Minneapolis
Archdiocese Forbids Gay Prayer Service

Twin Cities archbishop John Neinstedt told a church in Minneapolis that it cannot hold its annual gay pride prayer service because the event goes against the teachings of the church.

The St. Joan of Arc Church in south Minneapolis was required to change the theme of the prayer service set for Wednesday to a "peace service," according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The archbishop's spokesman, Dennis McGrath, said his archdiocese was alerted to the GLBT service by callers and e-mailers, and he brought it to Neinstedt's attention.

According to the StarTribune, McGrath said the archbishop is compelled to take this position because "church property is sanctified, and to celebrate GLBT...is contrary to the teachings of our church, plain and simple." (The Advocate)