by Michael Hichborn
On the 29th of May, the Lepanto Institute published a brief report indicating that an LGBT activist is the Exhibit and Sponsor Manager for the World Meeting of Families 2015. I wish to begin by expressing my sincere apology to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for not contacting them or Archbishop Chaput before publishing this article. My intent was not to criticize either the World Meeting of Families or the Archdiocese (which I never mentioned in the original article), but to express a sincere and deep concern over the conflict of interest regarding a single position in the management of the event itself. Out of both Justice and Charity, I owed Archbishop Chaput the courtesy of contact prior to publication, and I failed to do that.
Over the weekend, the Archdiocese contacted me and provided a statement regarding the concern expressed in my article, and I promised to publish this statement:
Statement from the World Meeting of Families—Philadelphia 2015 and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Regarding Determination of Exhibitor Eligibility
Recently, some confusion has arisen regarding who is responsible for determining eligibility for individuals and groups applying to become exhibitors at the World Meeting of Families Congress in September.
The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia review all exhibitor requests and are the only ones who approve or reject all exhibitor applications, and not any vendor. Every exhibitor application is reviewed by staff of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and if necessary, a theologian with the World Meeting of Families.
While there is a third party working on the logistics around exhibiting neither that company nor any of its individual employees is involved in the process of evaluating, approving, or denying exhibitor applications.
While I appreciate the clarification provided by the Archdiocese, the original concern expressed in the article, “A Wolf at the Gate” remains. Everything expressed in the above statement pertains to what happens AFTER the point of contact, Teresa Matozzo, receives an application. And while she may not have anything to do with applications after they are received, she nonetheless remains the initial point of contact. The crux of the problem is simply this: an individual who holds beliefs antithetical to the very nature of the event itself is the first person to see all applications as they come in. What guarantee does the Archdiocese have that it is receiving all of the applications in a timely matter, or even at all? Would the Archdiocese even know if an application or two never made it to their desks? As a point of clarity, I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED.
Suppose during the Cold War, the US Navy placed a card-carrying Communist as the secretary for the Admiral of the Navy, and all promotions recommendations were submitted to her to hand to the Admiral. While the secretary may not technically have any authority in the decision process, the Navy shouldn’t be surprised if a recommendation or two simply never made it to the Admiral’s desk, or were simply delayed until other promotions were accepted first, thereby leaving no room for the others which were delayed.
The bottom line is that an individual who is the point of contact for applications for exhibits and sponsors of the World Meeting of Families should be one who at least agrees with the Church’s teaching on families and human sexuality. The simple solution is to find another individual to take the contact point, preferably one faithful to the Magisterium or at least not living a life in direct opposition to it, and have that individual pass along applications.
Yes, I agree that the individual who holds this position and who does not lead a lifestyle along the lines of church teachings should be replaced with someone who is faithful to the magisterium, and does not pass along mixed messages.
It’s a very sad day when the Archdiocese hires a pro-homosexual activist to take part in a Catholic event.
There is much confusion among Catholics as to the intentions of Pope Francis. Just what we need…confusion and disillusionment about Catholicism. Will the Anglican Church be a last refuge for Catholics?
No … The Anglican Church is not the True Church founded by Christ. We must remain with the Bride of Christ through Her time of passion.
Choices have consequences. The choice to have a person who is in conflict in her lifestyle choices with the Church be the first point of contact for exhibitors at this Pro Family event will have consequences. Just like the moneychangers outside the Temple had consequences for the poor who wished to worship in the Temple, or at least contribute to the Temple worship. This had consequences for the moneychangers, who worked indirectly for the temple authorities. Jesus overturned the tables of the moneychangers, and He drove them out with a whip. Jesus’ choice that day had consequences for Him which turned out to be what we now call Good Friday. You can’t get to Easter Sunday without going through Good Friday.
I’m sorry, but the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is crying crocodile tears. If they are the top authority regarding that event, how in heaven’s name could they have allowed Teresa Mazotto to have occupied such a key role? They’re pitching a fit only because their negligence (assuming it’s merely that) is exposed. Too many times the bishops have asked for silence “until they can address problems” only to cause delays so that damage can be wrought before we bring corrective actions; I’m thinking of the CCHD exposes over the years with all the “waiting” until it was too late to launch boycott efforts. Enough of that. If the Archdiocese of Philadelphia had bothered to exercise just a modicum of due diligence as you did with regard to Mazotto, they would have discovered the problem themselves.
