11 thoughts on “A few words from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin about homophobia

  1. The Church is surely in damage control mode. So, many will dismiss this attempt at peace and acceptance because of the long standing view that homosexuality exists among the clergy. Something you don’t hear much about these days.

    Nonetheless, I still resented the insistance of “Meet The Press” this morning to rehash the issue of anti-homosexuality at the Sochi games. I resent it because it hasn’t been an issue: No known “out of the closet” athlets have been harassed, bothered or infringed competitively. Yet the media continue to goad the LGBT community because the USA hasn’t imposed some sort of penalizing protest on Russia or the games themselves.

    In Eau Claire, a homosexual is suing the State of Wisconsin about marriage discrimination, the anti-gay marriage law having been voted in by referendum. There is a prime time media event scheduled on this issue. Yet Scott Walker is cutting millions of dollars of State Revenue while borrowing money at interest to maintain an increased State spending nobody is hearing about. Not to mention the mining, public school revenue and other devastating environmental issues that could be discussed publicly.

    I’ve had to deal with homosexuality a lot since my boy scout days, with family, friends, church members, strangers, neighbors and patrol members. All of my family and friends were respectful to gay individuals as long as they themselves were treated with respect. It only became a deal breaker when pedophilia was involved. So I still wonder why the “coming out” is necessary unless you are advertising for sex. Especially when you’re allowed to take any partner for life you want in most areas of the country.

    1. The catholic church was/is in damage control over pedophilia and I would not be conflating pedophilia with homosexuality which is what you seem to be doing at the beginning and end of your comment. Pedophilia is violence against children, homosexuality is not. Not surprised about what seems to be your conflation of two separate issues, nor that no one else here called you out for a clarification on it.

      I do agree there should be no stories about same sex marriage outweighing news about what Walker is doing to the state, and Democrats keep using the promise of full LGBTQ rights as a distraction, an as yet unfulfilled promised carrot to their base instead of talking about other substantive matters as they push the same pro-corporate agenda as the Republicans. Didn’t DOJ Holder come out last week and mumble some more platitudes about same-sex marriage (with no real intent or ability to over-rule state law to go beyond that to change policy)? Part of the problem, also, is LGBTQ rights plays better as a distraction for corporate agendas in the corporate controlled MSM.

      1. The catholic church was/is in damage control over pedophilia and I would not be conflating pedophilia with homosexuality which is what you seem to be doing at the beginning and end of your comment.

        Only in your convoluted universe, Windmill. If you’ll review my statement carefully you might see that I separated the two with “if…involved.”

        But again you confirm my hypothesis that “the offender most readily finds his own faults in others” by conflating Church damage control with pedophilia…Something I also did not specify…as the Church has had many problems with the contemporary mode of the world; none of which I need to record to this audience. You, possibly being the exception. Too bad.

        1. Only in your convoluted universe, Windmill. If you’ll review my statement carefully you might see that I separated the two with “if…involved.”

          A word search shows NO instance of the word, “IF,” in your prior comment on 2/16 @ 3:20 pm.

          I said you “seem,” to have been conflating two issues, because many bigots automatically conflate homosexuality and pedophilia and no one had asked you for clarification of what you seemed to be implying, so I did ask, I asked a freaking question.

          So you miss-quote your own statement to me, then engage in derogatory name calling and follow up with an abusive assertion of my intelligence.

          1. So instead of ‘if’ I said ‘when’, any intelligent person would see that statement as inferring that a possibility that pedophilia doesn’t always follow homosexuality. In my long and harrowing experience with homosexuality as a child, teen and even young adult, however, it usually was. Does this make me a ‘bigot?’ According to your “reasoning” any soldier returning from active duty is a ‘killer.’

          1. It’s considered an appropriate and minimal response to irresponsibly untrue “digs” at the President “BHO” and a highly educated and respected appointee of same.

  2. “Especially when you’re allowed to take any partner for life you want in most areas of the country.”

    But not in Wisconsin– I suppose two same-sex couples can partner for life, but not with the legal protection accorded “married” couples. Isn’t it time to abandon “marriage” to the religious organizations and instead allow legal civil unions to all, same sex, or not?

  3. Nothing new here for Martin – he’s been tolerant and outspoken on the topic of homosexuality for years. He’s also taken a prominent role post-Murphy Report to apologize and clean house. He’s flawed certainly but moving the Irish Church in a better direction. Wisconsin’s bishops must absolutely loathe him.

    I like gay marriage as an issue in the upcoming campaign for Governor. It’s clear cut, easy to frame, and Walker is cornered. Not only that but as he is pressed on it, he and supporters will be unable to keep the crazy from breaking through. It’s a good issue to make part of the overall campaign platform. And Democrats benefit not only from being on the right side of history as our VP tells us, but also standing squarely on the side of the angels.

  4. In the very first chapter of the Book of Genesis, I find the answer for my personal belief on the issue of homophobia. It was arrived at after many years of ignorance and “following the crowd.” I may be ahead of Archbishop Martin in his message to “show love” to our gay brothers and sisters, but perhaps he only gave half of an answer.

    “God created man in his image.”

    When I examined that religious truth in light of current scientific or medical evidence which eliminates “choice” as an option, then I could only conclude that sexual orientation was is and will be God-given.

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