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In something which should be remembered – because I have a feeling that it may be the opening salvo to something huge and sinister – NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan has sent a letter to President Obama claiming that he is alarmed about recent actions by the President’s administration that supposedly “escalate the threat to marriage and imperil the religious freedom of those who promote and defend marriage.”
These “threats” named by Dolan are positions made by the Obama Administration to ensure lgbtq equality. They include:
1. The Justice Department no longer defending DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) and raising questions about the law’s constitutionality.
2. The Obama Administration supporting the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in foster care and adoption placement
3. Sexual orientation sensitivity training for federal employees
4. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Dolan claims that these actions undermine what he calls the “natural family:”
In sum, these recent actions undermine certain fundamental truths about the nature of the human person—the equal importance of mothers and fathers to children, and the unchangeable meaning and nature of marriage as a communion of the sexes. They also oppose the deeply rooted consensus among the American people in support of the authentic definition of marriage and laws that reflect it. These actions also harm the common good by imperiling the religious freedom of those who hold these truths and defend these laws.
Dolan also makes what can only be seen as sort of a passive-aggressive threat to the President in regards to Catholic bishops speaking against the Obama Administration:
The Justice Department’s move, in addition to other troubling federal decisions occurring recently, prompts me yet again to register my grave concerns. The content of this letter reflects the strong sentiment expressed at a recent meeting by more than thirty of my brother Bishops who serve on the Administrative Committee of our episcopal conference. I know they are joined by hundreds of additional Catholic bishops throughout our nation. My observations are offered in the spirit of respectful, but frank dialogue.
The Catholic Bishops stand ready to affirm every positive measure taken by you and your Administration to strengthen marriage and the family. We cannot be silent, however, when federal steps harmful to marriage, the laws defending it, and religious freedom continue apace.
In lieu of how the Catholic Church is suspected of funding the National Organization for Marriage – an organization attempting to stomp out marriage equality in all 50 states – and the fact that next year is an election year, one would be dumb not to take Dolan’s words as a threat.
While I respect Dolan’s beliefs and his position, he is way out of his bounds here. Furthermore, I think Dolan is dangerously stuck in the past. We no longer live in the time of the Middle Ages where government decisions had to be agreed upon by the Catholic Church before they are made.
The laws of this country are governed by the Constitution, not papal authority. No one elected Dolan to public office and he has no standing – other than that of an ordinary American citizen – to demand that the President reverse his standing on DOMA or any other law or decision.
Dolan forgets that he does not live a theocracy, but a secular country which is home to many different people with many different religious beliefs.
And also different families.
Not every family has the mother and father dynamic but that does not make them inferior to those who do. All families which provide love and support to their children should be embraced and supported.
That’s the most obscene thing about Dolan’s letter. It is totally disrespectful to these families. It sends a message that since they don’t abide by his definition of what makes a family, they are automatically inferior.
That same message of inferiority is also sent to those of us who are lgbtq. Granted, Dolan’s letter includes the customary “we value all human beings and reject any hatred or unfair treatment of all people” line that’s present in all religious right dogma in regards to the lgbtq community right before they lower the boom on us.
But the fact of the matter is the boom is still lowered, making us feel that we are not worthy of equal treatment.
So as a gay man, I don’t buy Dolan’s phony platitudes of love. And as a citizen of this country, I am highly offended by his letter.
Lastly, I would suggest that before Dolan or any Catholic official takes it upon themselves to attempt to dictate policy to our elected officials, they follow the homily about “tending to their own gardens.”
Based upon what I hear in regards to the sexual abuse of children in the Catholic church, some folks have been letting their gardens go to rot.
Related post:
Is the Catholic Church overstepping its bounds in marriage equality fight?
33 Comments
Archbishop Dolan is certainly entitled to his beliefs, but his statement is more fantasy than anything else. There’s no evidence to support anything he says — it’s all just Catholic dogma, which you’re certainly free to observe if you’re Catholic. I’m not, and I refuse to be bound by it. And the essentially anti-American stance of the Catholic bishops is summed up in his statement about the religious freedom of those who uphold discriminatory laws — simply a restatement of the Catholic mantra that separation of church and state is a myth.
Happily, most American Catholics, by all reports, pretty much ignore the bishops.
Go ahead your eminence – meddle in politics, endorse candidates, etc. Watch the catholic church lose its tax exempt status. What a doofus…..
I’ve thought for a long time that bishops (and other ranking Catholic prelates) should be required to register as agents of a foreign government–which the Vatican certainly is. If China, say, were to have hundreds of paid operatives in this country promoting their government’s interests and attempting to enforce its policies on American citizens, the public outrage would be unimaginable. But no one ever bats an eye about the Vatican (which IS a foreign nation, with its own government, policies and interests) doing exactly that. But then I guess, after all, God’s in the mix.