Excellent points Janet! Too many times situations along these lines are happening just to be “coincidence”! Is it chance or little by little trying to get the faithful “acclimated” to the “lifestyle”? I’ll continue praying it’s the former. God Bless.
The diocese has hired an “outside contractor” and cannot guarantee nor define the contractor’s employees taking charge of the said event. As a faithful Catholic, Mr. Hichborn must know we must be careful about judgment of character, judging the “action” or “behavior” and in this case, the event contact has done no wrong. Jesus did no wrong either — yet he hung on a Cross for our sins. Jesus did it that way. He dined with sinners. This entire published article with follow-up apology does little to build a Culture of Life. No wrong has been committed and we must work with all peoples — those with little or no faith. Otherwise, we will be found guilty of the very sin we have accused another of. How we treat people will make or break souls; therefore, Catholic faithful, do not cast that stone. Build a Culture of Faith by being friends with sinners like Jesus. I am a sinner, too, but I have found that no sin is greater than the love of Christ. Help the person out of sin, don’t push them into the deep divide through poisonous finger-pointing.
Jesus dined with sinners, true – with the intent that they’d convert. I see no instance in Scripture where He bestowed any unrepentant sinner with a position of trust – save Judas, and that ended in the latter’s eternal damnation. It’s one thing to befriend them; it’s quite another to entrust them to positions whereby they will likely work to the detriment of themselves and others.
” He dined with sinners.” — Repentant sinners, not the reprobate.
“No wrong has been committed and we must work with all peoples — those with little or no faith.”
–Correct, the only wrong possible here would have been to ensure a faithful Catholic be in this position. That would have been scandalous.
— As for working with “all peoples”, don’t forget those whose actions are in direct contradiction to the faith, we need them, too! Oh, but we’ve got that one covered, huh? And don’t propose that they repent either. Just work with them. “All peoples” holding hands, abandon God to build the Church of Man.
“This entire published article with follow-up apology does little to build a Culture of Life.”
— Who are you to judge?
“— Who are you to judge?”
“And why even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?” Luke 12:57
Perhaps you and the Pontiff should both spend some time brushing up on Scripture.
Very well said. Let Jesus be the judge not those who may or may not have the facts straight. I for one see no wrong in hiring and staffing practices as has occurred and I personally, as an ordained roman Catholic priest in good standing, am sick to my stomach at the tactics I see being exhibited by the Lepanto Institute
Fr. If I may ask, what tactics are making you sick to your stomach? And why? I ask honestly.
This is for Fr Tom.
You and your attitude ARE T-H-E Problem!
Jesus Never advised tolerating sin as you do.
Please read the Manhattan Declaration written by Dr. Robert George a lay Catholic professor at Princeton University.
It should help you get reacquainted with Natural Law and the Christian/Roman Catholic Church.
A guy like you should leave the Church and get a job at the United Nations ‘helping and understanding people’.
How does a Priest move off the narrow path helping people save their souls to the wide, accepting road of teaching people to not be judgmental but rather tolerate unnatural, sinful behavior??
You sound like the Sheep that’s a ‘long way off’………
Cole:
That is a shameless attack on an ordained priest simply because he disagreed with you and Michael!
Find a Crucifix. Jesus loved us so much as sinners – and EVERY ONE OF US are sinners – that He died on the Cross for us! Let he who us without sin cast the first stone.
Apparently, your post reveals your mistaken perception of your own purity and sinlessness.
Michael, your site encourages these types of shameless attacks on the ordained priesthood. You purport to operate as an “apostolate” of the Catholic Church within Virginia. I will be writing to the Bishops of Arlington and Richmond to notify them of your activities and demand the appropriate inquest.
Matt Dobson
As I look at the description of Lepanto, nowhere do I see Mike purporting to be exercising “an apostolate of the Catholic Church within Virginia.” Words mean things; as a lawyer you should know better than that. Write all you want, if that will make you feel better; but be advised that we see through your temper tantrums.
Judge by our blessed Lord’s commandment. “If your brother sins tell him,” you should know the rest-being a priest in good-standing; right? “If he does not listen even to the Church, then treat him as a publican and outcast.” It seems you have a problem with the Author of the statement-Father.
