Catholic Church and Archbishop Dolan
lose out badly in New York gay
marriage defeat

Irish Central – 24 June 2011

The vote for gay marriage is a major setback for Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the Catholic Church in New York which fought the legislation tooth and nail.

However, it is clear that the church power has waned in the aftermath of the pedophile sex scandals which have plagued the church in recent years.

Until quite recently a 'belt of the crozier' from the Catholic church would have stopped any such gay marriage bill in its tracks, especially one actively promoted by a Catholic governor.

Not any more and the church now looks exposed because of its opposition and its failure to turn the tide,

Dolan and another leading Irish American, Michael Long of the Conservative Party, made last ditch efforts to overturn the legislation which passed 33-29 with four Republican votes.It was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Afterwards the church issued a statement which read;

"We strongly uphold the Catholic Church's clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.

This definition cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths."

Regardless of the statement the church has been comprehensively defeated on one of their signature issues. The four Republican senators, two of them Catholic, who voted for the bill and the Senate leader Senator Dean Skelos who allowed the vote have made clear that it was a personal decision and they refused to be swayed by the Church lobbying.

Sinn Féin - Proud to support PRIDE

An Phoblacht – 24 June 2011

Sinn Féin will be supporting the Dublin Pride Festival Parade on Saturday June 25th. Republican activists are encouraged to join the Party's contingent on the Parade. Please register with the organisers at the Garden of Remembrance before 12.30 to be able to march behind the Sinn Féin banner.

What is Dublin Pride

The Dublin Pride Festival, organised this year by Dublin L.G.B.T.Q. Pride Ltd, starts this June the 17th, and culminates in the Dublin Pride Parade on the 25th of June 2011,

Dublin Pride has three core values which it aims to promote through the festival:

Celebrating Diversity

Not only to tolerate, but to accept and celebrate diversity with the understanding that it is our differences which make us extraordinary.

Inclusiveness

To seek out those who are on the fringes and to take practical, concrete steps to ensure their inclusion in society.

Increased Visibility & Mutual Respect

To increase the visibility of the Dublin LGBTQ community within the wider Dublin, Irish and global community while communicating the message of mutual respect; to appreciate others for what they are, for how they are different and to respect them for such.

Parade Times and Route

The Pride Parade will start at the Garden Of Remebrance at 2pm Saturday the 25th Of June. To join the Sinn Féin contingent on the parade you have to register before 12.30 at the Garden of Remembrance. Failure to register will mean that you will have to join the end of the Parade.

The route will be the same as last year. From the Garden Of Remembrance down O’Connell Street, over O’Connell Bridge, on to Dolier Street and Dame Street, passing City hall and finishing at the Civic Offices.

Last year over 20,000 March.

Comment:

It is very clear from the content of these articles that our Catholic faith as well as our AOH National Constitution which requires us, as Hibernians, to be practicing Catholics and to work in harmony with the teachings of the Church, is in imminent danger from many outside forces. Unfortunately, politics often plays a prominent role in the danger to our faith and to the principles that we espouse as members of our noble Order. It is not always easy to make a principled choice and to stand up and be counted among those whose Catholic faith and devotion to our noble Order mean much more than political correctness whether here in the United States of America or in Ireland. Brothers, the time is now to show the world that we are proud to profess our Catholic faith and also proud to practice the principles enshrined in the National Constitution of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America.

Jack Meehan, Past National President

Ancient Order of Hibernians in America

Knights of Columbus – 4^th Degree