On First Day, Archbishop Dolan Says He Will Oppose Gov. Paterson's Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Former Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan was formally installed this afternoon as New York City's 10th Roman Catholic archbishop. On his very first day as the spiritual leader of New York's 2.5 million Catholics, the archbishop says he will challenge Gov. David Paterson's plans to legalize same-sex marriage. The Daily News:

"Topics that are controversial ... you'll find that I don't shy away from those things," he said. "I made it pretty clear, we bishops aren't into politics, we're into principles."

"Dolan said his views on same-sex marriage are aligned with those of the Catholic Church, which opposes gay unions. He said he was eager to sit down with his new trusted advisors to discuss how to tackle the gay rights issue, and would take their advice on how these topics had been addressed in the past.

Archbishop Dolan adds his primary goal is to "spread a message of joy to bring people back to Catholicism." There wasn't too much joy in that homily on gay rights ...

On Thursday morning, Paterson is expected to re-introduce the marriage equality legislation submitted by former Gov. Eliot Spitzer in 2007. That passed the Assembly and stalled in the then-Republican-controlled Senate. The new Democratic majority leader, Senator Malcolm Smith of Queens, pledges action on the bill only when he has sufficient votes for passage. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Gov. Paterson and Sen. Charles Schumer are seen greeting the archbishop below.

Comments

[SouLKid]

If the world is going to be governed by the christian 'principles' then there really is a huge problem. So basically anything that's not in line with christian 'principles' should be made illegal?

[Aaron Parker]

Yea, that sounds about right SoulKid.

[Lukas]

Gee, how come he doesn't speak out against divorce? or adultery? Honestly, what is so threatening about same-sex marriage that need such vehement opposition?

[Mark Andrew]

Lukas,
The Catholic Church was founded very early on usurping the spiritual role of gay men in traditional religion. The reason why they even have a celibate priesthood is that, in the Roman Empire and from earliest times, some of the most popular pagan religions made priests of men to whom the gods had given a non-procreative nature (such as those we now refer to as "gay" men). Since people expected their priests to be non-procreative, the Catholic Church imposed priestly celibacy as a way of fulfilling that traditional expectation. The Church has to oppose homosexual rights, because acceptance of such rights would eventually, in the course of time, restore the natural spiritual role of gays in society and the Church's usurped role would melt away. The Church's opposition to gay rights is like the opposition of a royal pretender to the rightful claimant to the throne.

[White Plains]

Bishop Dolan needs to pay attention to his child molesting priests and leave marriage equality alone.