Thank you, and God Bless You for your TRULY CATHOLIC response.
I’m confused by this. I would think that publicly endorsing SSM and also choosing to live as married with a SS partner, might be what the wrong doing is. I feel like I’m missing something. Also if we are committed to not judging, meaning not pointing out anything that violates church teaching in someone’s actions etc. , then im quite certain we should not be saying anything about Mr. Hichborn’s character and actions. Right? If he is a sinner, you do no good in casting a stone at him, help him out of his sin by loving him. Sorry if this comes across a little thick, I just truly don’t get the logic.
Who has ever seen such a bunch of fools, heretics and apostates as are today’s clergy? No-one seems to defend Catholic doctrine anymore, or even to know it. Cardinals like Marx, Kasper, Schonborn, and their entire clerical entourage should be laicized, defrocked, excommunicated, and thrown on the street in their underware and without money. They are the instruments of the devil. This is the situation of an important section of the Church’s high clergy. And last, but not least, we have a laughing Pope, Francis the Merciful, whose only concern is popularity.
Mike:
Don’t over apologize! The archdiocese knows exactly what it is and was doing. The modernists and libs within the bosom of the Church are doing their best to assist the enemies of Jesus Christ to destroy His Only True Church, if they could. Recall, Chaput warmly welcomed the obscene pro-sodomite and sex ed promoter when he was stationed in Denver. Bottom line is how will they handle damage control now? The Sept meeting with Bergoglio here will be a disaster to the Church, if he, his gang of 8 and the lib cancer in the Church succeed. And they may.
If they do succeed it will mean that the Church has erred and consequently our faith will be shown to be no more than wishful thinking. This will not happen, our guarantor is Jesus Christ himself.
Posting that article was some serious hack journalism. By not getting both sides, and ousting an employee of the third-party contractor of the Archdiocese, you cause strife without real reason or proof. With these kinds of actions, we may as well drag everyone who enters the communion line with a contrary belief out of it. Very heartless and not compassionate with real proof to the matter of whether the employee in question was actually using her position to deliberately influence the World Meeting of Families in the pro-LGBT movement. We are all sinners, but unless you have direct proof of someone using their job position for evil, you can’t simply oust them from it for being gay. As a devout Catholic I’m not pro-gay marriage by any means, but we simply can’t treat people in this manner. This is what drives people away from the church. I see the severe conflict of interest at work, yes, but this is very irresponsible Mr. Hitchborn, especially by posting it without first attempting to contact the Archdiocese.
Can’t agree with your assessment at all. The Archdiocese, by way of omitting details, confirms what Mike contends. And Mike handles the entire matter quite charitably, in my humble opinion. No one can be Catholic and approve “same-sex marriage”. It isn’t possible. And the leadership of the Archdiocese should know that full well. Peace.
Baloo, you eloquently said what I meant to say. Thanks for posting.
Sir, reading you comment made me think of the sheep who was a long way off. I’m sure you’re sincere but you really don’t know what you are talking about.
Well done Michael. An Ave for you.
Will the hateful & hurting, anti-Catholic homosexuals please stay the HELL OUT of the Catholic Church!!???!!!
I have to say that your original article did not lead me to think ill of the archbishop. There are too many cases where our good leaders are in the dark and those of us engaged in the war understand that they are kept there against their wills. We try not to blame them; we pray! It seems to me that perhaps someone in the archdiocese is either overreacting or has a guilty conscience?
A lesbian activist has no place at a Catholic event. Day after day, and by her lifestyle, she
undermines all the basic morality the church teaches. The Archdiocese should demand that her
third-party employer find her a different assignment.
Hopefully she will repent of her lifestyle and walk on “the narrow road.” May this happen soon
for her sake.
“Gay marriage is an ideology of evil.” — John Paul II
Michael:
You are a coward. You make your point by publishing the home addeess of gays, lesbians, divorced, separated and other persons you disagree with. You invite others to humiliate them and as you identify where they live, you invite those who read your bile to go to these homes and attack or kill them. You want not only to feel unsafe in their homes. You want these people to be hurt and to die. Only then will your version of Catholic doctrine be vindicated.
Why else would you hold these people up to public ridicule.
You do it because these people need to be hurt, to suffer, and to die.
And you wonder why Archbishop Chaput chewed you an new opening just now?
Shame on you.
