Catholics for Equality? Homosexual Equivalency Activists Foment Dissent

By Deacon Keith Fournier
12/8/2010
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Catholics for Equality has decided to take their fight against the Church into the very heart of our sacred worship spaces

Efforts to call homosexual acts morally acceptable and then force society to call relationships which are not capable of being marriages to be marriages is particularly egregious when engaged in by Catholics. Do not be deceived by "Catholics for Equality". Thomas Peters is correct, "Catholics for Equality has decided to take their fight against the Church into the very heart of our sacred worship spaces."

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic online) - Monday morning I received an E-Mail message entitled "An Unprecedented and Dangerous Threat to the Church". The title intrigued me, but it was the name of the person who sent it which made me open it. Thomas Peters is a man I respect. He is one of the founders of the Catholic Vote Project. He is also known by many for his defense of the Church and the Catholic faith in his "American Papist" columns. Here is an excerpt from the letter Thomas wrote:

"This week I was made aware of a disturbing plan put into action by a new group calling itself "Catholics for Equality." I believe this move represents the new face of a systematic, well-funded effort to undermine the Church's teaching on issues relating to marriage and cause more dissent among Catholics in America. Aniello Alioto, one of their founding members of Catholics For Equality, explains their group's strategic plan to undermine the Church - yes, even in the pews of our parishes:

"One of the most interesting aspects of this campaign is our understanding that we don't need the consent of our hierarchy to effectively mobilize our fellow pro-equality parishioners inside our churches. This Christmas we will be rolling out the Catholics for Equality line of smartphone apps, which will allow supporters to connect with each other while they're sitting in the pews or attending an after-church social. The apps will also allow them to report hostile activity in their parish or make a special contribution to the campaign as the Holy Spirit moves them."

"Let's be clear about what Alioto is saying: their organization plans to encourage its membership during Christmas to bring their phones to Church and to "report" from the pew whenever a priest or bishop dares to preach about the family or issues related to marriage, and to conduct fundraising in our sacred spaces. You can read Alioto's full letter here.

"It's hard to imagine a more intrusive attempt to undermine the freedom of Catholic parishes and pastors to preach what the Church teaches to Catholics who are already constantly maligned outside of Mass about their views. Catholics for Equality has decided to take their fight against the Church into the very heart of our sacred worship spaces."

A fuller report from Thomas can be found in this article "Witch-Hunt: Catholics4Equality debuts app to "report hostile activity" from the pew! "

"Catholics for Equality" is a dissenting group aligned with what I call the "Homosexual Equivalency Movement". Homosexual Equivalency activists seek nothing less than a cultural revolution. They insist on a legal equivalency between true marriages and cohabitating practicing homosexuals. They want to remove any claim of immorality from disordered sexual activity which can never be morally engaged in. They are opposing the clear, unchangeable Moral teaching of the Catholic Church.

What is deeply troubling is that members of "Catholics for Equality" also encourage open dissent right within the sanctuary during Holy Mass! They encourage Catholics to try to persuade other Catholics to dissent from Church teaching. The Catholic Church will not change its position on the nature of marriage. Truth is not up for grabs, no matter what the "dictatorship of relativism" tries to throw our way.

The term "fifth column" generally refers to a group within a larger community which intentionally and covertly collaborates with an outside enemy so as to weaken that group from within and undermine its leadership and effectiveness. The expression seems to have originated with the Spanish Civil War but has now been expanded to refer to a strategic use of covert activity and dissent within a State, or, as in this instance, even within a Church.

In the past I have used the phrase "fifth column" in reference to people within our Church, fellow Catholics. These folks have openly and defiantly rejected the teaching of the Catholic Church in an area of moral truth and, rather than honestly admit it and seek to change themselves so that they can properly inform their conscience and give a religious submission of intellect and will,(which is our obligation as faithful Catholics), they attempt to confuse the faithful. However, some go even further. They engage in a covert operation intended to undermine the very Church they claim to belong to.

This is done in several ways. Sometimes it is through a kind of slow drip of dissent. Other times through a concerted campaign which overtly opposes the 'Magisterium' , the teaching office of the Catholic Church, while containing its rebellion within the family of the Church. Still other times it involves overtly rejecting the clear teaching of the Church and using a public forum to hurt the Church and cause a scandal. This group which calls itself "Catholics for Equality" has shown themselves to be a part of such a "fifth column". They are brazen! They want to engage in dissent during Holy Mass right in the sanctuary of the Church building.

Efforts to call homosexual acts morally acceptable and then force society to call relationships which are not capable of being marriages to be marriages is particularly egregious when engaged in by Catholics. Do not be deceived by "Catholics for Equality". Thomas Peters is correct "Catholics for Equality has decided to take their fight against the Church into the very heart of our sacred worship spaces." Expose and oppose their efforts and then pray for the conversion of their members.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Catholics for Equality, Homosexual, gay marriage, dissent

