Minnesota Catholic Conference and Archd. STP/MPLS says “Catholics For Marriage Equality MN” is NOT affiliated with Church

I direct now your attention to the website of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and their Office for Marriage and Family.  The Archdiocese made this apparent on the front page of their website.

As you may recall, His Excellency Most Rev. John Nienstedt and other bishops in Minnesota have been battling to defend true and natural marriage. More on Archbp. Nienstedt HERE.  More on Bp. Sirba of Duluth HERE.  More on Bp. LeVoir of New Ulm (long-time chaplain to Courage) HERE.

Group “Catholics For Marriage Equality MN” Not Affiliated With Official Catholic Church

Date:  Thursday, September 29, 2011

Source:  Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis | Minnesota Catholic Conference

Group Disputes, Misinterprets Catholic Teaching on Marriage, Homosexuality and Moral Law

Saint Paul, Minn. (September 29, 2011)—The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and the Minnesota Catholic Conference issued a joint statement today explaining that a newly formed group calling itself “Catholics for Marriage Equality MN” has no recognition from nor affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church.

One of Catholics for Marriage Equality MN’s expressed aims is to defeat the Minnesota Marriage Protection Amendment that will appear on the November 2012 ballot, and which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman.  The group misleadingly tries to convince Catholics that they can, in good conscience, support a state redefinition of marriage without undermining marriage itself.  The Catholic Church, in keeping with Catholic teaching, reason and natural law, and in concert with many other faiths, strongly supports maintaining the current, traditional definition of marriage by voting “yes” for the Amendment during the November 2012 election.

“Anyone can selectively piece together statements taken out of context from Church documents or the writings of theologians to construct a religious worldview that suits his or her personal preferences,” said Jason Adkins, MCC executive director.  “But such a pick-and-choose cafeteria religion is antithetical to Catholicism.  One of the most compelling reasons for being Catholic is that we believe in the Faith given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ himself and handed on and safeguarded by their successors, the bishops.”

Adkins continued:  It is the responsibility of the bishops in communion with the Pope to uphold the Truth as well as encourage and support all Catholics who are trying to live their baptismal promise of believing and trusting in our one, Catholic and apostolic faith.  This is especially true in the area of marriage and sexuality, where the universal moral law and Gospel values are constantly under attack in American law and culture.”

Both MCC and the Archdiocese stress the importance of respecting the God-given dignity of all persons, which means the recognition of authentic human rights and responsibilities, while pointing out that official Catholic teaching goes well beyond what Catholics for Marriage Equality MN’s website states.  Adkins reiterated longstanding Catholic Church teaching that “Homosexual persons are to be fully respected in their human dignity and encouraged to follow God’s plan with particular attention in the exercise of chastity.” And, that the “duty calling for respect does not justify the legitimization of behavior that is not consistent with moral law” for those with same-sex inclinations or heterosexuals, married or unmarried.

The full statement can be found HERE in pdf format.

WDTPRS kudos to the bishops of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

I hope that all the dioceses in Minnesota will make this story and the release apparent on all their websites and will provide bulletin inserts for parishes and publish it in their papers, and hire someone to stand with a Stratocaster and sing about it on street corners.