By the way, I am a Carholic who leads the Confirmation preparation program at my Parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
So come and get me.
Or do you lack the courage to take me on?
Dear Matt of the ADB, what is with your ranting and raving? Are you aware that your screed ” You invite others to humiliate them and as you identify where they live, you invite those who read your bile to go to these homes and attack or kill them. You want not only to feel unsafe in their homes. ” constitutes slander? Moreover, the version of Catholicism that you seem to deride is simply the moral teaching of Jesus Christ as espoused for two thousand years.
Would you please decipher this statement, “And you wonder why Archbishop Chaput chewed you an new opening just now?” The lack of proper spelling and grammar renders this to be a bunch of gibberish. Actually most of your post makes you sound like a two-year old caught with his/her hand in the cookie jar. I’ll pray for you and those in your confirmation program.
Janet-
I concur! If my child were in that Confirmation program with Matt, I would change parishes. The funny thing is though, his statements make the case for: a wolf in Sheeps clothing!
How so. Is it because I call out the folks like you holding the stones and ready to hurl them at the sinner.
You and Michael that, in my view, support incitement to commit murder.
As our Holy Father says: “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”
I am sorry that you reject the Magisterium.
Amen Janet. Amen!
Let me put this bluntly: Michael Hichborn commits a grave sin when he (1) attacks private individuals who are doing the work of the Church through CMS or thrid-party vendors who are contracted to perform a service for the Church; (2) publishes their private information and home addresses for the express and implied purpose of encouraging his readers to attack these private individuals, humiliate them publicly, seek them out at their home addresses that he publishes, physically or emotionally attack them, hurt them and, yes, Michael Hichborn wants other perople to kill them in my opinion.
that is why he publishes home addresses. That is why he publishes the names of private individuals. Michael Hichborn, in my opinion, wants to incite his fellow travelers to commit murder. He would be thrilled if that happened in my view. There is no other reason why he deploys this sinful tactic.
Look at these comments! All of you immediately respond by spewing hate at the persons Michael identifies. Guess what. This is how Al Quaeda and ISIS came into being.
Jesus weeps when he views this website.
My, My; being awfully judgmental and intolerant aren’t we?
I am happy to call out people who incite others to commit murder. that is exactly what is happening here.
Come on! Take me on about the merits of this shameful tactic.
You don’t because you can’t.
jesus weeps at this.
Jesus weeps when he views the hate on this website.
Michael Hichborn, in my opinion, identifies private individuals because he wants to incite others to commit murder.
Philippians 4:4-9 is the better call to leadership here that the cheap-shot, self-promoting fame-seeking inceitement-to-violence presented by Michael here:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Let’s see… We have Matt and now Greg claiming that Michael and others – including Yours Truly – are inciting to murder. Matt has made this claim before on other posts; he’s even copied and pasted from one post to another. So now we have a coordinated effort (albeit juvenile) to claim that the mere statement of truth is incitement to murder, simply because it rounds counter to the gay agenda. Why, this sounds like tactics of gay activists! I realize that Matt has claimed that he is a confirmation director in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, but these days that status and that of gay activist aren’t necessarily contradictory. I’m not saying Matt is a gay activist – just that he’s parroting all the talking points (Greg, too – assuming they are different people).
Michael: This comment is a great example of the point I made to you privately in our conversation by email today.
Yes, Janet Baker, I believe that Michael committed a grievous wrong by outing a private person, holing him up to ridicule to the world, publishing his home address and inciting you to hate him.
And you fell for that trick so completely you easily transferred that hate to me.
Michael, these folks, like Janet Baker here, perceive they have no recourse except to name calling, labeling and hate here. The Lepanto Institute calls them to no higher, constructive purpose.
Christ did not avoid the shunned and the shamed. He humiliated and hate no one. It is a shame that you and Janet Baker preach and act in direct opposition to that model.
Michael, lead people higher.
Matt Dobson
So telling the truth is what you erroneously label as “hate”. That is a tactic used by the gay agenda against those standing against their agenda: to label them as people who “hate” and “incite to murder” (Mr. Dobson’s terms) and repeat those assertions ad infinitim as though the mere repetition will establish them as fact. I think most of us see through that.
Janet:
The question for you is what is the truth? Doctrine is truth, holding a private person up to ridicule and publishing his home address is not.
