Home » US News » Catholic priest slapped with ‘official rebuke’ from church leaders for doing a reading at cousin’s same-sex wedding
Catholic priest slapped with ‘official rebuke’ from church leaders for doing a reading at cousin’s same-sex wedding
Tags
Related Posts
About the author
A Catholic priest from Connecticut was reprimanded for his role in the same-sex wedding ceremony of a cousin last month.
Father Michael DeVito, of Sacred Heart Church in Suffield, was called into the office of Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell and ‘formally rebuked’ after a wedding announcement in The New York Times mentioned that the clergyman took part in the August 17 nuptials of Roger Danforth and Richard Termine.
The citation would go on DeVito’s permanent record in accordance with canon law, but the archdiocese would not disclose what the cleric’s punishment would be.
In a statement released on Thursday, the archdiocese said that DeVito’s role in the New York City wedding was limited to doing a reading, and he had no vestments on, but did wear his Roman collar for the occasion. [more]
SOURCE
Leave a Comment
Photo Archive
-
May 24, 2013 7:00
Historic vote to accept gays as Boy Scouts draws mixed faith response
-
May 24, 2013 6:55
Faith-Healing Churches linked to 2 dozen child deaths
-
May 24, 2013 6:51
Clergy campaign for indigent care
-
May 24, 2013 6:46
Five more come forward alleging abuse by Hawaii Catholic priests
-
May 23, 2013 1:58
Religious freedom reports see little improvement in troubling countries
-
May 23, 2013 1:43
LGBT Catholics find a new supporter: An openly gay priest
-
May 22, 2013 1:37
Tornadoes exact deadly toll; region needs ‘a lot of prayers right now’
-
May 22, 2013 1:32
State Dept. report says countries have repressed religious freedom with laws
-
May 22, 2013 1:23
2 lawsuits filed against Maine Catholic church
-
May 21, 2013 1:32
Church Whistle-Blowers Join Forces on Abuse
39 Comments
Jimbo, they banned it because there is proff it just doesn’t work, it does more harm an no good. It is sick. It is like you or me trying to be gay, we can’t do it therapy or no therapy, so you can forget that hot guy next door you sometime refer too.
What the hell are you smoking??? The pope said no one is a homosexual…….NO Way. That can’t be…..where can I see the quote from B16.
Hello Dolly……..heads up kiddo……the state of California banned same sex conversion therapy. It’s a crack pot therapy………..
Tony — is it any surprise that CA banned conversion therapy (but only for those under 18)? Not at all — they are on express train bound for Hell.
When the issue of homosexuality comes up, no other word than superstition comes to mind. In fact according to professional anthropologist Marvin Harris relatively few societies historically have placed a complete ban on all types of homosexual activities. Many tribal communities have special spiritual positions for homosexuals, as seers and prophets. Most of these societies lasted (and still continue) a very long time. When a person is bothered by the sexual orientation of a person who is very giving, gentle, and peaceful, and when that peaceful person’s personal life in no way seriously affects the rest of the community, the issue is not homosexuality, but homophobia. Homophobia, like any kind of Xenophobia (fear of differences), robs all of us of the richness of a community that celebrates its diversity. Gays and lesbians are targeted for prejudice now, does this mean in the future that those of us who worship radically different god or gods, have different political views, practice a different ethnic persuasion, or have different type of skin pigmentation will be targeted? Finally as a parent I hope we make it very clear to our children that our love is not conditional upon something as irrelevant to love as sexual orientation. Let’s all fight superstition (and misinformation) that harms the very soul of our community.
Yes, parents do (usually) love their children. As Edith Stein said, love without the truth is not love. First spiritual work of mercy: admonish the sinner. If we don’t, God will condemn us for our silence (Ezekiel 33:7-9).
He had to choose between being a sensitive relative or being a jerk.
Doesn’t anyone see an official rebuke in this case just bizarre when one has not been forthcoming when a Missouri judge found Bishop Finn guilty Thursday? So on the one hand we have a man walking in the steps of Jesus’ public ministry of love and welcome, and on the other hand aiding and abetting the systematic rape and abuse of children, and the former gets the official rebuke? Not a peep about the latter?
