Under Orders, Seattle's Catholic Churches Instruct Parishioners to Lobby Against Marriage Equality

[Newsjock]

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/01/22/under-orders-seattles-catholic-churches-instruct-parishioners-to-lobby-against-marriage-equality

Inside every bulletin at St. James Cathedral, the laity received marching orders today to begin pressuring their state lawmakers to stop the marriage equality measure in Olympia. In fact, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain disseminated the message to all 175 parishes under his jurisdiction of Western Washington and instructed them to print it in their bulletins. Here's the entire statement:

ARCHBISHOP SARTAIN HAS ASKED THAT THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT BE PUBLISHED IN ALL PARISH BULLETINS THIS WEEKEND
PROTECT MARRIAGE Legislators will be voting soon on whether to the change current law defining marriage. Marriage between a man and a woman is essential for family life and the foundation of any society. Please call, email or write your state Senator and two Representatives urging them to support the current law and defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Call 1-800-562-6000 to leave a message for your legislators. Go to the Washington State Legislature website at http://aps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx to find your legislator and to write or email a message to them.

That wasn't all: Copies of a more detailed anti-gay proclamation, issued by Sartain and three other Washington State bishops on January 13, were tucked into the vestibules of St. James. "Upholding the present definition of marriage," the decree warned, is necessary for the "continuation of the human race."

[Frances]

1. Where does the Catholic church stand on Gingrich's love life?

[southernyankeebelle]

6. The first 2 marriages didn't take place in the catholic church. I don't think it effects

the cheating bastard on his 3d marriage is effected by it. He also could have paid his way clear. The catholic church has lost all sense of doing the right thing. They have aligned themselves to close to the evangelical church. Funny that church hates the catholic church but they need each other.

[DevonRex]

2. I hope they lose their tax exempt status

over this. Disgusting.

[moriah]

9. I think that's actually allowed...

... it's speech about *candidates* that is bad, but I might be wrong.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=161131,00.html

There's the IRS's take on it.

[DevonRex]

11. Well damn.

My brother's church even has visiting "ministers" change the titles of their talks so that they don't look political, even though they are.

[Critters2]

10. Churches and other 501(c)3s are allowed to speak on social issues.

Just can't back a candidate or party.

[DevonRex]

3. Kick. We have to fight these assholes. Nt

[mitchtv]

4. OMG, I'm getting old, I read the archbishop's name as "Satan"

close

[cyberpj]

5. When will we start TAXING CHURCHES that are crossing the separation of church and state line?

I thought the whole idea whas that each stayed out of each others' business.

Now that churches are giving political instruction, why aren't they paying taxes like all other money-grubbing businesses?

[Critters2]

12. Churches and other 501(c)3s are allowed to speak on social issues.

Just can't take a partisan position in elections.

[cyberpj]

22. Speaking on social issues - is not campaigning for one party by telling your

churchgoers to call their representatives and tell them this or that. Perhaps we disagree here but I say let the lawyers fight it out. I'm tired of churches taking a political position and instructing their followers to not only do the same but to campaign within politics to do it. I say it's wrong and I'm sticking to it.

Also:
"Upholding the present definition of marriage," the decree warned, is necessary for the "continuation of the human race."

Really?! Because there will be no more children born, ever? Please. This is politics by fear - something this particular 'church' has been doing since it's inception.

[TheMastersNemesis]

15. Tardis

Nice Tardis. We need Dr. Who to come to the rescue. We are being invaded by monsters.

Seriously, Bishop Satan is way out of line. The church should be preaching economic fairness and justice. It should be accusing American business of stealing from the working class and the poor. Then again if they did that the Chamber and GOP would have their tax status changed immediately if they could. The whole world is upside down. The churches are the antichrist.

I was raised Catholic and went to school in Catholic for 16 1/2 years. They have really gone off the deep end with their hate politics.

[cyberpj]

25. You've got that right!

Not invaded, but governed and controlled for years now.

Re: The Tardis - "It's bigger on the inside"

Perhaps Sci Fi allegory is the better teacher of right and wrong than overly translated supposedly holy directives which I believe were created by long ago ruling classes in order to keep the rabble in line.

My husband went to Catholic school his whole life and after further education became the most anti-Catholic ex-Catholic I've ever known.

I think I learned a lot more from Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and other sci fi entertainment than I ever did from my own church about true peace, love and respect for every living thing.

One snip of one show:
The Doctor: Call me old fashioned, but if you really wanted peace couldn't you just stop fighting?
Lieutenent Cobb: Only when we have the Source. It will give us the power to erase every stinking Hath off the face of this planet.
The Doctor: Hang on, a second ago it was peace in our time and now you're talking about genocide!
Lieutenent Cobb: For us, that means the same thing!
The Doctor: Then you need to get yourself a better dictionary. When you do, look up genocide. You'll see a little picture of me there and the caption'll read 'over my dead body!'

[Nye Bevan]

7. So, they have the same postion on marriage equality as President Barack Obama.

To his shame.

[rhett o rick]

8. They need their tax exempt status revoked, and a good spanking. nm

[Critters2]

13. They're within their legal rights, as long as they don't back candidate or party. nt

[rhett o rick]

14. Then the laws need changing. My tax money should subsidize their political agenda. nm

[Critters2]

16. Then no 501(c)3 would be able to speak to social issues.

These laws govern progressive organizations as well. Those who speak in favor of marriage equality (like my church) would be silenced, too. So would non-profits who speak to other issues.

[rhett o rick]

17. I dont mind 501(c)3 being tax exempt as long as they didnt accumulate wealth. nm

[dimbear]

18. Some people are both Catholic. Some are born gay. Difference is you can stop being Catholic. n/t

[RainDog]

19. Seems like it's time for a little pamphleting on the public sidewalk outside the church

and maybe some picketing as well.

Funny how the continuation of the human race is such a grave concern when the earth is so overpopulated. But lying is one of Satan's oldest tricks.

[_ed_]

20. Catholic Church = hate organization

Substitute "interracial" for "gay." Same thing.

To the so-called "good" Catholics out there: gay people can't choose not to be gay, but you can choose who you associate with, give money to, and support in general. The Catholic Church is a hate group engaging in hate speech against a small, marginalized minority. Whose side are you on?

[Arugula Latte]

24. +1

[Marrah_G]

21. Does anyone know if this actually breaks the tax exempt church laws?

[moriah]

26. I posted the IRS's take on it in my first post on this thread....

... .as far as I know, it doesn't.

[Arugula Latte]

23. People need to STOP SUPPORTING this church.

I don't care how groovy and liberal your own particular parish is, when your butt is in the pew, you're helping to prop up the vile Vatican and Pope.