This is what happens: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Gay-Couple-Attack-Charges-276751131.html
So, is this criminal conduct by Catholic the “truth?”
Well put Matt Says!
Criminal conduct? What crimes? Cite statutes broken. I’ve no doubt that had actual crimes been committed, charges would have been filed. You’re making assertions based on sheer emotion and no solid basis.
Janet: are you having trouble with reading the story at the link?
1. In Seprember 2014, a teacher at a Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and about a dozen other Catholics attacked and beat a same
sex couple.
The Catholic school teacher was forced to resign.
2. Archbishop Chaput, confronted with the evidence that Catholics in his Archdiocese had beaten a gay couple issued the following statement:
“A key part of a Catholic education is forming students to respect the dignity of every human person whether we agree with them or not. What students do with that formation when they enter the adult world determines their own maturity and dignity, or their lack of it. Violence against anyone, simply because of who they are, is inexcusable and alien to what it means to be a Christian. A recent beating incident in Center City allegedly involved, in some way, a part-time coach at Archbishop Wood High School. After inquiries by school leadership, the coach was contacted regarding the matter and he resigned. Archbishop Wood’s handling of the matter was appropriate, and I support their efforts to ensure that Catholic convictions guide the behavior of their whole school community, including their staff.”
3. Three of these Catholics, including the Catholic school teacher, were arrested and will be tried this summer for aggravated assault. If convicted, they will go to prison.
So, as far as facts. There you go. Now go click on the link I gave above for proof.
4. Contrary to Archbishop Chaput’s teaching, Michael is publishing the home addeesses and private information about of gay and lesbian private individuals in a manner that incites those among you to seek out these idividuals and attack them. There is no other reason behind his effort to shame these individuals.
Period.
It is clear you and Michael are not Catholics. You are SSPX sympathizers who seek to infiltrate the Church to sow division.
You are not welcome here.
https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=21087
The author of this article is anything but Catholic – i.e., the church that CHRIST founded, based on love and compassion. The author is assuming that the professional hired by the Bishops will automatically cheat her client. He assumes that gay people are inherently dishonest, and unable to separate their personal beliefs from their professional duties. If the two couldn’t be separated, the honest gay person would simply decline to take on the work. The author’s a slander is typical of the right wing haters – and especially the homophobes (defined as someone afraid of homosexuals) that run this site. Very sad that this site consistently sullies the name of Catholics, while claiming to be pro-Catholic.
Please go away
This is for Margaret ransomed
Cole: isolation, resentment and contempt are not Catholic values.
My My, being awfully judgmental aren’t we?
I don’t know if I agree with Mr. Hichborn’s approach or not. But I definitely don’t agree with Matt. Matt is not kind and loving to Mr. Hichborn. He is holding him up to ridicule and labelling him. He is humiliating him and attacking him emotionally. He is holding stones, ready to hurl them at Mr. Hichborn. Jesus weeps when he reads Matt’s attack of Mr. Hichborn. Christ did not avoid the shunned and the shamed. He humiliated and hate no one.
Matt Dobson says of Mike Hichborn and me “you are not welcome here”. What does that mean?
It means you and Michael are wrong on homosexuality and are acting contrary to the teachings of the Church.
Yes, the homosexual sex act is deemed sinful. That son is on the same level as a Catholic married couple who uses contraception when having intercourse.
That someone considers himself or herself to be a homosexual is not, in and of itself, sinful at all. Catechism of the Catholic Church para 2351. More importantly, it is the infallible teaching of the Church that you and Michael (and I) must treat all homosexual persons with the same dignity and respect we give everyone else. See Catechism para 2358 (“Every sign of unjust discrimination [against homosexual persons] in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.”)
Translation: It is YOUR and Michael’s hatred of homosexual persons that is a sin against the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church!
But, in all this, the Holy Father, Pope Francis counsels:
“If the Christian is a restorationist, a legalist, if he wants everything clear and safe, then he will find nothing. Tradition and memory of the past must help us to have the courage to open up new areas to God. Those who today always look for disciplinarian solutions, those who long for an exaggerated doctrinal ‘security,’ those who stubbornly try to recover a past that no longer exists—they have a static and inward-directed view of things. In this way, faith becomes an ideology among other ideologies.”
