Chicago’s Cardinal Francis George officially entered the political debate over same-sex marriage on Tuesday, issuing a pastoral letter that urges parishioners to contact state legislators and voice their opposition to a planned bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois.
“Civil laws that establish ‘same sex marriage’ create a legal fiction,” George wrote in a letter sent to priests today, reported the Chicago Tribune.
Cardinal Francis George
Photo by Adam Bielawski, via Wikimedia Commons
George and other Roman Catholic bishops have taken a new approach is the marriage debate, saying that same-sex marriage “violates natural law.”
“Marriage comes to us from nature,” said George, who said the Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage is not about doctrine or faith, but “a matter of reason and understanding the way nature operates.”
Chief sponsors of the bill, Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) and Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said they are close to securing enough support to bring the marriage bill up for vote, and that if they are confident it will pass the current General Assembly, they will introduce it in the lame duck session that begins Wednesday.
Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who supports marriage equality, said he’d like to see the bill reach his desk in early January.
Related articles:
Illinois LGBT activists to demonstrate against Cardinal George
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel signs petition supporting marriage equality
Lawmakers to reintroduce Illinois same-sex marriage bill Wednesday
Community rallies for passage of Illinois marriage bill, warns opposition
No vote on Illinois marriage equality; bill held for next General Assembly
Senate committee approves Illinois gay marriage measure
Illinois marriage vote uncertain due to absent senators
Illinois marriage equality bill stalled in state Senate by ‘technicality'
Illinois Republican leadership backs marriage equality bill
Chicago's Cardinal Francis George: Same-sex marriage 'violates natural law'
'Modern Family's' Jesse Tyler Ferguson to lobby for Ill. same-sex marriage bill
Obama urges Illinois lawmakers to legalize same-sex marriage
Ill. hate group leader: 'There are no round triangles, and no gay marriages'
Chicago Sun-Times: Marriage equality is 'just the right thing to do'
Hundreds of religious leaders back Illinois marriage equality bill
Anti-gay religious groups launch coalition opposing Illinois marriage equality
Sponsors say vote on Illinois marriage equality bill coming in January
Illinois governor hopes marriage equality bill goes forward next month
Filed under: Illinois
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Wash. florist who refused flowers for gay couple’s wedding files suit against state
Texas judge enforces ‘morality clause’ to split up lesbian couple
Anti-gay marriage activist commits suicide on alter at Notre Dame cathedral
Catholic school: Transgender student must wear girl’s graduation gown
Another Ore. bakery refuses to provide wedding cake for same-sex couple
Sex and the teenage girl: The Kaitlyn Hunt tragedy
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Iowa anti-gay activist explains his opposition to gay marriage: ‘It’s awful’
Details emerge in case against teen accused of lewd behavior with girlfriend
Scottish cardinal to atone for sexual misconduct with younger clergy
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
Pa. school still refuses to announce transgender grad by his chosen name
Obama delivers LGBT-inclusive commencement address at all-male college
this guy is as creepy looking as the pope
Keep your religion out of my civil marriage and go fuck yourself. o_o
Down with the Chicago Catholic Cardinal.
Separation of HATE and State. Learn it
The Catholic priests, cardinals, bishops and pope, need to keep their voices shut on marriage. Just because their religion says that they can’t get married does not mean they can deny others the right to marry.
They’re actually more concerned than we are.
Cardinal Fran needs to shove his kill gays bible down his tyrannical theocRAT throat & he and Pope Nazinger can choke to death on their fucking Jesus Freak koolaid
The HYPOCRITCAL CATHOLIC Church strikes…again! :-(
I saw the cardinal out of the corner of my eye and thought he was Voldemort for a second.
This is when Churches should no longer receive tax exempt status.
I think they need to take a class in nature homosexuality is found in all animal groups
Gay people believe in god and do not need a church to do so!! Really Catholics I thought you loved your people if so get your mind out of the bedroom seen and love us as you love the STRAIGHT PEOPLE! Meaning be EQUAL TO ALL that’s what god truly wants!!!!!
It is already PAST TIME to TAX the Churches
He probably supports pedophilia as well…. in God’s name of course.
I would never get marriage advice from a diddler. Now, STFU
I urge all Catholics of good conscience to join the Ecumenical Catholic Communion…we dont have the issues that Rome has.
