Gay marriage: Roman Catholic archbishops step up fight

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Archbishop Peter Smith: "For thousands of years marriage has always been between a man and a woman"

The Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales is intensifying its campaign against the government's plan to legalise same-sex marriage.
In a letter being read in 2,500 parish churches, the Church's two most senior archbishops say the change would reduce the significance of marriage.
The letter says Roman Catholics have a duty to make sure it does not happen.
The government wants to introduce gay marriage by 2015, but says churches would not have to perform weddings.
Last week Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the "grotesque" plans would "shame the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world" if implemented.
And on Friday, in a speech to visiting US bishops, Pope Benedict XVI warned of "powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage", in the wake of the US states of Washington and Maryland legalising same-sex marriage.

(Source: BBC News)

It's moments like this that make me hate the concept of 'freedom of religion'...loathe the mindset of these ancient religions and their ancient, irrelevant beliefs.
Not that all Catholics are twisted dinosaurs, my nana in law is a lovely woman and is pretty devout.
Anyway, fuck off and die to the cardinals and bishops and princes and painted whores of Ratzinger and his ilk.

[l'Enfermé]

I don't believe in gay marriage either. I don't believe in any marriage. I'm all for monogamous relationships and I would refuse to participate in one that wasn't monogamous, but I reject marriage as an institution if it's regulated by the State or the Church.

Doesn't look like Catholic priests approve of straight-marriage either, Catholic priests are not allowed to marry. But they do approve of molesting little children...

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

Not saying I'm strictly pro or anti marriage (kind of indifferent really). Just that this is so obviously motivated by homophobia and hatred, if somone wants to get married they should be able to, irrespective of their orientation.
Also, no one is forcing the Catholic chruches to perform the marriages if it is made legal; they're just kicking up a fuss on a 'point of principal' basis...like those fucks have any principles.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

Marriage as a civil institution should be abolished, but as long as it exists as such, denying it to same sex couples is an injustice. Rights and privileges should be detached from marital status, so that family relationships are defined by the people in them.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

Archbishop Peter Smith: "For thousands of years marriage has always been between a man and a woman"

Never too late to change a bad habit.

The rest is typical religious nonsense.

[Game Girl]

Pope Benedict XVI warned of "powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage", in the wake of the US states of Washington and Maryland legalising same-sex marriage.

The definition of marriage has been changed countless times.

Women were nothing but property - That changed
Only for the rich - That changed
Only for white couples - That changed
Only for people of the same race - That changed

Have I missed anything?

[Guy Incognito]

The church needs a firm kick in the teeth to remind them to stay the fuck out of the political sphere.

[Ostrinski]

I will see your "the church needs a firm kick in the teeth" and raise you a "they need a firm burning to the ground."

[Franz Fanonipants]

i used to tell the scrubs from the diocese when they came to the catholic worker that if they expended any of the energy they spend on this bullshit on corporal acts of mercy catholicism would be a huge success.

instead, more of this bullshit.

[Guy Incognito]

I will see your "the church needs a firm kick in the teeth" and raise you a "they need a firm burning to the ground."

I can see that. Burn a few to get the point across. But I'd leave the cathedrals alone, they're beautiful and I hate to see that sort of thing destroyed by way of their stupidity. Someone should however, tar and feather that old nazi with the ruby slippers.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

The definition of marriage has been changed countless times.

Women were nothing but property - That changed
Only for the rich - That changed
Only for white couples - That changed
Only for people of the same race - That changed

Have I missed anything?

Also remember that for hundreds of years men could take on multiple wives so the concept of one man and one women is a somewhat new concept.

[Franz Fanonipants]

I can see that. Burn a few to get the point across. But I'd leave the cathedrals alone, they're beautiful and I hate to see that sort of thing destroyed by way of their stupidity. Someone should however, tar and feather that old nazi with the ruby slippers.

fuck no.

burn the cathedrals, leave parish churches. the diocesan structure is some terrible shit in the us.

[gorillafuck]

Marriage as a civil institution should be abolishedwhy? that's pointless and ridiculous.

if you don't like it, don't get one.

[Ostrinski]

I can see that. Burn a few to get the point across. But I'd leave the cathedrals alone, they're beautiful and I hate to see that sort of thing destroyed by way of their stupidity. Someone should however, tar and feather that old nazi with the ruby slippers.I meant in the metaphorical sense but yeah

[Prometeo liberado]

I'm kinda glad that the Church has taken a hard line here. What better propaganda for the call to abanden this relic of the past. Out of touch and on the front page puts a smile on my face every time.:)

[Guy Incognito]

fuck no.

burn the cathedrals, leave parish churches. the diocesan structure is some terrible shit in the us.

I get that. I meant leave the cathedrals for their artistic value. For an even better effect, have the local government sieze the cathedrals for unpaid back taxes starting the moment those fuckers began using money to influence government (always), and then preserve them as public parks to use as community centers.

[TheGodlessUtopian]

I'm kinda glad that the Church has taken a hard line here. What better propaganda for the call to abanden this relic of the past. Out of touch and on the front page puts a smile on my face every time.:)

Unfortunately when the church has only ever promoted this position people are accustomed to it so it becomes the norm; because of this not many are likely to be outraged by it and drop their support for their practices.

[Guy Incognito]

I'm kinda glad that the Church has taken a hard line here. What better propaganda for the call to abanden this relic of the past. Out of touch and on the front page puts a smile on my face every time.:)

I agree, but think it should be left alone. Let the seeds of doubt go untouched by "the non-believers", and they will come around on their own. I think a better way to truly transition from a religious to a socialist community is to let the people do it on their own, and be welcomed with open arms by those of us who are tasked with such things.

[Danielle Ni Dhighe]

why? that's pointless and ridiculous.

if you don't like it, don't get one.
As I said in the part you didn't quote, "Rights and privileges should be detached from marital status, so that family relationships are defined by the people in them."

As communists, what interest do we have in maintaining marriage as a civil institution?

[Veovis]

I believe it was Durruti who said, "la única iglesia que ilumina es la que arde."

The only church that illuminates is one that is burning.

ETA: sorry, it was Kropotkin first, but it's often attributed to Durruti.

[Left Leanings]

The pope has spoken out of his arse, jumping on the bandwagon to criticise these plans as well. But then considering he is a one-time member of the Hitler Youth, what can one fucking expect...