Will Catholic Bishops Begin to Use Sacraments As Weapons Against Pro-LGBT Politicians?

UPDATE 11/25/09: Washington Post article, "Clergy abuse victims criticize RI bishop."

Original Post, 11/24/09

In what Sen. Patrick Kennedy has admitted was a long time coming, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island wrote the Catholic senator an email informing him that he will not be allowed to partake of the Eucharist, or what is commonly known as Communion, because of his support of reproductive rights, in particular when it comes to health care reform.

In a statement issued Sunday, Tobin made known he informed Kennedy in February 2007 that it would be "inappropriate" for him to continue receiving the fundamental Catholic sacrament, "and I now ask respectfully that you refrain from doing so."

MSNBC reports:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Bishop Tobin appeared on Chris Matthews and got a lashing.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The bishop is not deterred. The most recent development occurred Tuesday morning on a Rhode Island radio show on which Bishop Tobin appeared.

"If [Sen. Kennedy] cannot abide by the teaching of this church, not just this one but others and ... what it means to be a Catholic ... maybe he should find another fine Christian denomination where he can be more comfortable," the bishop said.

Bishop Tobin also has the ear of Rhode Island Gov. Carcieri, who is a member of the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage and, in a move many criticized has heartless, recently vetoed the bill that would have given domestic partners the right to make burial arrangements for each other.

But can we honestly be surprised that this is the direction that Catholic Church leadership is headed? Strong-arming politicians to craft secular law to reflect church law?

Patrick Kennedy told the Providence Journal that Tobin had barred him from receiving communion and instructed priests in the diocese not to administer the sacrament "because of the positions that I've taken as a public official."

Naturally the question arises, "What public policy positions will the church hound policy makers on next? Marriage equality?"

Michael Jones at Change.org says, "It was a narrowing of Catholic theology to strip issues like poverty and social justice from the forefront of the Church, and replace them with opposing abortion, gay marriage, and stem cell research. It was also a call to Catholic politicians: oppose abortion and gay marriage at all costs, or risk the threat of the Church denying you Communion and publicly tarring and feathering you as a sinner."

And he's right. The Archdiocese of Washington D.C. threatened to throw the poor and homeless under the bus, claiming they will end their charity work if the District City Council passed their same-sex marriage legislation.

Let's not forget to that they are issuing a new edict that will be signed by hundreds of U.S. Bishops that will strongly unite them all behind a common statement condemning the love between gays and lesbians. Behind this they can rally and step into public policy making more than ever before.

Moreover, the church has pledged $2 million to fight marriage equality, despite closing parishes left and right due to lack of funds.

More recently, some Bishops signed onto the Manhattan Declaration with a swath of excitable, anti-LGBT evangelicals. The Declaration in part states, “We pledge to each other, and to our fellow believers, that no power on earth, be it cultural or political, will intimidate us into silence or acquiescence."

Even more, “We will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other antilife act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent.”

What's shocking is the church leadership's blatant intimidation and misuse of the Eucharist, one of the most sacred rites of Catholicism, in an attempt to force upon those with the hefty responsibility of writing secular law what the Church believes should be the law all U.S. citizens must abide by.

Are we to see next Catholic members of Congress strong-armed by their bishops to vote against the Respect for Marriage Act? Are we to see politicians blackmailed into voting against ENDA? Will the bishops manipulate these policymakers by using their beliefs of salvation by threatening their very souls?

This is exactly why Thomas Jefferson wrote of the need for the separation of church and state - to avoid this very wrong and morally corrupt yet powerful tactic that history has witnessed those in a position of religious power use time and time again.

Thankfully, Sen. Kennedy is not easily jolted by Tobin's blatant tar and feathering of his soul, but we all know many politicians are not as steadfast and grounded, their religious beliefs scaring then into manipulating hands of bishops.

The best we can do is keep on top of the church and watch their every move, and when we see them strike, we back up our allies in Congress.

Putting aside whether or not you're religious, I would hope that you would agree that no religious member of Congress should be manipulated into fearing for their salvation simply because they're doing their job.

RELATED: Republicans may now face losing funding from their party if they support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act. It appears the GOP is taking tips from the Catholic church.

MUST SEE VIDEO: Colbert Skewers Catholic Church on Marriage Equality and Funeral . . . Rights

Remember how the Catholic Church decided to throw the poor and homeless under the bus in an attempt to stop marriage equality from happening in D.C.? And how Rhode Island's Catholic Governor vetoed a bill that would allow domestic partners to make funeral arrangements for each other?

Well, Catholic-raised Colbert has a few choice . . . words on the matter.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Skeletons in the Closet
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Marriage Equality Supporters March on Rhode Island's Capitol

Here is WPRI's accompanying article.

Unfortunately, the report is correct about Rhode Island's governor Donald Carcieri, who is a member of the staunchly anti-marriage equality National Organization for Marriage (NOM), recently speaking in Massachusetts in favor of traditional marriage at the Massachusetts Family Institute convention.

