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NY Bishop Tells Politician: Same-Sex “Marriage” Stance is “Non-negotiable” for Practicing Catholic

According to the New York Bishop, William Murphy, the Catholic Church doesn’t want you- or at least doesn’t want you to call yourself a “practicing Catholic” if you are pro-marriage equality or pro-choice. The linked article below describes the battle brewing in Nassau County New York, where Nassua County Executive Thomas Suozzi was publicly chastised for publicly announcing that he was a practicing Catholic who now supports same-sex marriage.

I grew up in a neighborhood where there were many Catholic families, and the Catholic Church sat just up the hill. I would on occasion go with my friends to Mass on Saturday afternoon. We would be playng, and they would say they had to stop and we would race up to the church. I was always intrigued that I wasn’t “allowed” to go up for communion, and always wondered (but wasn’t brave enough to test) what would happen if I defied my friend’s warnings and went up and accepted that wafer anyway. Today, I’m wondering how Suozzi is feeling. Is this for him, the equivelent of being told, you don’t belong here? Or is it just a slap on the wrist?

I have been saying for sometime, that Marriage Equality in specific, but perhaps greater equality for the GLBTQ community in any way, will be the last straw and a major battle with religious denominations is n the way. It may be the mainstream denominations last stand. God, and Faith, will be just fine, but the Church, whatever that really means, will be changed forever. This article and the Bishop’s op-ed is one example of this battle.

While the Bishop faults the Suozzi’s logic, the reality is that it is the Church’s actions/logic which is unsupportable. Why is it that the Church has changed to accept divorce, which Jesus unquestionably condemned, yet the are holding fast on the issue of gay love and gay relationships? How is it that we have many politicians who are practicing Catholics but pro-choice, and they have been “allowed” to carry that stance, yet being pro-marriage equality will get you called out and told you can’t be a practicing Catholic? If the Catholic Church feels they have to so strongly hold to one Biblical idea/ interpretation, why has it not done this before on other issues. Actually it has. In the case of Galileo, the Church was pretty clear as it left no room for Science to question Church teachings. I think the Church may be about to make such a mistake again. Not so much, just with this one individual, but with the issue of homosexuality overall.

There are very many great people of Faith in all faith traditions who seek justice and love God. Many find denominations which allow room for a greater sense of progress and action. Some continue to seek change to the church from within. How much change will the church, and more specifically, the Catholic Church allow?

I posted this here at thomascwaters.com intentionally, where as, I usually post things of a religious nature over at qlatb.com. I saw this as less about the chuch and faith directly, and more about the intersection of this with politics, but I may move this discussion over there at some point. I admit, I don’t fully understand the idea of remaining within the Catholic Church when it is so restrictive like this. If I was a Catholic and pro-choice and pro- gay rights, I think I’d leave and find a denomination or a church home that welcomed me. But many stay within the Church. I’d love to see comments from others about this notion of staying within the church. What do you think?

NY Bishop Tells Politician: Same-Sex “Marriage” Stance is “Non-negotiable” for Practicing Catholic.