Back in ancient times (I was in high school), one Estelle Griswold challenged a Connecticut statute which forbade physicians to dispense, or even discuss, birth control. Connecticut had (and still has) a very large Catholic population, so naturally the Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford got involved. Someone started some nasty rumors that the Archdiocese was trying to impost its will on all citizens of Connecticut, regardless of whether they were Catholic. In response, the Archdiocese did everything in its considerable power to convince people the rumors were true.
If the Archdiocese had made any attempt at compromise, taking the position for example that physicians could dispense birth control only to married women, and the Church would deal with its own members privately, Ms. Griswold would have never gotten her day in court. Instead, the Archdiocese dug in, insisting to the bitter end that the secular government of Connecticut forbid access to birth control to all citizens regardless of church membership. The result was the U. S. Supreme court case Griswold v. Connecticut, which eight years later formed the basis for Roe v. Wade.
Some people just never learn.
Now let us all of us send a letter to Obama demanding the revocation of tax-exempt status of all reigious cults meddling in the political process. See how they like a dose of their own medicine for a change. They get full representation without taxation, while we get full taxation without full representation, the only group affected.
What a great thing it would be if all churches that are constantly meddling in politics would lose their tax-free standing. The Catholic Church, through its many years of child abuse and covering up the results, has lost the right to make a statement on anything. It should just quietly live in the 16th century and leave the rest of us alone.
It’s funny cause Obama opposes marriage equality.
So when is the IRS going to revoke the church’s tax status?
Illegal for any church to do these types of things.
The Catholic cult is morally bankrupt given its almost 2 millenia old history of sexual abuse against boys, girls and women. Nothing has changed and never will. Molestation is STILL going on by the way. They are the masters of coverup, deceit and lying.
No one wins the presidency without the catholic vote. The good news is that most catholics don’t listen to the church hierarchy. Since I am supporting Obama over the republican alternatives, I probably won’t be attending any catholic church that is not gay friendly if I go at all.
This statement is absolute nonsense and demonstrates an ignorance of our American laws and system. To claim that any American citizen, Bishop or not, does something “illegal” by redressing his government, is simply untrue.
All of the howls for tax-exempt status change because the leaders of a religion state a grievance to their government is a very dangerous threat to the First Amendment. Consider the alternative: if a religion has to toe the political line of government or be punished, we no longer have a First Amendment.
Dolan is an ass. And the American bishops, thanks to the reign of John Paul II, have become an increasingly conservative bunch, politically speaking. And, the notion that treating gay citizens equally to others somehow threaten marriage and the family is nonsense, and thougtless.
But American bishops are not agents of a foreign nation; that too is nonsense. They are Americans like anyone else, and no doubt love their country as other citizens do. They don’t take their political positions because the Vatican tells them to; they take them because they themselves are political conservatives. Their viiews reflect those of millions of Americans, unfortunately. But they have every right to address their government, plead their case, and yes, threaten to withold their political support. Surely no one here would care to be told they have no right to send a message to their government to plead THEIR case, and to threaten to withold their support? I do believe I’ve noticed such sentiments right here, for other causes, haven’t I?
your going to support obama on the issue of gay rights?! ORLY?! where is his position any more liberal than the Catholic Churches? IN FACT, when conservative Bishops act, (and they arent getting “orders from Rome”)its because they have reason to believe that they can exert some influence. Obama has given them that opening.
The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on Child Abuse. Trotting out that offensive trope is just more of the same “ragheads and 100 virgins”, Ignorant American, know-nothing, tar and ferather doltishness.
The republican candidates want to bring back DADT. Actually the catholic church is more liberal than the christian fundamentalist republican candidates.
Although I agree with much of what you say – any American has the right to speak their mind to their government – let me respectfully disagree with your main point.
When he ran for President, John F. Kennedy was repeatedly asked which he would be MOST loyal to, the country or the church in Rome. It was an important question, and one he had to answer on the record.
His answer then is assuredly NOT the same as these priests today, were they to be honest. By their own words, they are MOST loyal to the Pope and to Rome, and as such are essentially a fifth column in our own body politic.
“The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on Child Abuse.”
No, but it does have a monopoly on providing a safe house for the abusers. You can’t equivocate evil back into goodness. Until the Pope has immolated himself on the steps of the Vatican in an attempt to mitigate the crimes of the Catholic Church, we have to assume they are just fine with them.
I was wondering if the man executed in GA yesterday might not have been catholic given the Supreme Court’s decision not to step in. I don’t know. Too many catholics on the SC. Vatican catholics are anti-choice, yet seem to have no problem with the death penalty even when there are questions and ID witnesses change their story.
Don’t think our taxpayers should pay for protection when a catholic man in a big hat comes to visit other catholics here for church reasons. The catholic church needs to pay for their own security. Don’t like the catholic church putting their nose in our domestic or foreign affairs. Has anyone asked for bBuddhist input? Or Hindu input into our domestic or foreign affairs? The Buddhists and Hindus seem more respectful and more humble not to intervene to the extent that the long-arm of the vatican does. The vatican has a vote in the UN and thhey seem to want to play with ours, too.
