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Manhattan Diary by Cahir O'Doherty

Chicago Cardinal Blasts 'Prejudiced' Gays

Posted on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 08:59 AM

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As identical twins studies show conclusively homosexual attraction is NOT genetic, not 'just born that way". It should be obvious, but if 98% of men are attracted to women, it is clear how we are 'just born". The church doesn't demonize homosexually attracted persons but it recognizes the undeniable etyology of the condition. The tens of thousands of dead young men from AIDS and that fact that 2% of the population suffers 61% of new HIV infections shows what shouldn't have to be explained. We are not at all designed for sexual acts with the same gender. Few things are as obvious as that.

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pilib04 | Feb 19, 2011, 10:13 PM EST

Little wonder that a pedophile-priest-hiding cardinal would decide its safe to attack gays and lesbians. This "man" should have resigned in 2008 or should have been fired by the vatican. He has no business heading the Church in Chicago. This "man"a continued paying a pedophile priest and continued his employment in the diocese. A "priest" named Martin has been living in the Cardinal's residence even though he is a convicted sex offender/child molester. Four other "priests, Dubi, Grace, Maday, and Bennett.

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maloney | Feb 18, 2011, 01:45 PM EST

pacifist...there is no excuse for the deleting of many posts on IC. They will delete them if they don't like them. Cahir's blog is the worst for deleting posts that fuffle his feathers. Even if I don't agree with you, never stop posting.

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pacifist | Feb 18, 2011, 10:54 AM EST

The last time I submitted a comment I did so in the heat of the moment and used intemperate language by name calling all of which I regret and for which I apologise to Niall O'Dowd, Cahir O'Doherty and the Moderator. However I believe the censorship is unwarranted, that the First Amendment is being disrepected and the deleting of comments displays a lack of courage and a fear of the truth. I also foolishly said I would no longer visit the Irish Central website or submit comments on topics of interest to me, but I have since changed my mind. This may annoy some, however that is my intention.

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maloney | Feb 16, 2011, 09:12 PM EST

If you chose the RCC at least you would still have your head.

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eiriamach | Feb 16, 2011, 03:42 PM EST

McNabb writes, "And if they think that the Catholic Church is their enemy then perhaps they'd like to take a run at Islam..." Right, that's my point: radical Muslims set up theocracies, states in which the Koran is, in effect, the law. Are you saying that in the US we should write the Vatican's doctrines into law? Six of one, half a dozen of the other--either way, we'd have religion running the state. No thanks!

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eiriamach | Feb 16, 2011, 03:37 PM EST

I'd like to say to Cardinal George, "an open display of prejudice" is not illegal; the US Constitution protects it. The 1st Amendment does not limit freedom of speech to words that are sweet and polite. It protects even speech we find loathsome so that each of us has the same freedom when we need it. But the real issue in the Catholic bishops' perennial war on same-sex unions is separation of church and state. Religious leaders, as olovely points out, have no special expertise on what is moral, what "Nature" might approve or disapprove of, or even what God approves of. Yes, as McNabb says, marriage is a civil contract in which the state has an interest (to protect the couple's union as a stable environment for children while they grow up). But that means that the state protects the privacy of married couples and their families, and in the US, where religion does not write laws, such protections should apply equally to all families. How many Catholics are funding their bishops' expensive lobbying efforts to write discrimination into state laws? Why don't these Catholics have the courage to express their prejudice in words: freedom of speech is free, so use it to tell the world whose lifestyle you do not like, rather than trying to impose your sense of morality on others through the force of law. Expressing and practicing your beliefs is what freedom of religion means. Keeping your religious views out of our state laws is what separation of church and state means.

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McNabb1966 | Feb 15, 2011, 08:13 PM EST

Being a homosexual doesn't excuse religious bigotry. The Cardinal's statement is appropriate and correct. And for the record, Cahir: The institution of marriage is NOT "private." It's a social union that involves more people than just the couple in question. It's also a civil contract that requires licensing by the state. Can you at least get the facts right? And if they think that the Catholic Church is their enemy then perhaps they'd like to take a run at Islam...

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McNabb1966 | Feb 15, 2011, 07:37 PM EST

I'm waiting patiently to see a pregnant man walking down the street.

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quixotic | Feb 15, 2011, 06:46 PM EST

The church that I spent so much of my life believing in is hopelessly lost. It is totally insignificant and its officials are useless. Like people 'choose' the homosexual life style!!! Idiots!!! It is what it is and is 'natural' (because it occurs naturally) as any other life style. We must respect all people. Thre is no doubt that in a conflict of debate, my jesus would stand with the protesting gays rather than the obnoxious priests.

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pacifist | Feb 15, 2011, 06:17 PM EST

FAO Niall O'Dowd, Cahir O'Doherty and the Moderator: Since you do not respect the First Amendment in allowing freedom of expression having censored by total deletion of legitimate comments I submitted - comments rooted in verifiable facts and facts you could not refute - in relation to the serious and often fatal consequences for those participating in the homosexual lifestyle I will no longer read Irish Central in any form nor will I visit your website and thus will never again submit comments on any topic no matter how trivial. My view is that you are cowardly, dishonest and thoroughly hypocritical in that since you are unable to refute my assertions you delete them within a short time of their appearance. At no time did any of my comments disrepect sexually active homosexuals, but all of them presnetd the unvarnished truth of the health consequences for sexually active male homosexuals. Rtherv than letting them read the truth you conceal it and prevent those who are thinking of adopting such a death promoting lifestyle from turning away from it. You reveal a lack of genuine love and concern for these unfortunates and thus condemn many more to told misery. I can only put it down to wilful ignorance and real understanding of what is best for your fellow human beings.

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olovely | Feb 15, 2011, 03:10 PM EST

Jays but you're an awful judgmental plaster of paris moygannon. Who appointed you judge and jury of what's natural. Sure isn't nature teeming with every kind of sexual coupling. Clearly you've never looked at nature in your life.

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moygannon | Feb 15, 2011, 02:43 PM EST

Don't overlook the Natural Law: anything contrary to nature is immoral.

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olovely | Feb 15, 2011, 02:11 PM EST

And what is Cardinal George doing if not trying to ram his views down the throats of gays? They didn't ask for his input into their private lives. They didn't ask him to try and intimidate politicians into doing what he tells them. Let gays live in peace and dignity and let men like the Cardinal finally allow them to.

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joan1954 | Feb 15, 2011, 01:50 PM EST

I think people need to realize we all have a right to live in peace not matter what we are. But that said, there are elements in the alternative lifestyle community who would like to ram their beliefs down the throats of those who do not believe as they do. Live in peace.

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