Catholic Church opposes freedom of assembly in Jerusalem

Timothy Kincaid

July 31st, 2010

The annual gay pride march in Jerusalem took place this year with few problems. (AP)

Thousands of Israelis marched calmly Thursday in Jerusalem’s longest gay pride parade despite opposition from anti-gay demonstrators.

Carrying rainbow banners, several thousand demonstrators walked along the 1.5 mile (2.5 kilometer) route. A few dozen black-suited ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters at the beginning and end of the route held signs denouncing homosexuals, with slogans like “Gay Play in Hell, Not Jerusalem.” Many ultra-Orthodox Jews consider homosexuality an abomination.

But, unlike previous years, the ultra-Orthodox did not physically attack the marchers and no one hurt.

However, the Catholic Church has now given its opinion. Perhaps to no one’s surprise, the Church is in opposition to the freedom of assembly in the Holy City. (SL Tribune)

The Catholic Church’s highest official in the Holy Land has sharply criticized Israeli authorities for permitting a gay pride march through the streets of Jerusalem.

In a statement Friday after the city’s eighth annual Gay Pride Parade, which attracted 3,000 marchers, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal said the parade, “its organizers and the authorities who allow it, care neither for the feelings of families nor the holiness of this city.” The patriarch said gays can “have their parade wherever they want,” as long as it is not in Jerusalem.

Ya know, it’s funny. When anti-gays oppose our rights, they love to say that they aren’t opposed to us as people or our rights in general, but it’s only these rights here that they oppose.

If we are wanting marriage in California, they aren’t opposed to civil unions, just marriage.

When we want civil unions in Hawaii, they aren’t opposed to all all recognition, just civil unions that are too close to marriage.

When we want limited domestic partnerships in Colorado that offer a few protections, they don’t oppose hospital visitation, just giving state sanction to homosexual relations.

When we ask a hospital to allow gay people to decide who will make medical decision, they don’t oppose us living how we want, they just want to protect the rights of the family to decide what is best.

When sodomy laws were overturned allowing us to live as we want without threat, they didn’t want us thrown in jail much, they just wanted to enact social disapproval of homosexual acts.

And on it goes.

So when Patriarch Twal says we can have our parades wherever we want, just not in Jerusalem, I’m frankly skeptical. Tell us Partriarch Twal, exactly where on the globe is it that the Catholic Church supports gay people marching?

michael

July 31st, 2010

LOL of course they do! they oppose freedom of any kind! freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of religion!

Edwin

July 31st, 2010

they need to clean up their own house before trying to tell others what they think is best for them.

Soren456

July 31st, 2010

It’s like trying to put your finger on a blob of mercury.

But not as entertaining.

Arnaud

August 1st, 2010

“Its organizers and the authorities who allow it, don’t care for the holiness of this city.” -> they seem to believe that Jerusalem is the property of the Catholic Church ! As Timothy underlines it, sadly, they always ask for more. I wouldn’t be surprised they think the whole world should be theirs.
And of course, they don’t refrain from using the “feelings of families” argument wherever they can. Remember that gays and families are incompatible, just as wolves and sheeps are.

cd

August 1st, 2010

Tell us Partriarch Twal, exactly where on the globe is it that the Catholic Church supports gay people marching?

In the grand procession of cardinals in St. Peter’s, maybe?

Alan

August 1st, 2010

One thing however that is often not recognized in such a “”religious country”” is that Gay marriage is quiestly recognized by the government if one gets married outside of the country with all the benefits of marriage. Gays are welcome in the military and Tel Aviv is a welcoming city with a Gay Center funded by the city. Gay couples are also recognized as a married couple for certain benefits ie. pension, adoption, and other things even if they are not married.
In some ways a bit more progressive than in the U.S. !

Neil

August 1st, 2010

Soren456
“It’s like trying to put your finger on a blob of mercury.

But not as entertaining.”

And less likely to induce insanity.

EZam

August 1st, 2010

I hope soon Israel completely legalizes gay marriage. The heads of all the frums and fundies would explode.

Kristie

August 1st, 2010

Maybe someone should remind the Catholic church that they lost the right to say what should or shouldn’t be allowed in Jerusalem after they got their butts kicked in the last crusade!

And shouldn’t lightening be striking these arrogant SOBs when they have the nerve to talk about someone “not caring for the feelings of families” when they regularly crap all over the families of kids that have been molested by members of their clergy!

Unbelievable!

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