Reject Pro-Gay Candidates Catholic Voters Told

[Cannikin]

(Boston, Massachusetts) The Roman Catholic Church in Massachusetts is telling voters to reject any candidate who does not support amending the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

The warning comes a week after President George W. Bush sought the help of Pope John Paul in encouraging priests to support a proposed amendment to the US Constitution to prevent gay marriage, a move seen as asking the Church to endorse his reelection campaign. (story)

This week Catholic bishops from across the country are meeting in Colorado to decide what sanctions they will impose on Catholic politicians who do not support the amendment. (story)

In a letter to every parish in Massachusetts the Catholic Conference, the political lobbying arm of the Church, voters are urged to let lawmakers who did not vote to ban gay marriage know of their "profound disappointment.''

full story:
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/06/061504massRC.htm

[lovedems]

1. Depending on what comes out of this Bishops conference,

I may have to re-think my children's enrollment at Catholic School. They have I have a soon to be 3rd grader, 2nd grader and 1st grader. This is so disappointing to me as a Catholic. So disappointing. :cry:

[cheezus]

7. yeah, people were worried about an anglican schism

because of the gay bishop, but I'd be more worried about a schism on the catholic side... Of all the christian sects, the catholics seem to be pretty big on love and forgiveness and actual jesus stuff; I'm guessing that lots of catholics will not be able to tolerate the hate.

[lovedems]

16. Belonging to that Catholic church, I know very few people who like the

idea of the leaders of the Catholic church engaging in politics.

We get the Catholic Times newspaper and several weeks ago they published a poll that 80% of Catholics wanted the Bishops to stay out of politics. The Bishops should listen to their parishoners or I bet we see a decline in membership to the Catholic Church. They are still struggling with membership after the child abuse scandal.

I have *never* in my 36 years of life been to a mass that preaches hatred and intolerance. On the contrary it is about acceptance and understanding.

[Walt Starr]

19. Yeah, but I bet 99% of the parishoners wanted priests to not rape

their children either.

Look at how the Bishops listened to the parishoners on that issue for decades!

[lovedems]

25. Yeah, and look what it did for the numbers.

There was a huge drop in people who attended the church.

The Bishops aren't doing themselves any favors by manipulating the oversight board either.

If the Bishops keep up this behavior, I suspect many will continue to leave the church. I have given them the benefit of the doubt because I happen to love my parish and my monsignor. I like the education my children are getting. What my actions will be remain to be seen however, I will not indefinately give them the benefit of the doubt. I "dont tolerate" intolerance and hatred.

[Az_lefty]

2. Separation of Church & State.

I absolutely resent * asking the Church to get involved in a Political agenda. Nice way to divide and conquer.

[Hammie]

9. The Bill of Rights

is meant to protect the people from the government, not the other way around. A religion endorsing a political alternative, or candidate, is protected. You know, the right to peacable assembly, the right to petition govt. for redress of grievances, no law respecting the establishment of religion.

If the Catholic church had come out and said to vote against any candidate that supported the war on Iraq, would you be pissing and moaning about it on DU?

[Cannikin]

12. Yes.

If they were making racist statements instead of homophobic ones, would you be jumping up and defending them?

"Juvenile... YES, that is what makes it fun..."

[Hammie]

26. Can you read?

Where did I support the Catholic Church's statement? My point, for the reading impaired, is that it isn't unconstitutional for a church to take a position on political issues. I will go even farther, and say that a church's right to have, and express, an opinion doesn't depend on whether or not I agree with their opinion.



http://www.readingcomprehensionconnection.com/

Check it out!

[Walt Starr]

31. Yes, but it does violate their tax exempt status and makes them a PAC

which requires them to pay income taxes on all donations and does not allow donors to write off the donations as a charitable contribution.

Otherwise, I'd be able to write off my donations to DU.

[Tyler Durden]

33. You tell 'em Walt.

I'm sick to death of Fundies, Scalia and Opus Dei, and other fools telling me what to do.

If they want that right, PAY SOME GOD DAMNED TAXES.

[Walt Starr]

17. I would be pissing and moaning about it

The Catholic Church is tax exempt so long as it does not get involved in politics. It no longer qualifies for tax exempt status because it is now a PAC.

The taxes on the church should be sufficient to cover some of the bills the Chimp has put on the collective American credity card.

[KAZ]

18. Make all the freaking statements you want...

... just not on my dime.

[ElectroPrincess]

23. Absolutely not!

"If the Catholic church had come out and said to vote against any candidate that supported the war on Iraq, would you be pissing and moaning about it on DU?"

That's precisely the point: There's a myriad of behaviors that are against Catholic church teachings. Hardly anyone would or could be supported BECAUSE a candidate represents the people of *all faiths*. Although I'm a practicing Catholic, I realize that ours is NOT the only religion. It's not the United "Catholic" States of America. I'm so ashamed of these radical right wing Priests. We, as Americans must always promote the separation of Church and State.

[Walt Starr]

3. Remove 501(c)3 status for Catholic Church NOW

They've officially crossed the line and are now a PAC.

