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The role of heretical gay Catholics in the destruction of marriage

As millions celebrate today the Supreme Court's striking down of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), many will be giving thanks to Edie Windsor, the 83-year-old plaintiff in the case, and her lawyer, Roberta Kaplan.

What most people will not know, however, is the instrumental role that a few members of the New York City chapter of DignityUSA played in this historic moment.

DignityUSA is an organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics that was formally expelled by the Roman Catholic church in 1986 by then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. Among the NYC chapter's many members is Brendan Fay, an Irish-born activist and filmmaker who lives in Queens with his husband, Tom Moulton.

After DOMA was signed into law in 1996, Fay and his friend and fellow activist Jesus Lebron began working for marriage equality, organizing a rally on the steps of Manhattan's City Hall in February 1998. They continued to organize and participate in rallies, discussions, and sit-ins at the NYC Marriage Bureau, and in Albany and Washington, DC, in the years following.

The whole article goes into more detail as to what was done by some of these Catholic activists to further "Marriage Equality". Just to be clear, we can't really call them representative of the Catholic Church as their group was formally expelled by Pope Benedict Emeritus when he was still a Cardinal. So their group is a heretic group.

Other prominent, so called Catholic gay activists are Dan Savage and Andrew Sullivan have done an incredible amount of damage promoting "Marriage Equality" as well. I wonder if they are also members of DignityUSA.

It's made me think about why some Catholics have been at the forefront of the redefinition of marriage. It must have something to do with the consciences of the people, where certain things are denied (ie sinfulness of same-sex activity) and they instead seek to recreate reality so that everything else around them shifts so that the internal discord is matched by the external. Most people would just discard their beliefs rather than force everything around them to change.

Related link: The Catholic Activists Behind Edie Windsor's DOMA Victory ~ Huffington Post

Comments

  1. From what I can tell, and I may be wrong, Dignity were not expelled from the Church, they were just not allowed to meet on Church property as their stated aims conflicted with Catholic teaching.

    It would not be heretical to disagree with Catholic teaching on homosexuality, as that teaching is by no means central to Catholic faith, is not taught infallibly, and is not a "truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith" CCC2089.

    It is important to show charity, goodwill, understanding, compassion, and tolerance to those who may disagree on one or another matter. And particularly on a matter as divisive, controversial, sensitive, and muddied as this particular topic is in Christianity today.

    God Bless

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  2. Chris,

    Personally, I think the Catholic teaching on homosexuality is the best of both worlds. It's tells those with the attraction to the same-sex that it's not their fault and that it's a heavy cross to bear, and that it can be borne with the help of the Church. It doesn't abandon people to a life of debauchery and pretense, it just tells them what they need to do to be happy in this life. One of the bloggers on my sidebar has his own personal story with his struggle right out there, and it would be worth reading: On Living With A Defected Sexuality Pt. 1 and Pt. 2.

    Living within the Sixth Commandment is central to the Catholic faith, is taught infallibly and is a truth that must be believed. So, to separate out homosexuality from this commandment would be quite a feat. Possible, yes, by those that seek to make homosexuals almost like a different species of person altogether.

    Anyway, I'm guessing you're just giving your own personal opinion on the matter?

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