Bishop Tobin slams gay agenda, says homosexual activity ‘offensive to Almighty God’

April 24, 2009

Alert to the possibility that same-sex marriage or civil unions will be legalized in Rhode Island, Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence-- the state’s sole diocese-- challenged Catholics in an April 23 diocesan newspaper column to abandon “our abysmal apathy” and “help Rhode Island maintain its moral sanity.”

“The march toward gay marriage across our nation is relentless, and liberal New England is leading the way,” writes Bishop Tobin. “The supporters of gay marriage in Rhode Island are well-organized and well-funded. They’re fiercely determined to impose their politically correct agenda on all the citizens of the state-- human history, culture and moral principles not-withstanding. Anyone who opposes them is quickly labeled a bigot.”

Bishop Tobin continues:

[H]omosexual activity is unnatural and gravely immoral. It’s offensive to Almighty God. It can never be condoned, under any circumstances. Gay marriage, or civil unions, would mean that our state is in the business of ratifying, approving such immoral activity …

[T]hose who seek to redefine marriage-- with its specific characteristics-- and to usurp the title “marriage” for their morally bankrupt relationships, are committing an act of fraud. It’s insulting to those who have entered the authentic, sacred and time-honored institution of marriage over the years.

The gay culture continues to seep into our popular culture, cleverly claiming credibility. Did you see that President Obama issued special invitations to gay families to participate in this year’s Easter Egg Hunt at the White House? Just another not-too-subtle attempt to ignore the objective immorality of the situation and present gay couples as normal and happy as every other couple …

We’re familiar with other examples of the gay agenda infringing on religious freedom. In Massachusetts, the Catholic Church was required to place children for adoption with gay couples; and in some countries, clergy preaching the Christian doctrine about homosexual practices have been accused of hate crimes. Proponents of gay marriage say that the Church won’t be forced to witness such marriages. Don’t believe it. And other related problems will inevitably arise. Will the Church be required to admit gay couples as sponsors for baptisms; to rent its facilities for gay wedding receptions; to hire employees despite their immoral gay lifestyles; to grant family benefits to gay couples? For simply maintaining its teachings in these and many other possible scenarios, the Church will be accused of bigotry and unlawful discrimination. The threat to our religious freedom is real, and imminent …

The Church teaches us that it’s the responsibility of the laity to get involved in public life, to transform the secular order into the Kingdom of God. Therefore, if someday a headline reads, “Rhode Island, Most Catholic State, Welcomes Gay Marriage,” people across the nation will ask, “How did that happen?” And it’ll be our fault, fellow Catholics-- not necessarily because we approved of gay marriage-- but simply because our abysmal apathy allowed it to happen.

 

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Further information:

• Bishop Tobin: “Rhode Island, Most Catholic State, Welcomes Gay Marriage” (Rhode Island Catholic)