See http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/frame_game/2013/09/pope_francis_interview_forget_homosexuality_and_birth_control_he_s_a_flaming.html
My reply is rather lengthy for this combox. Rather than clutter up Mike’s page, I put it on my own blog. http://restore-dc-catholicism.blogspot.com/2015/06/an-example-of-harm-caused-by-pope.html
Janet. Quick question.
Exactly what sin did these two outed”
Janet. Quick question
Exactly what sin did the two individuals you attack “flaunt”?
Matt,
1) The two individuals made a complete mockery of the Divine institution of Marriage. Grave sin #1.
2) People do not get “married” in order to remain celibate. No consummation = no marriage. Now, if these individuals got “married” in order to escape certain tax burdens without ever intending to “consummate” the “marriage,” then what they are doing is committing fraud. So, either they are sinning against chastity by fulfilling the sodomitical act of their so-called “marriage,” or they are telling a lie in order to cheat on their taxes.
3) Estridge isn’t just guilty of entering into a mock marriage … he vocally advocated for public acceptance of sodomy and even suggested that a state Representative be sent to “Gitmo” for filing 3 bills against same-sex “marriage.”
Matt,
You forget that the Catechism also says that homosexual inclinations are “intrinsically disordered.” In terms of moral theology, this is to say that homosexual inclinations tend one toward that which is intrinsically evil. It’s the same for those who are addicted to drugs, porn, theft, the occult and so forth. A necrophiliac, for instance, has a tendency toward sexually molesting corpses. Having the strong temptation does not constitute sin, but this doesn’t make the inclination acceptable or good. In fact, it emphasizes the urgency in helping the individual overcome such inclinations.
You also forget that the CCC 2357 says very clearly, “Under no circumstances can they [homosexual acts] be approved.” Such acts include all forms of romantic activities, kissing, holding hands, caressing, cuddling, etc. While these acts themselves are not sodomitical, they are directed toward that end, thereby rending them intrinsically disordered. So, while “every sign of UNJUST discrimination should be avoided,” there is justified discrimination, and that comes by way of UNREPENTANT homosexual acts and identification. Without repentance, there can be no forgiveness.
On Sunday, in an attempt to reply to my query about alleged criminal activity of Mike’s, Matt posted about an episode where Archbishop Chaput rebuked those who beat a couple. That is, the criminals physically committed assault and battery. This is what we call an “apples vs oranges” comparision as Matt tries to liken Mike’s expose of gay activists as assault and battery. In additon to “apples vs oranges”, this line of thinking could just as easily be dubbed “grasping at straws”.
What’s pathetic is that if the “gatekeeper” was an atheist or your run-of-the-mill heterosexual male with Facebook likes for women in bikinis there would be no controversy. That fact exposes the hypocrisy of these so-called Catholics. And if I remember correctly, this site has advertised on the 4 time divorced Rush Limbaugh show. These are Republicans in Catholic clothing.
Perhaps these might be helpful to read:
12 Quotes Against Sodomy That Every Catholic Should Know
For millennia the Catholic Church has consistently opposed unnatural vice. Here is a brief sampling of useful quotes from Saints, Doctors of the Church, Church Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers who condemn homosexual vice in their writings.