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1 - 10 of 110 Comments

Edward
2 years ago
Theresa - therein lies the issue. When Bishops, Priests, or Nuns use their Title or wear their Church garb, or use Church letterhead to further their own political or non-religious beliefs, they may be committing the mortal sin of SCANDAL to non-Catholics and those Catholics who are less educated about their Faith. Causing confusion is never acceptable and is a sin against TRUTH (CCC 2468, 2505). The "CCC 2nd Ed" limits their political involvement unless it relates to the SAVING of SOULS and/or the FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF ALL MEN according to the GOSPEL (CCC 2245-2246).
Theresa
2 years ago
Just want to mention that "when Cardinals, Bishops, Priests or Nuns use their Catholic Church TITLE, or wear their religious garb, or use Church letterhead, they are speaking FOR THE CHURCH, and they are NOT acting as private citizens" is not exactly true. Bishops (don't know of any cardinals), priests, and nuns have spoken contrary to the teaching of the Church over the centuries and to this day. The "key" to "Catholic" teaching is when it is "in union with the Magisterium of the Church in matters of faith and morals." This "unity" must include the Pope. For several years,now, the (new) "Catechism of the Catholic Church," Vatican II, Second Edition, is a clear guide to understanding all this--and it is packed full of quotes, paraphrases and references to Popes, Council documents, the Fathers of the Church and Sacred Scripture (which a Church Council identified as the "canon" of Sacred Scripture); and it was promulgated by Pope JP II. It is also true, that at least the older laity of today, were (rightly) taught to highly respect "cardinals, bishops, priests and religious." However, we also need to be alert to what the teaching is as it is laid out, thankfully, in the CCC which makes it clear for us--because some of the above have misled us since Vatican II--mostly some priests and nuns....
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Edward

What is your point and why are you arguing with me when I understand it already.

Like I said you misinterpreted me all along. I probably wasnt clear and I noticed the church stopped giving to ACORN and are aware they made a mistake.

I also noticed the church hasnt been getting politically involved but are encouraging we layfaithful to get involved.

As I have said our Bishops are finally speaking out on the important issues and what is wrong with that.

Im not arguing with you I have gotten it all along. Thanks for pointing that out.

I fully believe in the Magisterium and I have my own copy. Why the USCCB got involved with ACORN is beyond me. Hopefully the church is learning from her mistakes and moving in the right direction again. Hopefully the Holy Spirit is doing this finally. The church has been under some dark times. Hopefully the Holy Father is turning the "ship" in the right direction. That is what I care about now not past mistakes. Lets get it cleaned out and move on.

Peace.
Edward
2 years ago
JeanCatherine. When Cardinals, Bishops, Priests or Nuns use their Catholic Church TITLE, or wear their religious garb, or use Church letterhead, they are speaking FOR THE CHURCH, and they are NOT acting as private citizens. The duties of citizens is in a separate section of the CCC under "duties of citizens", and not included under "the POLITICAL COMMUNITY and the CHURCH" section. For over 8 years Faithful Catholics were telling the USCCB about how bad ACORN was, and yet they continued giving millions of Catholic donation dollars to ACORN until Congress even said it was bad. The USCCB even promoted ACORN on its web site. Father Pavone is publically carrying out a Church Ministry in full accord with the Gospel and CCC; he is not acting as a civilian or private citizen, and always makes it known he is a Catholic Priest.
Beth
2 years ago
Dear Fronk, at age 15 you are old enough to read and understand the "Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition" (dark green cover). You will find that all sexual activity outside of Marriage (between one man and one woman) is a Mortal Sin. All your questions will be answered in the CCC.
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Fronk

I find that if you can get to a Holy Hour it helps me along with the Mass.
Reggie
2 years ago
I'm a straight Catholic male, fully confident in his sexuality, not homophobic at all.

I am convinced that being gay or straight is a choice for any of us, but that it is a LATENT CHOICE, and an unrealized option.

For example, I believe with complete sincerity that it is within my power to become gay, and to truly be gay, if I so chose.

No, I am not bisexual. I simply have become aware of how much power we really have over the manner in which our brains (which are our primary sexual organs) become wired and rewired.

Similarly, if I wanted to become obsessed with redheads, I am fully capable of cultivating such a condition, and of truly becoming obsessed to the point where I would only be capable of sexual attraction to redheaded women.

Of course, I've had no reason to do such a thing, other than to prove a point, and that is not a good enough reason in my view.

I am sure that if people had more self awareness, they would recognize how their own sexualities are constantly getting subtly reprogrammed on a week-to-week basis, and further, recognize the unlimited potential for reprogramming by that same process, and the extent to which we really can have full control over it.
Fronk
2 years ago
Hi Davide I'm a catholic teenage boy (15) who has always had a biased opinion towards gays, you have really opened my eyes and helped me SO much with my own faith. Thank you for helping me, even being straight it is a constant battle between masturbation and faith, and I was never 100% sure if It was wrong or not now I know and I will do my absolute best on stopping and saving myself for marriage, it is very easy to lose your way in this modern society, but I know I can do it!. Thanks again no more researching for me! :D
JeanCatherine
2 years ago
Thanks Ted couldnt have said it better. Have followed what you point out.
Ted
2 years ago
Zach, once homosexuals get specific legal sanctions, it does effect religious freedoms since some of them will sue Church's. This has already happened in Massachusets where the Catholic Church had to close a Church adoption agency rather than give Catholic babies to gays and their lifestyle of sodomy. They will effect small businesses who will have to give their homosexual partners insurance or drop families of employees from insurance roles. They will sue Church's, Catholic Universities, and Catholic hospitals while defying Church teachings to support their lifestyle. They do not need marriage, since they can already live with whomever they choose, will their money to whomever they choose, own property jointly, etc. Religous freedom is at stake.

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