We look like fools…
Come on Jim, you really don’t know what you are talking about. Approximately 90% of Psychological studies indicate that sexuality is determined when the last gene is expressed.That last gene is not expressed in a person who will become homosexual. Reparative therapy does not work. Dr. Dolan, Clinical Psychologist
Hey Dr. Dolan, since your profession is to understand the development and modification of behavior, tell me this — besides sexual orientation, what other behavior cannot be modified? Tell me just one. I’m waiting.
I am begging you, Dr. Dolan — PLEASE debate me on this.
It would seem from observation that a behavior that cannot be modifed is that of a right wing ultra conservative from excessive posts on this website. Sorry the Devil made me say that. LOL
I’m waiting for Dr. Dolan, Tony; at the moment, I’m not interested in mirth. I want to debate her so badly.
Dr. Dolan — okay, I am now throwing down the gauntlet — I guarantee you I will completely whip your butt in this debate, and you will be embarrassed (if you have the integrity to be honest with the facts). I am guaranteeing my victory and your defeat in this pending debate, doctor. Let’s begin — please. Don’t back down from this direct challenge to your knowledge and skill as a psychologist.
there are somethings that are not going to change-from your general taste in color to your need to eat to stay alive. Sex and sexual preference are within the similar parameters. You cannot change who a person is without clinical failure and damage. Trust me: I’m gay and grew up in the catholic church. None of their teaching is compatible with dignity for the homosexual regardless of actions. According to the pope we are all denying our gender by not being heterosexual.
Joseph — just because you think of yourself as gay does not in any way make you an expert in conversion therapy; in fact, it makes any view you have suspect, as you have a dog in the race. Dr. Joseph Nicolosi published a book based on 300 cases of men who sought treatment for their same-sex attractions; the significant majority were successful. In fact, of 318 who identified
themselves as exclusively homosexual prior to treatment, 56 (18%) became exclusively heterosexual. So, Joseph, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You have indulged your sexual pleasure, and have been too selfish in pursuit of your own pleasure to follow God’s perfect plan for your life. You are following your own plan: just like Adam and Eve. Cheers.
Addendum, Joseph: the pope is correct. NO ONE is homosexual; EVERYONE is heterosexual. But, of course, you can indulge your disordered, selfish proclivities and build a life around sex with men. I am so glad I’m not you — I too am a sinner, but you are into massive sins. Just remember, when Jesus offers you His Mercy, that even your sins are nothing against the backdrop of His Mercy. You too can make it to Heaven on the train of His Mercy.
Jim, so everyone is heterosexual but some people behave as exclusive homosexuals. Why or how would they do that? If they are heterosexual then by definition they are sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex and not sexually attracted to members of the same sex. Saying they are “disordered” heterosexuals is meaningless since their disorder is that they are not heterosexual.
Lapsed — everyone in their essence is heterosexual. Any person who has sex with people of the same sex while on Earth, if they make it to Heaven, will be heterosexual, as Heaven does not change us fundamentally, but rather perfects us to be the person God created us to be — which is heterosexual. Yes, some people have genetic and prenatal predispositions to disorders such as homosexuality or violence, but no one is created to be homosexual or violent. All gays who make it to Heaven will have to have their desire for gay sex burned out of them in Purgatory before they can be admitted to Heaven.
Jim you can always get a job springing out of a cuckoo clock. You are cuckoo.
Jim, you’re just repeating the assertion and you’re still wrong.
Lapsed — you’re just repeating your disagreement with me, and thus you’re still wrong. Sorry you can’t see the truth — but then again, you lapsed a while ago. Cheers.
Interesting. Ministers in some other denominations (United Methodist, for instance) can get themselved defrocked for doing or appearing at a so called gay marriage. So an “official rebuke” may be for some a sign of hope that hostilities are winding down — as they should.
Courage is a very harmful group that encourages dangerous repression of the homosexual. While courage doesn’t endorse reparative thereapy many of the few members seek it out. Rather than encouraging a healthy sell acceptance of self it encourages a life of denial & self hatred.
Tony — sorry you’re not a fan of reparative therapy — but, I know you don’t want to be confused by the fact that it works in the MAJORITY of cases. The current condemnation of the therapy comes from gay activists in the American Psychological Association. Sexual orientation is shapable, Tony, as has been demonstrated by Dr. Nicolosi (www.Narth.com) and others. The psychologists are not credible — they say every other behavior can be changed: depression, schizophrenia, consumer behavior, you name it — but not same-sex attractions. The APA is a disgusting left-wing organization.
