And what a surprise that the Catholic church is again trying to usurp our democracy only one month out of an election. And these are the same folks who tell us not to worry about uber-religious candidates, they won't let their church control them in office - until their church tries to control them office. (There's a bit of a "deny me three times" element to the ongoing denial of uber- people of faith on this point - your faith is your number one guidepost but you won't legislate based on it. Right.)
What a mean-spirited faith. And the Catholics wonder why they have such a hard time getting new priests and followers. Perhaps because no one wants to wake up early on a Sunday to get yelled at.
In a sweeping pastoral statement to be made public today, the leader of more than 1 million North Jersey Catholics urges them to vote “in defense of marriage and life,” and warns that the passage of same-sex marriage laws might lead to a government crackdown on their religious freedoms.(H/t Towleroad)
Newark Archbishop John J. Myers said the statement on gay marriage was not timed to coincide with the November election, now little more than a month away, and that he was not calling on Catholics to vote for a particular candidate. But he said they should examine the “full spectrum” of each candidate, including how they stand on abortion and “a proper backing of marriage.”
He also said in the statement, a copy of which was provided to The Record before its release, that Catholics who disagree with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on marriage should “refrain from receiving Holy Communion.” He said he issued the statement because of what he described as a lack of clarity on the subject by other bishops.
