Fresno Priest Comes Out Against Prop. 8

A Fresno priest decided to fight California's proposed gay marriage ban by coming out as gay himself to parishioners during Sunday mass.

A Fresno priest decided to fight California's proposed gay marriage ban by coming out as gay himself to parishioners during Sunday mass. Father Geoffrey Farrow, a Catholic priest for 23 years, made the announcement at 11 a.m. mass at the St. Paul Newman Center in his homily about acceptance, love, and rejection, according to KFSN-TV.

"What most Catholics hear about being gay or lesbian at their parish is silence," he said on Sunday. Farrow said that parishioners asked him what direction they should take on Proposition 8. He said that he would go against California's bishops -- including John Steinbock, the head of the diocese of Fresno -- by rejecting the proposition.

"In directing the faithful to vote yes on Proposition 8, the California bishops are not only entering the political arena, they are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology, and the very statements by the church itself that homosexual is innate," he said. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

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Name: Martin Kurylowicz
Date posted: 10/7/2008 10:10:00 PM
Hometown: Canton, Michigan

Comment:
Fr. Geoffrey Farrow gave a beautiful witness to truth, justice and the love of Christ! He truly was following Christ's example. His courage to stand for truth and justice is a bold sign of hope and love, which is so badly needed in the Church. Thank you Fr. Farrow on behalf of millions of LGBT people and their parents, families and friends! Fr, Farrow’s statement was based on facts of science and faith and to remain silent on this issue he would “become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian couples, not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well.” Fr. Marty Kurylowicz came out in March 1997 to his parish at Holy Family Church in Sparta, MI, because of psychological harm caused to children as young as 4 and 5 years old who grow up to be gay by the influence of antigay social and religious norms. Fr. Farrow said that “…when I was a boy I asked God please make me normal…” No child should ever have to feel, as he did.
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Name: Bob Smullen
Date posted: 10/7/2008 1:17:00 PM
Hometown: Hackensack, NJ

Comment:
The Roman Catholic Church gets beat up so much these days and in good part by Catholics like myself. But if the Church is to survive, and I want it to, then it will be because of the moral courage of men and woman like Father Farrow. He is a true follower of the Christ.
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Name: anthony newsome
Date posted: 10/7/2008 5:28:00 AM
Hometown: Dublin

Comment:
Its a great story having this Priest come out in such a strong way after 23 years, I hope his community treat him well, the catholic church bishops and pope would do very well indeed to adopt his views, religion unfortunatley has turned into a wrightwinged hate machene, in a world which stands upon the brink of chaos where people are seeking peace, bishops and the pope are fixated on sex/gays/sex/gays/hate/hate/hate, Palin is a prime example of what is wrong with the world we live, her idoligy is a countermeasure to anytype of world stability, her involvement with a very strange religious sect would (if she were to be elected VP) create enormous problems for america an the rest of the world, her lack of experence apart from her personal views makes her the wrong choice, McCain chose her in an effort to upstage Obama after all the talk about Hillary, we need more religious people to come out and support the right of gays/lesbians/bi/transgender etc, anthony

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