A group of about 50 LGBT activists led by Chicago's Gay Liberation Network picketed the city's Holy Name Cathedral and Cardinal Francis George yesterday, protesting the Catholic Church's relentless attempts to block marriage equality and civil unions in the state.
Critics contend the Church's speedy attempts to block equality legislation stand in stark contrast to their decades of foot dragging on the international abuse crisis within their own walls.
At yesterdays protest GLN leader and activist Andy Thayer told the press: “Cardinal George went into overdrive to try to defeat the civil unions bill in Springfield. Every single piece of pro-rights legislation that's ever been proposed for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community, this cardinal and his predecessors have opposed.”
But in a statement yesterday George shot back: "Some members of the Gay Liberation Network demonstrated in front of Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday, February 13, protesting against Catholic Church teaching on the immorality of homosexual genital relations and opposition to so called 'gay marriage.' These are deeply felt issues, because they speak to the personal identity of some and to the religious beliefs of others. No matter the issue, Catholics should be able to worship in peace, without fear of harassment. An open display of prejudice against the Catholic Church because of resentment of Church teachings prejudices civil discourse in our society.”
Genital relations? Prejudice? Oh now that wouldn't be an attempt to dehumanize your opponents, and claim the opprressed mantle for yourself would it Cardinal George? After all, no powerful longstanding international organization is attempting to strip you of your rights, even to express yourself in such a sinister fashion.
So perhaps you can cool the rhetoric and extend them the same courtesy that you ask for yourself. The LGBT protesters are not attempting to change the Church's mind after all, they are simply protesting at the Church's continuing political interference in their private lives.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Toronthab | Dec 08, 2011, 11:55 PM EST
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.
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.
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.
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.
maloney | Feb 16, 2011, 09:12 PM EST
If you chose the RCC at least you would still have your head.
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!
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.
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...
| Feb 15, 2011, 07:37 PM EST
I'm waiting patiently to see a pregnant man walking down the street.
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.
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.
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.
moygannon | Feb 15, 2011, 02:43 PM EST
Don't overlook the Natural Law: anything contrary to nature is immoral.
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.
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.
pacifist | Feb 15, 2011, 01:05 PM EST
FAO the Moderator: I see there is a comment attributed to me which I did not submit. It begins with the words, " Why is theis guy writing for Irish Central etc., ". I did not write or submit this. Please delete. Thank you!
Nicomax | Feb 15, 2011, 12:54 PM EST
The good Cardinal seems to forget that his diocese happens to be in a country wherein secular law trumps religious law. He can exclaim all he wants about other people's sexual preferences, but it's only when local, state and federal governments rule on such issues that it matters. Now there are a variety of theocracies around the world where he may feel more comfortable.
IrishCanuck | Feb 15, 2011, 12:06 PM EST
I have nothing against the Catholics or any other religion being against gays etc, but what I am against is that they want to influnence governments into doing there will and that is not right. If they would keep it to themselves and not take it to the governments(which religion and government aren't suppose to mix) they wouldn't be harrassed by these people. I believe that gays should have the right to marry and my church does to but we don't lobby the government with our veiws or bother people. We are not God folks and the sooner we understand this the better we will be.
hollabackgurl | Feb 15, 2011, 12:05 PM EST
Irish Central should censor your last comments to, "pacifist" - they have nothing to do with the article written above. You have the right to post unrelated comments and they have the right to delete them as irrelevant to the article.
pacifist | Feb 15, 2011, 11:57 AM EST
olovely, I suppose you are alluding to be when I quote stastics and suggest I made them up myself? Irish central and Cahir O'Doherty can investigate the assertions I made and if they can find any evidence to refute my claims they can publish them. But since what I wrote is true all they can do is censor anyything I submit. So far three or four comments containing my assertions were displayed briefly and then deleted, presumably because somebody without counter claims that could be substaniated reported them as abuse. If you can't shoot the messenger eliminate the message. Whatever happened the First Amendment? But the contents of my posts are still there for Irish Central and Cahir O'Doherty to refute with their own facts and stastics if they so desire. But I don't expect them do so since that would be thinking they can pull of the impossible.
pacifist | Feb 15, 2011, 11:06 AM EST
Why is this guy writing for Irish Central? There is nothing absolutely remotely Irish about this story and in fact it is anti-Catholic bashing. Get rid of this guy!
olovely | Feb 15, 2011, 10:22 AM EST
What view of life do you think gay people have, seanskelligs? Don't you really mean "People who don't like gays?" Wouldn't it be more honest to say that? You didn't chose the color of your eyes, your ethnic background or your sexuality - and you would protest if others discriminated against you based on them. I've been watching the people who were writing anti-gay stuff here - they weren't commenting on this story, they were using it as a forum to gay bash with statistics they made up themselves.
PhlutiePhan | Feb 15, 2011, 10:22 AM EST
Man is not a god who sets his own rules. There is a God and we have to make efforts to find out just "what the 'eck He wants us to do. We all that Scripture. Semper Fi.
seanskelligs | Feb 15, 2011, 09:58 AM EST
So the gay community dont like people who do not share their view of life? Hitler did this! They are not looking for equality-they already have that. What they are looking for is an extra right to marry someone of the same sex-thats banned for everybody not just gays. Everybody including gays have the right to marry someone of the opposite sex. Dont censor other viewpoints just because you dont like the law
mayoman | Feb 15, 2011, 09:06 AM EST
To quote Cardinal George: "Catholics should be able to worship in peace, without fear of harassment." To which I add that gay men and women deserve to live in peace, and to love any marry whomever they wish, without fear of harassment.