Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn released the following statement shortly after Governor Cuomo signed the same-sex ‘marriage’ bill into law.
|Today, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature have deconstructed the single most important institution in human history. Republicans and Democrats alike succumbed to powerful political elites and have passed legislation that will undermine our families and as a consequence, our society.
With this vote, Governor Cuomo has opened a new front in the culture wars that are tearing at the fabric of our nation. At a time when so many New Yorkers are struggling to stay in their homes and find jobs, we should be working together to solve these problems. However, the politicians have curried favor with wealthy donors who are proponents of a divisive agenda in order to advance their own careers and futures.
What is needed in our state is leadership and not political gamesmanship.
In light of these disturbing developments and in protest for this decision, I have asked all Catholic schools to refuse any distinction or honors bestowed upon them this year by the governor or any member of the legislature who voted to support this legislation. Furthermore, I have asked all pastors and principals to not invite any state legislator to speak or be present at any parish or school celebration.
The above request is intended as a protest of the corrupt political process in New York State. More than half of all New Yorkers oppose this legislation. Yet, the governor and the state legislature have demonized people of faith, whether they be Muslims, Jews, or Christians, and identified them as bigots and prejudiced, and voted in favor of same-sex “marriage.” It is mystifying that this bill would be passed on the last day of an extended session under the cover of darkness.
This issue has been framed as upholding marriage equality. This is not the case since one of the principal purposes of marriage is to bring new life into the world. This cannot happen in same-sex marriage. It is not a civil rights issue, but rather a human rights issue upholding the age-old understanding of marriage. Our political leaders do not believe their own rhetoric. If they did, how in good conscience could they carve out any exemption for institutions that would be proponents of bigotry and prejudice?
Republicans and Democrats equally share responsibility for this ruinous legislation and we as Catholics should hold all accountable for their actions.
Now that’s a statement. Anything from Bishop Clark? (crickets chirping)
Resounding thanks to a courageous and faithful bishop who speaks truth!! +JMJ
I know the legalization of Same Sex Marriage is an affront to our Roman Catholic Faith, and not only to our faith, but to the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian faith as Bishop DiMarzio has said. I also believe it is an affront to the Hindu and Buddhism faith, as well as other major faiths. But one thing we can take assurance in as that no faith institution will be able to be sued for refusing to perform a Same Sex Marriage. Can you imagine what would have happened if that provision was not included? Churches of major faiths would be in court all the time and be spending large amounts of money simply to uphold their faith, and if a major faith lost a lawsuit, it could mean the crippling of annihilation of that faith in New York or the United States. Think, the Roman Catholic Church already is in a state of hardship of priest shortage, lawsuits, and church closings (especially in the DoR),it would have meant catastrophe if churches were obliged to marry Same Sex Couples and could be sued if they refused.
God bless Bishop Dimarzio for his faithfulness. Next stop — please — excommunication of any so-called Catholics who voted for SSM. We truly do need the Church to use what is at her disposal.
Correction/Clarification: In my last post, should have read : In regard to “Can you image if the provision wasn’t included? (Churches not being able to be sued for not performing Same Sex Marriages)—Should have read–“Churches of major faiths would be in court all the time spending large amounts of money simply to uphold their faith, and if a major faith lost a lawsuit, it could mean the crippling or annihilation of that faith in New York State or the United States.”
I hail Bishop DiMarzio in his courage and boldness to take a stand on opposing Same Sex Marriage. I think parishioners should make their position known about performing Sex Sex Marriages in their church as at least the law of the state does not require them to perform them. Although formal teachings do not allow Same Sex Marriage, individual clergy will try to find loopholes to conduct these services if there is no objection.
He makes great guitar pickups too! Oh wait…different DiMarzio. 😀
Bishop M. Clark is busy making tough decisions.
Someone ought to relieve him of his tough decisions.
“excommunicate them!” ” off with their heads!”
If the action is not an excommunicable offense the perpetrators of the action can’t be excommunicated.
Remember, excommunication, is a tool used to call sinners to repentance, not a blunt weapon with which to belabour those with whom we disagree. This is not to say that I support the idea of “same sex marriage.”
What do you think, Sharon? Is the SSM legislation, voted for by avowed Catholics, less than the offence for which St. Paul called for excommunication in 1 Corinthians 5:1-5?