1. Athenagoras of Athens (2nd Century)
Athenagoras of Athens was a philosopher who converted to Christianity in the second century. He shows that the pagans, who were totally immoral, did not even refrain from sins against nature:
“But though such is our character (Oh! why should I speak of things unfit to be uttered?), the things said of us are an example of the proverb, ‘The harlot reproves the chaste.’ For those who have set up a market for fornication and established infamous resorts for the young for every kind of vile pleasure – who do not abstain even from males, males with males committing shocking abominations, outraging all the noblest and comeliest bodies in all sorts of ways, so dishonoring the fair workmanship of God.”1
2. Tertullian (160-225)
Tertullian was a great genius and apologist of the early Church. Unfortunately, after an initial period of fervor, he succumbed to resentment and pride, left the Church and adhered to the Montanist heresy. Because of works written while still in the Church, he is considered an Ecclesiastical Writer and, as such, is commonly quoted by Popes and theologians. His treatise On Modesty is an apology of Christian chastity. He clearly shows the horror the Church has for sins against nature. After condemning adultery, he exclaims:
“But all the other frenzies of passions–impious both toward the bodies and toward the sexes–beyond the laws of nature, we banish not only from the threshold, but from all shelter of the Church, because they are not sins, but monstrosities.”2
3. Eusebius of Caesarea (260-341)
Eusebius Pamphili, Bishop of Cæsarea in Palestine and the “Father of Church History,” writes in his book, Demonstratio Evangelica:
“[God in the Law given to Moses] having forbidden all unlawful marriage, and all unseemly practice, and the union of women with women and men with men.”3
4. Saint Jerome (340-420)
Saint Jerome is both Father and Doctor of the Church. He was also a notable exegete and great polemicist. In his book Against Jovinianus, he explains how a sodomite needs repentance and penance to be saved:
“And Sodom and Gomorrah might have appeased it [God’s wrath], had they been willing to repent, and through the aid of fasting gain for themselves tears of repentance.”4
5. Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Saint John Chrysostom is considered the greatest of the Greek Fathers and was proclaimed Doctor of the Church. He was Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople, and his revision of the Greek liturgy is used until today. In his sermons about Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he dwells on the gravity of the sin of homosexuality:
“But if thou scoffest at hearing of hell and believest not that fire, remember Sodom. For we have seen, surely we have seen, even in this present life, a semblance of hell. For since many would utterly disbelieve the things to come after the resurrection, hearing now of an unquenchable fire, God brings them to a right mind by things present. For such is the burning of Sodom, and that conflagration!…
“Consider how great is that sin, to have forced hell to appear even before its time!… For that rain was unwonted, for the intercourse was contrary to nature, and it deluged the land, since lust had done so with their souls. Wherefore also the rain was the opposite of the customary rain. Now not only did it fail to stir up the womb of the earth to the production of fruits, but made it even useless for the reception of seed. For such was also the intercourse of the men, making a body of this sort more worthless than the very land of Sodom. And what is there more detestable than a man who hath pandered himself, or what more execrable?5
6. Saint Augustine (354-430)
The greatest of the Fathers of the West and one of the great Doctors of the Church, Saint Augustine laid the foundations of Catholic theology. In his celebrated Confessions, he thus condemns homosexuality:
“Those offences which be contrary to nature are everywhere and at all times to be held in detestation and punished; such were those of the Sodomites, which should all nations commit, they should all be held guilty of the same crime by the divine law, which hath not so made men that they should in that way abuse one another. For even that fellowship which should be between God and us is violated, when that same nature of which He is author is polluted by the perversity of lust.”6
7. Saint Gregory the Great (540-604)
Pope Saint Gregory I is called “the Great.” He is both Father and Doctor of the Church. He introduced Gregorian chant into the Church. He organized England’s conversion, sending Saint Augustine of Canterbury and many Benedictine monks there.
“Sacred Scripture itself confirms that sulfur evokes the stench of the flesh, as it speaks of the rain of fire and sulfur poured upon Sodom by the Lord. He had decided to punish Sodom for the crimes of the flesh, and the very type of punishment he chose emphasized the shame of that crime. For sulfur stinks, and fire burns. So it was just that Sodomites, burning with perverse desires arising from the flesh like stench, should perish by fire and sulfur so that through this just punishment they would realize the evil they had committed, led by a perverse desire.”7
8. Saint Peter Damian (1007-1072)
Doctor of the Church, cardinal and a great reformer of the clergy, Saint Peter Damian wrote his famous Book of Gomorrah against the inroads made by homosexuality among the clergy. He describes not only the iniquity of homosexuality, but also its psychological and moral consequences:
“Truly, this vice is never to be compared with any other vice because it surpasses the enormity of all vices.… It defiles everything, stains everything, pollutes everything. And as for itself, it permits nothing pure, nothing clean, nothing other than filth.…
“The miserable flesh burns with the heat of lust; the cold mind trembles with the rancor of suspicion; and in the heart of the miserable man chaos boils like Tartarus [Hell]…. In fact, after this most poisonous serpent once sinks its fangs into the unhappy soul, sense is snatched away, memory is borne off, the sharpness of the mind is obscured. It becomes unmindful of God and even forgetful of itself. This plague undermines the foundation of faith, weakens the strength of hope, destroys the bond of charity; it takes away justice, subverts fortitude, banishes temperance, blunts the keenness of prudence.