Rhode Island is extremely Catholic and its legislature has heard and rejected arguments for marriage equality several times, so passage of any bill faces and uphill battle.

Interestingly enough, a poll released in May found 60% of Rhode Island residents supported marriage equality. Now if we can only get their representatives to listen to them instead of cowering to the Catholic Church.

NOM "Traditional Marriage" Picnic in Rhode Island Is Met with Protests from Marriage Equality Supporters

With Rhode Island being the last state in New England to not legalize same-sex marriage, or recognize any same-sex union for that matter, the anti-marriage equality National Organization for Marriage (NOM) has set its eyes on keeping it that way.

This past weekend, NOM held a "traditional marriage" picnic in Warwick, RI, officially titled "First Annual Celebrate Marriage and Family Day," the same event that large chain Tim Horton's backed out of sponsoring last week after it learned what NOM was all about. About 20 to 30 marriage equality protesters stood at the front gates of the Aldrich Mansion, a Catholic Diocese property, with signs that read, "Please, don't define my marriage" among others.



NOM president Maggie Gallagher appeared at the event and gave the following speech.



For the past twelve years, marriage equality bills have been introduced and killed in Rhode Island. This past June, a bid to give same-sex partners the right to make funeral arrangements for their loved ones also died.

However, in May, a Brown University poll showed 60% of Rhode Island voters support a law allowing same-sex couples to marry, with 75% supporting civil unions. Only 31% flatly stated they would oppose a marriage equality law.

With Governor Carcieri being a member of NOM (though he did not attend the picnic) and the state legislature not wanting to reflect the desires of its constituents but more rather the powerful Rhode Island Catholic Church, both marriage equality supports and opponents don't see marriage equality making it to the state any time soon.

ACTION: Go to Marriage Equality Rhode Island to see how you can get involved with their efforts to bring marriage equality to the state.

Majority of Rhode Island Voters Support Marriage Equality

Good news! A new Brown University poll released Wednesday shows 60% of voters support a law allowing same-sex couples to marry. We gain more support of 75% for civil unions. Only 31% flatly stated they would oppose a marriage equality law.

The irony here is that Rhode Island is one of the most conservative New England states with the demographic showing over half of the residents Roman Catholic, more than any other state, and on top of that, Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri is a member of the National Organization for Marriage.

Our advocates in the state are pointing out this poll to state leadership, showing them that this is what their constituents want.

"Even if they're not hearing constantly from constituents or people they work with about what they feel about marriage equality, it clearly gives the decision-makers something to look at when supporting marriage equality," said Kathy Kushnir, executive director of Marriage Equality Rhode Island.

While 77% of Democrats polled said they would support gay marriage, only 28% of Republicans shared that view. Results also showed younger voters more heavily favored marriage equality. 87% of voters ages 18-29 supported it, as opposed to 32% of voters 70 and older. This reflects the national Gallup poll released yesterday.

Christopher Plante, executive director for the Rhode Island chapter of the National Organization for Marriage, pointed out that polls showed California voters supported same-sex marriage, which they banned in the November election.

"The same-sex marriage movement is about a small minority of people trying to radically alter the historic definition of marriage to suit their lifestyle," Plante said in a statement.

Funny how Plante ignores the fact that New Englanders are adamant about other states staying out of their business, but since what happened in California suits his argument, it's now somehow appropriate to mention it.

Every year since 1997, bills legalizing marriage equality have been introduced and killed in legislative committees. House Speaker William Murphy and Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed, both Democrats and Catholics, oppose same-sex marriage, and of course, Gov. Carcieri — another Catholic — would likely veto such a measure.

This year is no different with bills in both House and Senate committees. The House Judiciary Committee recommending the measure be held for further study, effectively killing the bill.

Still, Rep. Frank Ferri, a Warwick Democrat and former chair of Marriage Equality Rhode Island, said the poll shows officials the growing support for gay marriage in Rhode Island.

"Gay marriage is just like any other marriage and the more we talk about it and the more we read about it just reinforces that," Ferri said.

ACTION: Marriage Equality Rhode Island is urging state residents to take advantage of the support by getting more involved by doing five simple actions. Check it out!

UPDATE: Same-Sex Marriage Debate Begins in Rhode Island State House

UPDATE: The House Judiciary Committee heard public comments today on Rhode Island's same-sex marriage bill, and as usual, many opposed showed up along with those in favor (there's also bill being considered to ban same-sex marriage).

Rhode Island, being staunchly Catholic and target by NOM, is a huge challenge for marriage equality proponents, since the past 12 years the bill has never passed the committee to a floor vote.

State Rep. Frank Ferri (D-Warwick), flanked by family members, expressed his outrage at the lack of action taken by his fellow legislators on the issue of marriage rights for gays and lesbians. Ferri married his husband, Tony Caparco, in Canada in 2006.

"It is embarrassing and insulting that I have to come here before you again to beg for the constitutional right of Rhode Island’s gay and lesbian citizens to marry the people we love," Ferri said. "It is deeply personal, and after 12 years of getting the same runaround and the bill dying in committee, I am tired of this issue not demanding your attention and action."