Wait…the catholics have a problem with gays?…Priests?….Years and years of abuse of little boys?…..Dolan sounds like a duffer with a narrow agenda. Those at the vatican need to continue to clean up their own door step and continue to help their child victims in Ireland, the US and other nations where they have not been nice to childrenn. Perverted catholic men suggesting what married couples do or how women conduct their reproductive systems is still preposterous. Too many Vatican-catholics on the US Sup.Crt. making rulings the vatican may be pressuring for or against.
Sounds like Dolan wants to keep gays in the closet because non-closeted gays will have life opportunities not limited to the RCC.
Guys like Dolan have enough trouble with the pederasts in the priesthood. 60 Minutes did a profile on Dolan – the guy comes across as a combination of a used car salesman and some small town Rotarian.
They have monopoly on pedophilia and just being outright, bankrupt immoral BIGOTS with mindless sheep to still follow their every word to boot.
Oh, spare us the cheesy moralism we hear 1000x time over and over and over again. The church AND ITS FOLLOWERS are not exonerated from criticism.
I love it! I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing for a long time: they are representing the interests of a foreign government.
The white collar crooks on Wall Street can take a lesson or two from the Vatican, since the Catholic Church is the biggest scam of all time.
Finally, a country that is run by a corrupt dictator that is the epitome of serial abuse and the denial of human rights that could actually be subdued in “days not weeks”, and also possesses vast amounts of wealth that could be utilized to address humanitarian causes. Declare war on the Vatican!
It’s the original global corporation and one of the most successful. It’s initial offering is “original sin”, with a production cost of zero, which can only be mitigated by weekly visits and monetary contributions for the remainder of one’s life.
Who ever said that the Catholic church is the only institution in the world whose members abuse children sexually? The fact that the Catholic church “does not have a monopoly on Child Abuse” (why the capitals? is it some kind of sacred doctrine?) doesn’t in any way negate the demonstrable fact that that institution has sheltered and, arguably, promoted the interests of, child molesters for centuries. When you can demonstrate that there’s another institution that has paid out more than a billion dollars in settlements and/or hush money in child rape cases, you’ll have a point. Until then, I’m afraid no thinking person will take your complaint seriously.
The Catholic church has determined that should the child be age 10 or older, molestation no longer qualifies as paedophilia. Quite the “moral authority”, aren’t they?
As a former Catholic I want to know when Mr. Dolan (why does anyone who is not a member of the church use his title? he’s only a “bishop” if you believe Mr. Ratzinger is the representative of God on this earth) is going to demand Mr. Obama declare war on adulter, heresy and blasphemy. I want to know when he is going to demand that Rudy Guiliani and John McCain return to their wives and leave the home-wrecking hussies who destroyed their marriages. I want to know when he is going to demand that Michele Amble (aka Michele “Bachmann), Rick Perry and Willard “Mitt” Romney become Christians and leave their cults in order to provide real moral leadership to the country.
Until and unless Mr. Dolan insists all leaders follow the Catholic teachings, he is nothing but a hypocrite and all LGBT Americans must begin boycotting him and his church. That means refusing to serve them, do business with them or treat them as full and complete members of the American citizenry. I don’t mean regular Catholics, however, just the “leadership” of this corrupt institution.
I won’t say that dogjudge is right or wrong in his comments. But reconcile this for me: The Pope is not only the head of the Catholic church, he is also the head of a secular government. Bishops, who are quasi officials in that government, take their lead from him and advocate for his policies to our government. Does this not in some way make them agents for a foreign power? I don’t think dogjudge is as far off base as you indicate with your harsh words in response to his comments. Try to be nice. Just because a person has a different view than your own doesn’t make that person ignorant.
They don’t? Well, color me fooled.
Wake me after we’ve at least taken away their tax-exempt status.
As Voltaire said, “Ecrasez l’infame.” They are exactly what they’ve always been. They’ve just been in a phase for the past century or so of having to bide their time and give an outward appearance of sane sobriety and acceptance of modernity — sort of like Republicans after 1936. But like Republicans, and at about the same time — and that’s no coincidence — they’re showing signs that it’s all been an act, they still believe in Hoover economics, Jim Crow social arrangements and the Inquisition in charge of our intellectual life. The Church is the same vengeful reptile it’s always been. It’s forgotten nothing and learned nothing.
Ecrasez l’infame.
If Archbigot Dolan were serious about morality, he and the other Catholic bigots and archbigots would be pointing out that according to Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25, every Republiscum in Congress and most of the Republiscum in state houses across the country has joyfully, enthusiastically, and repeatedly condemned herself/himself/itself to burn in hell til the end of time and beyond for indifference to the poor, the hungry, the sick. “Whatever you do to the least of us, you do to me.” And this damnation was for indifference. I can’t imagine that Jesus would be any happier with people who go out of their way to increase the amount of human misery, regardless of what Mother Theresa might think.
Of course. No American citizen has ever worked in the employ of a foreign government. Right. Terrific point.
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of all 13 presidential candidates. Most plan to impose their Catholic, Mormon, or Christian religious sects upon the entire nation. http://www.marriageequality.org/Election2012