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August 08, 2008

Catholic Bishops Endorse Prop. 8

California's Roman Catholic bishops are urging parishioners to support a fall ballot measure that seeks to overturn the court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in the state.

The California Catholic Conference issued a statement strongly encouraging parishioners "to provide both the financial support and the volunteer efforts needed for the passage of Proposition 8." The proposition would put a ban on same-sex marriage in the state constitution.

In the statement, the bishops say their position is based partly on the presumption that while all people deserve to be treated with dignity, being raised by a married mother and father is "the ideal for the well-being of children."

The conference's executive director said the bishops plan to develop materials that parish priests can use to address the topic between now and Election Day.

The conference represents the archdioceses of Los Angeles and San Francisco and the dioceses of Fresno, Monterey, Oakland, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Stockton. (AP)

Keywords:  California marriage 
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Reader Comments

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  • Name: Michele
    Date posted: 2008-11-04 4:10 AM
    Hometown: Prescott

    Comment:

    I will be sending your post to your bishop. Shame on you to call yourself a shepard. You lead his sheep to the slaughter.


  • Name: Jack
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 6:51 PM
    Hometown: Los Angeles

    Comment:

    No to Prop 8, yes to illegal alien invasion. Child molestation lawsuits and fancy new (ugly) cathedrals (like the one built by Cardinal Baloney in LA) cost MONEY.


  • Name: Randall Peasley
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 5:01 PM
    Hometown: Portland, OR

    Comment:

    I'm not surprised, considering the recent payouts on the abuse of children. As a gay man, born as such, I attend Metropolitan Community Church Portland, and, as a result of such, I KNOW that God made me gay, and I celebrate this gift from God. Therefore, I don't need a Catholic church approval.


  • Name: Fr. Doug Johnson
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 3:28 PM
    Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

    Comment:

    I am a Catholic priest and would in no way give any help or encouragement, either from the pulpit or in my private life, to those who endorse Prop. 8. There is enough hate to go around for all without the Church founded by Jesus (oh, please!) to continue to add to the bigotry and homophobia. Jesus wouldn't recognize "His Church" now. I shudder to think what 2000 more years will do to civilization.


  • Name: javier
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 2:59 PM
    Hometown: dayton ohio

    Comment:

    oh- and i forgot about the priest at st. patrick of heatherdowns in toledo who had his 'hooker girlfriend 'running around the rectory in fredericks of hollywood lingerie(where she lived) while parish swingers were there for 'bible study' . the parish chose to ignore it because 'if we don't let him do it, he'll quit and we'll only have homos left.' same parish had pedophile priest documented. keep the faith!


  • Name: javier
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 2:48 PM
    Hometown: dayton , ohio

    Comment:

    at the age of 5 i was molested by a priest who was blackmailing my father with info he obtained from my sister in the confessional. i was molested in 3 parishes where priest were protected and known to be pedophiles. nuns at one school actually took me from class and to the priest to be left with him in the church basement. i walked in on a nun doing a priest when i was an altar boy at age 9. at the age of 6 i was shown graves in a convent garden where nuns buried babies from pregnant nuns.(my aunts sister was a nun)as she toured the grounds with my mother.i had been taken along and was supposed to be to young to understand the conversation. as one who has been exploited by the catholic church,i would not put to much 'faith' in anything that "mother church' runs her mouth about. Just a shame that the records of anyone higher than parish priest are always destroyed.


  • Name: javier
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 2:44 PM
    Hometown: dayton , ohio

    Comment:

    at the age of 5 i was molested by a priest who was blackmailing my father with info he obtained from my sister in the confessional. i was molested in 3 parishes where priest were protected and known to be pedophiles. nuns at one school actually took me from class and to the priest to be left with him in the church basement. i walked in on a nun doing a priest when i was an altar boy at age 9. at the age of 6 i was shown graves in a convent garden where nuns buried babies from pregnant nuns.(my aunts sister was a nun)as she toured the grounds with my mother.i had been taken along and was supposed to be to young to understand the conversation. as one who has been exploited by the catholic church,i would not put to much 'faith' in anything that "mother church' runs her mouth about. Just a shame that the records of anyone higher than parish priest are always destroyed.


  • Name: John Embry
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 2:26 PM
    Hometown: Forestville, CA

    Comment:

    Has the Catholic church ever been right about anything? There is a two word passage in the New Testament that covers the subject: "Jesus wept." How do the good bishops feel about their damage to children this far?


  • Name: Joe
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 1:51 PM
    Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

    Comment:

    Yet another reason the Catholic Church is losing more and more followers. The promotion of bigotry and intolerance in the name of God is a disgrace and highly irresponsible. With all that has rocked the Catholic Church, you'd think they get their act together and make some serious changes, yet the continue to preach the same nonsense. I say boycott them and support them in no way at all and maybe when there is just about no one left in church, they'll get the hint.


  • Name: Mark Thomas
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 1:19 PM
    Hometown: Wappingers Falls, NY

    Comment:

    Every gay person in CA should: 1) report the Catholic Church to the IRS and demand their tax exempt status as a non political religious organization be revolked, 2) enter every Catholic Church in CA and remove their brochure asking their members to vote yes on Proposition 8 and replace them with brochures explaining why members should vote no on Proposition 8, 3) stand with huge signs in front of every Catholic Church in CA chanting, "Stop the Hate," and asking members not to financially contribute to an organization that is trying to destroy gay families including their children. The only reason why the Catholic pedophile bishops, Focus on Family, Pat Robertson, John McCain, the Republican Party and others continue to persecute those born gay/lesbian and our families is that we are defensive only and not offensive. I believe it is time to change that.


  • Name: Joe
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 11:39 AM
    Hometown: Fort Worth

    Comment:

    As a Catholic, I am DEEPLY saddened that God isn't present in the Catholic Church in Cali. What a shameful way to use the pulpit to promote & perpetuate bigotry. I hope very few Catholics heed the bishops' call.


  • Name: Chris
    Date posted: 2008-08-08 10:37 AM
    Hometown: Chicago, IL

    Comment:

    Oh give me a break, I wish to GOD the catholic church would just Shut the F*CK Up! for once. What a sad, pathetic bunch of weird people.


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