“And what more should I say since it expels the whole host of the virtues from the chamber of the human heart and introduces every barbarous vice as if the bolts of the doors were pulled out.”8
9. Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Commenting upon Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (1:26-27), Saint Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, explains why the sin of homosexuality is so grave:
“Given the sin of impiety through which they [the Romans] sinned against the divine nature [by idolatry], the punishment that led them to sin against their own nature followed…. I say, therefore, that since they changed into lies [by idolatry] the truth about God, He brought them to ignominious passions, that is, to sins against nature; not that God led them to evil, but only that he abandoned them to evil….
“If all the sins of the flesh are worthy of condemnation because by them man allows himself to be dominated by that which he has of the animal nature, much more deserving of condemnation are the sins against nature by which man degrades his own animal nature….
“Man can sin against nature in two ways. First, when he sins against his specific rational nature, acting contrary to reason. In this sense, we can say that every sin is a sin against man’s nature, because it is against man’s right reason….
“Secondly, man sins against nature when he goes against his generic nature, that is to say, his animal nature. Now, it is evident that, in accord with natural order, the union of the sexes among animals is ordered towards conception. From this it follows that every sexual intercourse that cannot lead to conception is opposed to man’s animal nature.”9
10. Saint Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Saint Catherine, a great mystic and Doctor of the Church, lived in troubled times. The Papacy was in exile at Avignon, France. She was instrumental in bringing the Popes back to Rome. Her famous Dialogues are written as if dictated by God Himself:
“But they act in a contrary way, for they come full of impurity to this mystery, and not only of that impurity to which, through the fragility of your weak nature, you are all naturally inclined (although reason, when free will permits, can quiet the rebellion of nature), but these wretches not only do not bridle this fragility, but do worse, committing that accursed sin against nature, and as blind and fools, with the light of their intellect darkened, they do not know the stench and misery in which they are. It is not only that this sin stinks before me, who am the Supreme and Eternal Truth, it does indeed displease me so much and I hold it in such abomination that for it alone I buried five cities by a divine judgment, my divine justice being no longer able to endure it. This sin not only displeases me as I have said, but also the devils whom these wretches have made their masters. Not that the evil displeases them because they like anything good, but because their nature was originally angelic, and their angelic nature causes them to loathe the sight of the actual commission of this enormous sin.10
11. Saint Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)
Saint Bernardine of Siena was a famous preacher, celebrated for his doctrine and holiness. Regarding homosexuality, he stated:
“No sin in the world grips the soul as the accursed sodomy; this sin has always been detested by all those who live according to God.… Deviant passion is close to madness; this vice disturbs the intellect, destroys elevation and generosity of soul, brings the mind down from great thoughts to the lowliest, makes the person slothful, irascible, obstinate and obdurate, servile and soft and incapable of anything; furthermore, agitated by an insatiable craving for pleasure, the person follows not reason but frenzy.… They become blind and, when their thoughts should soar to high and great things, they are broken down and reduced to vile and useless and putrid things, which could never make them happy…. Just as people participate in the glory of God in different degrees, so also in hell some suffer more than others. He who lived with this vice of sodomy suffers more than another, for this is the greatest sin.”11
12. Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597)
Saint Peter Canisius, Jesuit and Doctor of the Church, is responsible for helping one third of Germany abandon Lutheranism and return to the Church. To Scripture’s condemnation of homosexuality, he added his own:
“As the Sacred Scripture says, the Sodomites were wicked and exceedingly sinful. Saint Peter and Saint Paul condemn this nefarious and depraved sin. In fact, the Scripture denounces this enormous indecency thus: ‘The scandal of Sodomites and Gomorrhans has multiplied and their sins have become grave beyond measure.’ So the angels said to just Lot, who totally abhorred the depravity of the Sodomites: ‘Let us leave this city….’ Holy Scripture does not fail to mention the causes that led the Sodomites, and can also lead others, to this most grievous sin. In fact, in Ezechiel we read: ‘Behold this was the iniquity of Sodom: pride, fullness of bread, and abundance, and the idleness of her, and of her daughters: and they did not put forth their hand to the needy, and the poor. And they were lifted up, and committed abominations before me; and I took them away as thou hast seen’ (Ezech. 16: 49-50). Those unashamed of violating divine and natural law are slaves of this never sufficiently execrated depravity.”12
Note: These quotes are taken from Defending A Higher Law: Why We Must Resist Same-Sex “Marriage” and the Homosexual Movement.
Maggie,
Thanks for your work on putting this all together.