A Catholic bishop has blocked plans by gay activists to pray the Rosary in his cathedral to ask the Virgin Mary to intercede on their behalf to pass legislation for same-sex marriage.
The Rainbow Sash Movement called off the same-sex marriage Rosary after Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, denounced it as “blasphemous”.
The movement had called on its supporters to mount a “loud Catholic presence for marriage equality” in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, just before the 5.15pm Mass, to wrap up a daylong rally in support of legislation that had stalled in the state legislature.
“It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy,” declared Bishop Paprocki.
“Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous, and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
“People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
“Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God’s forgiveness,” he said.
Bishop Paprocki was aware of the risks in opposing the homosexual movement.
Earlier this year, during a debate on same-sex marriage with gay rights advocate Sister Jeannine Gramick, he revealed that his former secretary had been murdered by a gay activist.
He said the secretary, Mary Stachowicz, a 51-year-old mother of four, was beated, stabbed and strangled by a gay co-worker after she urged him to change his lifestyle.
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Image: The Raw Story
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