He looks like the emperor from star wars. “Yessssssss…. let the hate flow through you…. yessssss..”
Clearly there is no god in this asshole. Love others as you would have them love you dumb fuck.
Most catholics are gay friendly than other Christian groups. He does not represent most catholics. Not in Illinois, and especially not in Chicagoland .
and I urge the government to start taxing the churches who peach politics.
He looks like Hannibal Lector and supports child molestation.
Ignorant fool
Here goes another Catholic leader spewing some bullshit.
“Civil laws that establish ‘same sex marriage’ create a legal fiction” – It’s not at all clear what this means. Civil law is secular and therefore not dictated by what your particular dogma states.
“The State has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible” – As noted, the Catholic hierarchies’ new talking point is to frame the marriage equality debate in terms of same-sex marriages violating some sort of natural law. First, I have no idea what this means, since historically, marriages were in terms of familial gain and partnership, and had nothing to do with love or anything of the sort. Second, and more importantly, nature is amoral. So when he says same-sex unions are “violating natural law,” I literally have no idea what he is referring to.
“Marriage comes to us from nature” – No…not at all. Marriage is mere social, and therefore human, institution. Nothing of the sort could be considered natural.
George also said “the Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage is not about doctrine or faith, but “a matter of reason and understanding the way nature operates.”” – Again, it’s all but unclear what this even means, nor does it even relate to the topic at hand, namely, should all the legal rights and protections afforded to opposite-sex unions be given to same-sex unions?
Overall, we have here another Catholic leader that has no real ground to stand on and has nothing really useful to say on the topic.
I urge politicians go start taxing church groups, especially those making large land purchases!!!! They USE the system!!!
Here goes another Catholic leader spewing some bullshit.
“Civil laws that establish ‘same sex marriage’ create a legal fiction” – It’s not at all clear what this means. Civil law is secular and therefore not dictated by what your particular dogma states.
“The State has no power to create something that nature itself tells us is impossible” – As noted, the Catholic hierarchies new talking point is to frame the marriage equality debate in terms of same-sex marriages violating some sort of natural law. First, I have no idea what this means, since historically, marriages were in terms of familial gain and partnership, and had nothing to do with love or anything of the sort. Second, and more importantly, nature is amoral. So when he says same-sex unions are “violating natural law,” I literally have no idea what he is referring to.
“Marriage comes to us from nature” – No…not at all. Marriage is mere social, and therefore human, institution. Nothing of the sort could be considered natural.
George also said “the Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage is not about doctrine or faith, but “a matter of reason and understanding the way nature operates.”” – Again, it’s all but clear what this even means, nor does it even relate to the topic at hand, namely, should all the legal rights and protections afforded to opposite-sex unions be given to same-sex unions?
Overall, we have here another Catholic leader that has no real ground to stand on and has nothing really useful to say on the topic.
I urge Catholics to remember the abuses of Cardinal Cody and his further involvement in the cover up of the assassination of Pope John Paul the first.
It’s time they paid Property Taxes!
He’s a faker. He’s not actually from Chicago. A real Chicagoan wouldn’t say crap like that.
When is the madness of the church hierarchy and their anti – gay rhetoric going to end? They need to face the fact they have lost the battle.
and that hate continues! Let gay people be happy and live your life the way you see fit. Quit hurting GLBT families. Period!
you know why they care so much about others sex lives cuz they dont have one of there own .I highly doubt god cares about what people are doin in the bedroom hes not santa making a list and checkin it twice.
Shame!
wow they think they still have that much power?! lmfao!
I have far more authority over Chicagoans than does the Cardinal. I urge the majority of Illinoisans (The majority are are NOT Catholic), to oppose anything and everything the man says or suggests.
Oh, gosh, girlfriend really needs to treat herself to some shopping therapy (some new Prada pumps would be perfect) instead of getting all hot and bothered about something that won’t affect her anyway! Just sayin’. . .
Well I guess it’s ok for all those priest to moleste little boys and they cover it up but god forbid don’t be gay!!!!!!
Boo
Why doesn’t he go back to molesting in his perverted Cathotic traditi
Didn’t finish; Tradition and leave us alone. WE ARE NOT GOING AWAY.