Another priest defies bishops on same-sex marriage initiative
Another priest has broken ranks with California's bishops on the Protect Marriage initiative, telling his parishioners in the church's weekly bulletin, "I cannot in conscience unequivocally support Proposition 8."
The remarks came in a "dear parishioners" letter published Oct. 5. by Claretian Fr. Steve Niskanen, pastor of San Gabriel Mission in the Los Angeles archdiocese.
The same day that Fr. Niskanen expressed his opinion in San Gabriel, Fr. Geoffrey Farrow told parishioners at the St. Paul Newman Center in Fresno following his Sunday morning homily that he opposed the marriage initiative - and admitted during a television interview before the Mass that he was a homosexual.
In his "dear parishioners" letter at San Gabriel Mission, Fr. Niskanen went through each of the ballot measures endorsed by the Catholic bishops of California one by one. He said he supports Proposition 4 - the family notification before a minor's abortion initiative, and that he opposes Proposition 6 - the "Safe Neighborhoods Act," which would add new crimes and tougher penalties to state law. Fr. Niskanen's positions on Props 4 and 6 are in line with the recommendations of the bishops.
But when it came to Proposition 8, which would amend the state constitution to outlaw same-sex marriages, Fr. Niskanen disagreed. After reprinting a portion of the bishops' arguments in favor of the proposition, he wrote: "I deeply respect and submit to the authority of our bishops and the force of traditional Catholic teaching limiting sexual relations to the love and life-giving commitment of heterosexual marriage. But I cannot in conscience unequivocally support Proposition 8 because I cannot in my heart of hearts say with certainty, at this time, that God would not call His gay and lesbian children into a faithful and life-long covenant with one another." [article]
Plus there are all those examples of same-sex couples in the Old and New Testament living a life-long covenant with one another. Oh wait, funny how the Holy Spirit inspired no one to mention this if homosexual relations are approved by God. Apologists for homosexuality constantly say 5 to 10 percent of the population has same-sex attraction, so it is rather strange for scripture to not even mention that "faithful" homosexual relations were always part of God's plan. Go forth and be fruitful except this segment.
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Why oh Why does this happen. A word this padre has not heard of is prudence. Prudence to know when to state what he thinks and prudence to keep his mouth shut. Oh well he has said what he has said.
Yes God loves all sinners but he does not love our sins and he wishes that we destest and leave them behind so that we are set free.
Not to preach to the padre who i am sure spent more years studying theology than me, however when Jesus met the woman caught in fornication (any sin for our age) he did not condemn her, Jesus said 'woman does anyone condemn you' she said no' Jesus said 'Neither do I, GO AND SIN NO MORE' maybe the padre would do well to reflect on that passage in the gospel.
Isn't it similar with prominent supposedly pro-life Catholics supporting Obama?
BTW, "St. Paul Newman Center" Ha! That gave me a chuckle.
these priests seem somewhat ignorant or are taking their callings lightly. They need to study JP II's Theology of the Body and realize "In the beginning it was not so".
But Jeff, wouldn't "a life-long convent" be okay? :)
"...I cannot in my heart of hearts say with certainty, at this time, that God would not call His gay and lesbian children into a faithful and life-long covenant with one another."
Of course God is calling his gay and lesbian children into a faithful and life-long covenant with one another! It's called baptism--the most basic covenant we Christians have with one another through the redeeming love of Christ.
Fr. Philip, OP
Maybe the time has come to excommunicate anyone who uses the odd term "heterosexual".
From the San Gabriel Mission Weekly Bulletin, dated October 19, 2008...
Dear Parishioners of San Gabriel Mission:
The Peace of Christ be with you!
Two weeks ago, I presented in a bulletin letter an overview of the three Propositions (4, 6 and 8) on which our California Bishops’ Conference has taken an official position. I presented these positions in summary, but then added my own personal opinion regarding Proposition 8, framing it as a matter of my conscience. I regret and apologize for placing my opinions on the same level as our Bishops, “the authentic teachers of the faith.” I fully respect and support our Bishops’ position that Proposition 8 does not intend to infringe on the human and legal rights of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters; rather it seeks to preserve the restriction of the term “marriage” to the complementary, life-long partnership of the whole of life, open to the gift of children, between one man and one woman.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Steve Niskanen, CMF, Pastor.