Read full story at Edge Boston.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The debate over marriage equality was revisited in the Rhode Island State House Wednesday, as that states House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on two proposed bills. One bill would allow same-sex couples to wed in Rhode Island; the other would prohibit gay marriage by adding an amendment to the state’s constitution.

Thirty-one of Rhode Islands 75 House members have cosponsored that states marriage equality bill, but Rhode Islands powerful Roman Catholic lobbies ardently opposes the measure. Providence’s Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has been pushing hard in his opposition as well and using scare tactics, telling Rhode Island Catholics their religious freedoms are in danger.

Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri is also adamantly against marriage equality. Last month Carcieri announced he and his wife had joined the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and appeared at an event announcing a NOM ad blitz in Rhode Island.

In the previous 12 years the Marriage Equality issue has come before the Rhode Island legislature, it has never made it pass the committee level. No decisions were made Wednesday about the fate of this year’s bill.



Crossposted with LezGetReal.com.

Rhode Island Marriage Equality Hearing Today!

There will be a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill H-5744 ending marriage discrimination this afternoon at the rise of the House.

Please contact committee members and let them know why marriage equality is important to you. They need to hear from proponents of the measure prior to their hearing. Catholic opposition in the state has been loud and clear against the marriage equality bill within the state.

Click here to send an email to all of the House Judiciary Committee's members at once.

Crossposted with Queers United.

Recap for the Week of April 6-10

Just like last week, this week was full of historical moments and surprises. For many, it was almost too much to keep up with, or at the very least, keep it straight in the head (no pun intended).

So I'd like to help with a basic recap.

VERMONT

Emily Nelson of the Burlington Free Press showed the face of LGBT Vermont with a beautiful piece, but Gov. Jim Douglas didn't empathize and responded with a veto of the state's same-sex marriage bill instead, placing him on the wrong side of history. But not to be deterred, the Vermont legislature refused to lag behind its stellar civil rights record, and showed the governor where he could stick it with a veto override. Keeping true to its nature, Vermont is now the first state in history to legalize same-sex marriage through the legislative process.

The anti-gays were not happy. More on that below.

IOWA

It didn't take long for pundits to predict the future of Iowa's 2012 marriage amendment since the state's Supreme Court essentially legalized same-sex marriage the week prior, but anti-gay groups didn't care about 2012 because they began to push for an emergency legislative session to amend the state's constitution NOW, the whole while the governor remained silent on his stance. Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal told them to shut up and go away. To make the anti-gays even madder, the Gov. Chet Culver finally spoke up and said, "Nah, I won't support any discriminatory amendment". This sent the anti-gays into a tizzy, so about 400 showed up at the capitol in protest when the legislatures began to meet, calling out rudely for an amendment from the session's gallery seating. Luckily, the legislatures followed the Senate Majority Leader's example and told them once again, "Shut up!". I have a feeling that's not the last we'll hear of them though.

WASHINGTON D.C.

The District's council members, on their own but judiciously picking a great week, voted that the nation's capitol would recongize same-sex marriage legally performed else where. It still needs to be approved by the nation's congress. (Their way of governing is a bit difficult to explain) They hope to introduce legislation so that the district itself can perform same-sex marriages. Go D.C.!

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE (NOM)

NOM, the group that funded lots of Yes on Prop 8 ads in California (and from what I hear, are funded themselves by the Mormons), reacted to all this equality spreading throughout the country by releasing early a $1.5 million ad in battleground states. The media and bloggers (including myself) immediately reacted by talking about it, interviewing everyone and mocking the ad. Even Maggie Gallagher of NOM, and Joe Solmonese of HRC, had it out. Results pending. Unfortunately, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri decided to join the dark side by allying himself with NOM. Thankfully LGBT community stepped into the fray more than once.

Of course, other things happened during the week, like calls to action (you can see those by clicking on the "action" tag at the bottom of the post) and events, but this is the main run-down. To see older recaps, click on the "recap" tag.

If you liked this recap, let me know, and I'll keep doing this each Saturday. But you got to let me know. This takes a lot of time!

But stay tuned. New Hampshire, Maine and New Jersey are gearing up for another equal rights showing. Next week is gearing up to be another wild ride!

Rhode Island Governor Joining Anti-Gay NOM

Unite the Fight reported earlier today about the National Organization for Marriage and their new anti-gay ad campaign riddled with falsehood.

Now Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri and his wife Sue, who call themselves "traditionalists", have joined the local chapter of NOM. With legislation in the pipeline that would allow married same-sex couples to divorce in the Ocean State, his support for NOM is a big boon for the right wing organization.

"In Massachusetts it was the court. In Vermont it was the legislature. I believe it should be done with citizens. Let them decide," Carcieri said.

Despite joining the adamantly anti-gay NOM, he claims he is not anti-gay himself. Has he not seen the ads? That's a hard statement to support.