Posted on 09/10/2014 4:52:12 AM PDT by NYer
Editor’s note: In response to the news that the St. Patrick’s Parade in New York would now accept “gay” groups in the parade and that Cardinal Timothy Dolan would serve as Grand Marshall of the parade, Catholic Citizens of Illinois has sent an open letter to Cardinal Dolan, which is published below.
Catholic Citizens of Illinois, 106 Calendar Court, PMB #122, La Grange, IL 60525-2325
An Open Letter to Cardinal Timothy Dolan
September 5, 2014
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York
1011 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Your Eminence,
We were dismayed and discouraged to read that the St. Patricks Day Parade in New York will now include organizations that openly oppose the Catholic teaching concerning human sexuality. After years of resisting the pressure from gays and big donors as well as the pretense of public support, the parade committee has caved in to their bullying and unreasonable demands. Additionally, we are disappointed that you have agreed to be the Grand Marshall of the parade.
We are fully aware that there are good and holy people with homosexual inclinations that are striving to live chaste lives in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, which we are all called to do. However, no one can deceive themselves that the national and international gay organizations are striving for that lifestyle. One need only look at the gay pride parades around the world and see the public nudity and simulation of sex acts to know that they are portraying an in your face demand that such acts be normalized and that we approve of them.
We understand your deference to those who are on the planning committee for the parade and your efforts to not be judgmental. However, we ask you to put aside those concerns, knowing that your primary duty as Cardinal is to act as a Shepherd of the Faithful, secondary in authority to that of the Pope.
We implore you to withdraw as Grand Marshall of the St. Patricks Day Parade because of the great probability of misunderstandings, confusion and scandal among the faithful. It is likely that many will believe that the Church has changed her teaching that homosexual acts are disordered and can never be approved and even worse, they may assume that you support such acts. Does the statement of Jesus about scandalizing little ones no longer apply?
We write this letter to you as faithful Catholics and we look to you to give the example of what a true Shepherd must be. We offer our prayers that the Holy Spirit will inspire you and guide you in this important decision.
Sincerely,
Mary Anne Hackett, President
For the Board of Directors and Members of
Catholic Citizens of Illinois
Note: Copies of this letter have been distributed to other Catholic organizations.
Contact: Info@catholiccitizens.org
Ping!
Excellent letter.
...but the Dolanites want to be loved.
Clearly, the Cardinal was poorly catechized...
Awesome letter! Pray for the cardinal!
Much of the American Catholic Church is apostate and will one day schism from Rome. We’ve seen it with the moral decline of Catholic universities and Catholic schools and, sadly, many of the American bishops (I include Canada in that assessment). The longer Rome delays the inevitable confrontation with these moral quislings, the more the entire Church body will suffer malaise. The Church was founded on a Rock but in the past 50 years many of its branches have taken root in the shifting sands of moral relativism and appeasement of sin. Too many of those that surround the Pope are more concerned with the wealth of the Church and its acceptance among the world’s political elites to stand up for its beliefs.
I recently wrote to the priest in charge of Catholic Charities to inform him ,due to the Position taken by Cardinal Dolan I will not be sending a contribution to Catholic Charities.
The 1960's brought on a lot of these problems. Those of us born in the 60's have been tossed about from fad to fad. Some people assume malice where there is merely ignorance. I am bolstered by the fact that I have known many young priests, those under 50 who are strong in the faith. They just are not in charge now. I trust that when they come to power, things will change.
I often wonder what people expect the average Catholic to do? Should we murder Cardinal Dolan and other bad actors? Should we burn down the universities that hold themselves up as Catholic but have lost their way? What do you think we should do? I should leave my Church because there are people in it who are sinners? We are all sinners, if we weren't we'd have no need of a savior.
The Church has faced this kind of thing before, it will survive.
Good letter.
Except people should be storming Rome, demanding not that Dolan resign as Grand Marshal, but that he resign as Archbishop of New York.
Dolan said that the pro-abortion Governor of New York, David Paterson, was “a Catholic who takes his Christian faith very seriously.”
Dolan said that he would be “uncomfortable” saying that Andrew Cuomo, the pro-abortion Governor of New York living in open concubinage, was “not a Catholic in good standing.”
Dolan praised Michael Sam for “coming out.” “Bravo!”
In private, Dolan is a tyrant and a bully—if the priest he’s talking to isn’t a fellow progressive.
If Bernard Law could be hounded out of Boston, there’s no reason Dolan can’t be hounded out of New York. Dolan is giving scandal just as grave. And, unlike Law, the the press and the courts aren’t going stop him, making it even more imperative that the people run him out of town.
Will you be paying all the plane tickets for people “to be storming Rome”?! Catholics worldwide are like protestants worldwide - hardworking people with jobs or looking for jobs. They have no time or money to “storm Rome.” They do the best they can in their free time to fight injustice and immoral behavior.
Where is the storming of the gates among conservative protestants at the abuses of the mainline protestant churches? I don’t see that, either.
As a NYer, I remember the unbelieveable fight Catholics in NYC put up to keep gays out of this parade. I was there when Act Up threw the Host onto the ground - as vile an act as the burning of Torah during the Nazi era. Perhaps people got complacent in thinking the war had been won over this issue - mistaking the battle for the war.
Let’s pray that the letter works.
Good point!
I stopped counting when I got to 25. There are 25 articles pertaining to this issue that have been posted on this site. Unbelievable.
The reason Dolan should resign is Dolan is not a Catholic. He renigged on that when he started giving communion to rabid pro-abortion politicians. Dolan also did nothing to slow down the Cuomo-led same sex “marriage” false in NY State. Cuomo also shacks up with his girlfriend in the Governors mansion but this does not bother Dolan in the least. He still gives him communion.
Do Cardinals just suddenly spring from eggs? For the love of God, this issue goes way freaking deeper than Dolan! HALF THIS COUNTRY CONDONES THIS CRAP! Dolan resigned or hanging ain't going to change any of it. Hearts need to change.
**The reason Dolan should resign is Dolan is not a Catholic.**
He has received the episcopal level of Holy Orders. Yet, as a man, he is sinful just as all of us are sinful.
I believe he needs our prayers.
“The reason Dolan should resign is Dolan is not a Catholic. He renigged on that when he started giving communion to rabid pro-abortion politicians. Dolan also did nothing to slow down the Cuomo-led same sex marriage false in NY State. Cuomo also shacks up with his girlfriend in the Governors mansion but this does not bother Dolan in the least. He still gives him communion.”
This is probably a catholic thing I don’t understand, but I’ve always see the following statements on this site:
“Once a catholic, always a catholic.”
“A priest is always a priest.”
Are you saying someone can “unbecome” catholic in other ways than being formally kicked out? Is this your opinion, or a church practice?
Thanks.
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