Apr 09, 2004   | COMMENTS     

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Catholic opponents of gay marriage led by San Francisco’s archbishop held a prayer march last weekend, criticizing city officials who have licensed thousands of same-sex weddings and calling for a federal amendment to ban the unions. A crowd of about 1,000 celebrated morning Mass at Saints Peter & Paul Church Saturday with Archbishop William J. Levada and afterward held a rally that was frequently interrupted by screams of “shame” and “equal rights” by gay rights counter-protesters. Clutching rosaries and chanting prayers, the mass of gay marriage opponents then marched a several-blocks loop back to the church. Many held signs with pictures of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. “Marriage is between a man and a woman,” said Madeleine Veneklase, 44, of Napa, who is pregnant with her fifth child. “That’s how God made us and that’s the way to true happiness in a relationship.”

N.Y. priest, known as gay rights advocate, discloses he is gay
UTICA, N.Y. (AP) — A priest with a history of advocacy for gay and lesbian rights has publicly acknowledged he is gay. Rev. Fred Daley, pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church, is believed to be the first priest in the seven-county Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse to publicly disclose he is gay. “I’m the same person today as I was yesterday,” Daley said. “My expectation and prayer is that people will continue to love and respect me.” Despite a tremendous amount of fear and anxiety about coming out publicly, Daley said he felt called by God to do so and is ready to accept whatever “rejection or misunderstanding” he encounters. Daley told his congregation over the weekend. “There might have been tears in his eyes,” parishioner Christine Bart said. “He got a standing ovation. It was obvious that people love him.” All priests are committed to celibacy, and sexual orientation alone does not lead to dismissal from the priesthood, said Danielle Cummings, communications director for the diocese. Daley, 56, has been pastor of St. Francis de Sales since 1992.

Donations down to Episcopal church after confirmation of gay minister
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Some Episcopal parishes opposed to the confirmation of New Hampshire’s gay bishop are withholding financial gifts, causing a budget deficit that has already forced one layoff, Bishop J. Michael Garrison said last week. “The protest is real. It affects real people and that’s sad,” said Garrison, who said parishes had withdrawn an estimated $100,000 in pledges to the Episcopal Diocese of Western New York. Nationally, donations to the Episcopal Church are down about $3 million, or 6 percent, since the confirmation of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson, officials said. Elsewhere in New York, dioceses reported none of the hardship being felt in Buffalo, where at least five parishes are withholding most or all of their financial pledges. An additional 22 parishes have not yet submitted pledges or have pledged less than the diocese had hoped for. Coupled with the poor economy, Garrison said the diocese’s $1.1 million budget has a $200,000 hole.

Some N.H. Episcopalians want different bishop
ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Episcopalians who opposed the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson say they want to be reorganized by a more orthodox bishop. They are looking for a bishop from another diocese or even another country, so they can remain a part of the church without recognizing Robinson as their leader. “We haven’t left the church. We’re still part of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, and that’s the problem,” said Lisa Ball, a vestry member of the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester. “We don’t want to follow Gene Robinson.” Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in church history, has been at the center of international controversy since New Hampshire Episcopalians nominated him last summer. Saturday, 75 people met in Rochester, marking the first gathering of the New Hampshire cluster of the Anglican Communion Network, a national orthodox organization started in response to Robinson’s appointment.

Community of Christ delays vote on ordination of gay ministers
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Community of Christ churches will wait at least two more years, and probably longer, before deciding whether to ordain gay men and lesbians. Delegates to the denomination’s World Conference voted overwhelmingly April 1 for more study and dialogue on the matter. First President W. Grant McMurray, mindful of recent rifts over homosexuality in other denominations, said last week he hoped further discussion of the issue would preserve church unity. The resolution called only for a report on the issue of homosexuality, not a ...