Same-sex "marriages" on Monday

Jeff, I don't like to say I told you so but... well, yes, actually I do like to say I told you so.

It's been one month, since May 15th, when I said that gay "marriages" would be performed in Catholic Churches in California, and you called me a pessimist and said: "there is no way there will be gay marriages openly in the Catholic churches."

Now, you can quibble on that word "openly," and we'll see just how "open" it is, but I'll bet you a dollar that the priest quoted in this article is Fr. Steve Meriwether, at Most Holy Redeemer parish in San Fransisco. And I still predict that Archbishop Niederauer will make no effort to put a stop to it.

If I remember correctly Paul you said that they would be conducted openly with the Bishop taking no action. I still don't think this will happen.

Paul and Jeff going at it!? Well to quote a scene from "The Quiet Man"

"Five to one on the big chap snuffy!"

I don't get it--how can Bishop Vigneron's statement ("As faithful citizens, Catholics are called to bring our laws regarding marriage into conformity with what we know about the nature of marriage") POSSIBLY be "interpreted as urging his flock to oppose the November ballot initiative"???

Seems pretty clear to me that if our (California) laws are to conform to the truth about marriage, that would mean SUPPORTING the November initiative.

Either the reporter is relying on what someone else told her without actually reading the Bishop's letter, or she is lying through her teeth.

Bishop Vigneron's letter can be read in full at http://www.oakdiocese.org/pastoral/Bishop/default.htm

All I can say is if this doesn't merit excommunication for the priest and some sort of discipline for the bishop, I am on the brink of losing hope that the Holy Father will reign in (or throw out) these heretics. How long must we put up with this garbage!?

Doesn't this sort of statement, of its very nature, imply self-excommunication? You can't possibly be thinking with the universal Church if you're conscience is so informed that you can dissent from primary teaching and even Scripture.

Here I thought the greatest sin was the sin against the Holy spirit - the sin of final impenitence. Though I must say that the statement that with an informed conscience you can dissent against Church teaching to almost be funny if it wasn't so sad. That your conscience agrees with Church teaching is the measure that it is properly formed. If your conscience though tells you Church teaching is wrong then shouldn't your conscience lead you out of the Catholic Church which is teaching error? Especially since it is never just one issue they believe the Church is wrong upon in the first place.

Here, here! Excellent, excellent point, Jeff. I've always wondered about those who have no qualms whatsoever about either ordaining practicing gays or marrying them. Why stay in a church that believes both are wrong? Why not join a Unitarian Church or better yet, just join the Metropolitan Community Church.

But no, that wouldn't accomplish their agenda, which is to eradicate every societal structure that supports the family. In my eyes, it really does start and end with the family. Destroy the family, destroy the nation.

Here we go again. I say, enough with the "sunshine policy" approach to discipline. If it becomes necessary, and in all likelihood it appears it will be so, the Church should come out swinging (with a crozier perhaps...) at any dissident priests. Censure any an all dissident priests - strip them of their wages for a few months and take away their faculties. Require them, during their "time out", to meet with an orthodox confessor who will be given charge over their fate. If they comply, well done. If they refuse, turf them out. They will have already earned their reward by their obstinate behavior and conformity to the world. Priest shortage or no, every day a dissident priest remains in a parish, souls perish.

Warren, the CDF's attachment of automatic excommunication for attempts to ordain women certainly are a hopeful indicator that the Church is moving in that direction. That and the Holy Father's recent saying that we don't need more priests, we need faithful priests.

"If your conscience though tells you Church teaching is wrong then shouldn't your conscience lead you out of the Catholic Church which is teaching error?"

Logically one would think so. The Church teaches that the practice of homosexuality is intrinsicly evil - But the Catholic Cafeteria is still wide open to pick and choose from these days - even from supposedly 'Closed Cafeteria' Catholic blogs in regards to homosexual 'unions' (to quote: "Whether you favor the secular recognition of gay unions (as I do)...")

Well, looks like the Church of the Holy Mirror is getting more parishes.

OK, how long should we wait until polygamous marriages are done?

I'm wondering when people will be able to marry their cars?

wheeeeeeeeee! This slippery slope is fun!

"Antonio Salas, coordinator of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics group at Newman Hall Holy Spirit parish in Berkeley, said he knows of renegade priests who have performed religious marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.

"The greatest sin is to sin against your conscience. With an informed conscience, you can dissent from the church's teaching," Salas said."

Golly, time for Church budget cuts. Tough economy, ya'know.

Seriously though-- someone should tell the Bp. what's going on at "Newman Hall Holy Spirit parish in Berkeley."

"renegade priests who have performed religious marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples."
Renegade priests? As in Rent-a-Priest & Co.? Are we counting them as Catholic priests while they are in dissent? Or is the author talking about unofficial/unknown dissidents?