“It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
Bishop DiMarzio:
The matter of same-sex marriage is an adult oriented issue. Why are the school children, older students and schools being asked to renounce any honors, awards, and possibly scholarships from the political sphere as a form of retaliation against the Albany government?
Maybe it is time for you and your limo driver to go to Albany and confront the governor yourself instead of hiding in your office behind your pectoral cross!!!!??
Bishop DiMarzio,
Thank you for speaking out against perversity and abominations before God while carrying your cross as well as wearing one. It takes a man to do this. Thank you for seeking to protect children from perversity and abomination, and the death that comes from sin. Please continue to call a sin a sin and a virtue a virtue. John the Baptist did the same.
Well anonymousII, help us out. Apart from the limo comment which, admit it, is you overheating your rhetoric, how should the necessary protest manifest itself?
I noticed that Sharon used the expression “off with their heads” even though of course no one had suggested that. And it was interesting that Coal mentioned St. John the Baptist. How ironic both these comments are.
I don’t think I’ve seen this mentioned (I apologize if someone already did) but last Friday, the day this abomination of law passed, was the Feast of St. John the Baptist. I wonder if we are being called to pray for his intercession in a special way. God has a special place in His Heart for Feast Days (Happy Corpus Christi everyone) and I think He would honor St. John the Baptist’s intervention in a special way. St. John didn’t mince words did he? “Brood of vipers” indeed. What do you think of a special effort to invoke the intercession of St. John?
And, militia, St. John the Baptist was a man who ignored the needs of his body as he kept his eyes on the real reason we’re all here…. to get there!
I think your idea to pray to this saint is great advice, considering that in light of all you and I have just said, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist… From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force…. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” +JMJ
Anon.-84149,
Both St. Agnes and St. Thomas Aquinas are frequently invoked by those struggling to live chaste lives, and I’m sure there are others I cannot think of at the moment.
Scott W:
The same way that Paul confronted Peter over the question of the Jweish dietary laws!!!
anonymous 84149;
Some seem to indicate that Cardinal Newman might be a candidate.
or Henri Neuwin
Raymond, I’ve heard that as well, but I don’t think it comes from people who actually knew or properly studied Newman. The Newman experts I’ve heard say it’s all bunk. Our hypersexualized context leaves us always relating everything to sex. Newman spoke passionately about his friendships with mean – that in no way implies that he wanted to be sexual with them.
Yes, the seven veils of Herod’s dance were probably a “rainbow” of colors (ROYGBIV), St. John the Baptist, pray for us! Even though NY isn’t the first state, this is a completely unprecedented action in the history of Man. Oh if only Chesterton were here to comment. But as it is, this invalid “law” must ultimately be vacated, soon we pray, or our Union will collapse. What body is mounting the suit of this “law”? We must support that body. God bless, you. Body and Blood of Christ, we adore You, sustain us. AMEN.
Faith7love: http://www.leaderu.com/ftissues/ft9411/articles/darling.html
Professor Boswell, clearly influenced by his own orientation and his quarrels with the Catholic Church over its teachings on homosexuality and homosexual behavior, had an active imagination.
This is as much imagination as the feminist theologians who have devised a theory of a post-Jesus Church of perfect equality, one that was later squashed by male domination. It just ain’t so.
Several comments have just been removed.
For the most part they were merely links to other sites with no accompanying text.
If you have a point to make, please make it. Don’t just post a link and then expect others to wade through a web site, trying to figure out what your point might have been.
In the future, link-only comments on my posts will simply disappear as soon as I see them.
Thanks also for removing heretical, filthy attacks on the Church and/or Scripture.
What is it that you fear? That the church is wrong in the teachings of the One True Faith and the Love of God within the heart, mind and soul, the Holy Roman Catholic Faith amen. You may have removed the postings, but the fact stil remains in the hearts and minds of those who have read it. peace…
@militia:
Those posting that you thought was heretical and filthy attacks was obatined from Catholic website on the net. The fact still remains, October 7th is the feast day of Sts Sergius and Bacchus recognized. So before you blaspheme the Holy Church and call it heretical, please do you homework. You and many readers may deny this fact of church history, but facts are facts and can never be changed. Peace…
faith7love,
As I said before, if you have a point to make, please do so. And if you need to include a link to help make your point, go ahead.
Posting a link all by itself is not making a point. Instead, it is asking your reader to wade through a strange web site, all the while trying to guess what might be on your mind. That, faith7love, is just plain rude.
I’m not going to waste my time playing that game.