I don’t believe sexual orientation is “shapable.” Think back over your own childhood. Don’t you remember the first time you felt yourself attracted to someone? I remember being 8 years old and being attracted to the guy who ran the corner cigar stand. Of course, I had no idea of what I was feeling then, but it was nonetheless there!
So, how old was the guy at the time, Recovering? Now you’ve got me interested!
The cigar store guy was probabaly in his late thirties. Don’t get the idea that he tried anything; he didn’t. I just noticed a strong attraction — the same type of man I would be attracted to for decades to come and probably still am. P.S. In case I never made it clear, I am a woman and straight.
Recovering — I knew you were a straight woman — never a question in my mind. I find that fascinating that a pre-pubescent girl (although perhaps you were starting to change hormonally already — and you may have underestimated your age) could be attracted to a man in his late thirties. With regard to the fact that your attraction to that type of man always has been there — well, I don’t doubt that, but we know for an absolute fact that the brain changes in response to experience (offical terminology: the brain is plastic). For example, we know that if you learn to play the guitar, you literally grow connections between nerve cells that control the movement of your fingers. There is every reason to believe that plasticity extends to virtually all brain cells; and therefore, attractions are shapable. We know from Pavlov’s experiments with dogs that two things that are associated often enough (sometimes just once, in the case of trauma, for example) begin to elicit a different response. Thus, if I have an orgasm with a member of the same sex, members of the same sex now become more attractive to me. It’s actually quite simple and straightforward.
Narth? Are you kidding? They are among the worst of the worst, Reparitve groups going. What are you going to advocate next castration and chasity belts.
One of the most important theologians in the history of the Catholic Church, Origen, castrated himself to prevent himself from sinning. Since that act wouldn’t have castrated his hormones, I wonder whether he regretted that?
Don’t tell Jim that one Recovering. He will suggest we emulate tOrigeh, especially if the guy is gay. Pathetic
Recovering — not true. Castrating yourself most definitely would lead to a very substantial hormonal change. In fact, I don’t think males can make testosterone any place other than in their testicles. In case you’re not clear about castration, it involves removal of the testicles, not the penis.
there is no such evidence. You left no supporting data nor any personal experience. Narth has been debunked repeatedly due to the shortage of data.
By the way the APA is not a gay advocacy group it is in part a patient advocacy group. Without such advocates my experience as a gay man would be far more strife that I have already had. Would you like to know what it is like? I have never had a heterosexual anti-gay person want to know what the homosexual has to deal with.
Joseph — NARTH has been debunked only by the exclusively gay committee of the APA that studied the issue. Their conclusion was political, not at all scientific; in fact, these “doctors” disgust me — they use their position to confirm people like you in your sinful lifestyle.
What message does this send to young Gay Catholics? If your gay don’t even think of being Catholic, what does this say about family values when a priest can’t support a coomitment of his nephew? Is the church closing itself off to the millions of gays through out the world? Lookalike Cardinal Martini was right, the church is hundreds of years behind the times. At least the nephews of the priest are willing to commit themselves to each other in a loving relationship rather than soliciting sex in some dark corner of a homosexual hangout.
The message to gay Catholics — if you want to go to Heaven, join Courage (couragerc.net) and live a chaste life. You want to palliate the gays, Tony, and tell them, “There, there, have all the illicit sex you want, and you’ll still go to Heaven — God loves everyone, and everyone goes to Heaven.” I love gays enough, Tony, to tell them the truth.
Ah, there is Jim Almighty’s hypocrisy and duplicity once again. He can condemn those who are gay but not those who act in horrific ways who he considers to be on the same side of issues as he is. Stand up for Bishop Finn who protested a pedophile. Stand up for Benedict Groschel who made horrendous remarks about the victims of child abuse. Defend those in the church who commit crimes. One needs a score card to know who is guilty and who is not in the self-righteous world of Jim Almighty – the prosecutor, jury and judge of every issue that exists. But because of the duplicity his words are empty. His words have no meaning. His words have no validity. And now he promotes reparative therapy for anyone who does not act the way Jim Almighty wants them to act. A super race of people. A super race where everyone thinks the same, acts the same, believes the same things. A world of Jims? Talk about an image for hell!
So here is a thought, just agree with everything that he says and then go do whatever you want – because as long as you are on the same side as him, Jim Almighty will forgive you.