, I MUST be a closeted homosexual. Puh-leeeeze, if the thought of someone of your own sex turns you on, then have fun. BUT do NOT try to imply that because I'm disgusted by it, that I'm "uncomfortable with my own sexuality".
Here's an analogy for you; do you like peas and carrots? If you do, then you must like peas and carrots. If you don't then you are uncomfortable with your appetite and are secretly drawn to peas and carrots.
I'm not sure what the purpose of this article is, except to smear his good name, and perhaps as an opportunity to engage in a little good ol' fashioned Catholic bashing on the side.
Does a trivial little fact like God condemning homosexuality not hold any significance for you?
Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.
Romans 1:19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.
Romans 1:20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualitieshis eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.
Romans 1:21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldnt worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.
Romans 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.
Romans 1:23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.
Romans 1:24 So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each others bodies.
Romans 1:25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen.
Romans 1:26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.
Romans 1:27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.
Romans 1:28 When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.
Romans 1:29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
Romans 1:30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.
Romans 1:31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.
Romans 1:32 They are fully aware of Gods death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
Celibate homosexual people are not gay.
A faithful wife who secretly would like to have homosexual sex but never does is not lesbian.
If a person likes meat but acts like a vegetarian for moral reasons then he is a vegetarian, not a meateater. If a man would like to have sex with men but does not for moral reasons then he is chaste or celibate, not gay.
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