[Joanne98]

24. Good idea

let's do it. Where's Howard Dean when you need him.........

[Baltimoreboy]

27. He lost

And so will Kerry if he advocates going after churches.

The Catholic Church has a right to its constitutionally protected speech. You don't have to like it, but you do have to tolerate it.

Funny how you never see these complaints about churches that agree with our opinions.

[Walt Starr]

28. WRONGO

The Catholic Church is now advocating which candidates parishoners vote for in direct violation of their 501(c)(3) status. They have a right to do this, but must begin paying taxes on all income and assets.

They are now a PAC and should be forced to file the necessary paperwork as such.

[terrya]

4. Time to yank the catholic church's tax exempt status.

I've had it with this bullshit. This is plainly political activity. If the fucking church wants to be a political organization, they can start paying their share of taxes.

[Cannikin]

32. kick

[Lindacooks]

5. They should lose their tax-free status

for that. Remember, chimpy et al want to be able to shut down non profits that criticize their actions.

http://www.moveon.org/news/fec-gag.html

The same should apply to the other side.

[tom_paine]

15. Selective Prosecution is a hallmark of Imperial Amerika

One of it's defining characteristics, you might say.

Like so many other Totalitarian ansd Imperial Nations who have come before us.

[SarahB]

34. Exactly!

Churches have a every right to teach whatever values or morals they want to teach, but to be as bold as to actually have an open political platform or tell members of their congregation who to vote for, that's stepping over the line.

[Sandpiper]

6. A better idea would be to reject religious bigotry

And send a message to the Vatican that the laws of the United States are determined by its citizens and not the Vatican.

[Tyler Durden]

13. How many times to we have to scream "SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?"

The Vatican and the College of Cardinals do not exist in a vacuum. No matter what your belief structure, these people are not stupid. So why the flexing of muscle?

Simple.

Fundamentalists dominate the neocon agenda: PROTESTANT Fundamentalists. Opus Dei is running behind: they need to boost influence.

IT IS TIME TO REMOVE ALL VESTIGES OF RELIGION FROM SECULAR GOVERNMENT. IT IS PAST TIME. IT IS LIKELY TOO LATE ALREADY.

Oh yeah, and jerk the Catholic Church's tax exempt status; RIGHT GOD DAMNED NOW. I agree with other posters; with this declaration, they have become a PAC.

[DenverDem]

8. Ironic as hell, considering the preponderance of gay clergy.

What the catholic church should do is allow the priests to marry each other and get them off the poor alter boys.

[demnan]

10. Well the Catholic church would be against gay marriage

they've lost all their straight priests because these guys want to marry women so if the gays are allowed to marry, who's going to want to be a priest?

[LTR]

11. So... they would actually campaign against one of their own in Kerry?

Remember, Kerry is Catholic. And it was certainly tough enough for another Catholic to win the White House (Kennedy). There was also a lot of anti-Catholic bias at the time. And notice that there hasn't been a Catholic president since?

They should remember that by casting their lot with conservative candidates, they are also favoring fundamentalists that loathe Catholicism. Hell, Falwell would rather suck up to a cult leader (Sun Myung Moon) than the Pope!

This is ridiculous. If the Catholic church was smart, they would side with Catholic candidates, instead of tarnishing them. This will be of no benefit to the church. It will only divide the church more.

And considering the scandals that have plagued the church as of late, the last thing they need is more negative press.

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

[ElectroPrincess]

20. Not again! They need to refocus on themselves first ...

This is the reason that, although I attend Mass, I sit or kneel quietly while most others take Communion. As long as these right-wing priests try to mix our blessed faith with politics, I can't fully prepare myself to properly confess my personal sins.

Shame on these Bishops and Priests for they demonstrate far too much pride. It's no less than tragic that these right wingers are what people of other faiths use to judge the rest of us Catholics. IMO although I (do my personal best) to follow the Pope's teachings, I do NOT allow rouge right wing priest to sway me; nor my belief that the best we should do as individuals is set an example for our children.

*Truth be told, we don't have absolute control, nor should we, over our children, much less, embarrassing leaders of our faith and/or the USA voting populace.

[Jacobin]

14. Yeah. Support only pedophile friendly candidates

:eyes:
These goobers better pull their asses back into their theocratic domain.

[Walt Starr]

21. Reject Pro-Childrape Bishops, Walt Starr says

Same guys who covered up baby rpaing priests are saying this shit now.

[I thought so.]

22. How about the candidate that...

Launches an illegal war.( called "unjust"} by the pope. How about all the politicians that use capital punishment for political gain? Another NO,NO, re Catholic teaching. And of course the man that looked away when children were raped has a new BIG job at the "Vatican".

Are you sick yet? How would anyone listen to this old fool. Not me.

[gpandas]

29. it's this kind of interference that

made me change sig line again

[Cannikin]

30. kick

[stavka]

35. I'm sure they've been told to reject pro-Jewish candidates too

American Catholics, like most Americans, are pretty decent people in the end.

Deeds, not words go very far with them.

[Cannikin]

36. kick