Homosexual activists plan protest at San Francisco’s oldest Catholic Church on Good Friday

[prettiefly]

“The Catholic Church is still to blame”
Homosexual activists say they will descend today on San Francisco’s oldest Catholic Church for Good Friday protest

Today at 5:30 p.m. members of “ACT UP” and other anti-Catholic groups have announced they will descend on San Francisco’s Mission Dolores Church and place ashes from AIDS victims on the landmark church’s steps to protest what they claim is the complicity of the Catholic Church in the deadly epidemic.

Mission Dolores was founded on June 29, 1776, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, by Franciscan friars under the leadership of the Fr. Francisco Palou and the direction of Fr. Junipero Serra. It is the oldest Catholic church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and the oldest building in San Francisco. In addition, the mission is “the oldest original intact Mission in California,” according to the church’s website. The parish includes Mission Dolores Basilica and the Old Mission.

An event listing on the LGBTQI/Queer page of San Francisco’s IndyBay Media, a radical leftist website, reads, in part:

“The march will link the issues of gentrification and lack of affordable housing faced by people with HIV/AIDS and our communities today by starting at Wells Fargo, a major profiteer of the housing crisis. The march will continue to the steps of Mission Dolores Church, marking Good Friday and protesting the Catholic Church’s continued role of condemning people to die of AIDS globally and repression of sexual freedom and health here at home – by blocking access to condoms, and restricting access to reproductive health and abortion. Ashes of those who died during the epidemic in SF will be placed on the steps of Dolores Church… Its [sic] 25 years since we started ACT UP and the Catholic Church is still to blame.”

ACT UP (which stands for AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power) began in 1987, and has regularly targeted the Catholic Church. In December 1989, thousands of ACT UP protestors disrupted Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York over the archdiocese’s position against the distribution of condoms and its opposition to abortion – themes echoed in ACT UP San Francisco’s planned activities today at Mission Dolores.

Ironically, the Catholic Church in San Francisco was the first and best responder to the city’s AIDS epidemic. Moreover, the availability of condoms does not seem to correspond with HIV infection rates. The most recent study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control shows that 61% of new HIV infections are among homosexual men – about 2% of the population of the United States. The CDC study also showed that the only group in which new HIV infections are increasing is among young homosexual men – a group not known for following the teachings of the Catholic Church. What abortion has to do with the AIDS epidemic is unclear.

Mission Dolores Church is located two blocks from Mission Dolores Park, which, for the past decade, has also been the site of the infamous Easter Sunday “Hunky Jesus” contest – an event where the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” mock the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

ACT UP says that, since the AIDS epidemic began, almost 20,000 San Francisco residents have lost their lives to the disease – and another 16,000 are living with the illness today.

“This Good Friday we will mourn our dead and fight like hell for the living here in San Francisco and around the world," says the ACT UP announcement.

calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=1b643201-c16c-4eb2-b280-3288c39ae57a

http://calcatholic.com/newsimages/MissionDolores040612.jpg

 

[Uriah_Betrayed]

I lost my pity for the voices of the angry and dissident.

Considering Catholics call homosexuals to a life of chastity, I fail to see how that belief aided in the spread of AIDS. They’re taking the deaths of these AIDS victims and are desecrating them in order to make some cheap (and weak I might add) blows against the Catholic Church.

I just wish something would show these activists how ideologically blind they are to their immoral lifestyle!

 

[_Abyssinia]

These people are going too far, they are going to lose any respect and sympathy people may have for them. This will bind Catholics closer together who are going to the mass.

 

[odile53]

I don’t suppose it’s occurred to the protestors that the Catholic Church is the single largest relief entity for the AIDS epidemic in Africa, where people do not have government support for medication, diagnosis is late, and people are literally dropping like flies?

 

[pepipop]

What abortion has to do with the AIDS epidemic is unclear.

The gay movement needs to add the sin of abortion to its’ agenda, to ensure greater coverage for their causes. As, reportedly, the homosexual community is 1% of the world population, the ‘secular female’ population is required to increase numbers to support and ensure greater media coverage.

 

[mantanz]

“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives.”

 

[Fiasco]

Considering Catholics call homosexuals to a life of chastity, I fail to see how that belief aided in the spread of AIDS.

Good point…and it should be rammed down the throats of these individuals.

They’re taking the deaths of these AIDS victims and are desecrating them in order to make some cheap (and weak I might add) blows against the Catholic Church.

Let `em do it: the more they make spectacles of themselves, the better it is for us. Individuals with darkened intellects become irrational

These people are going too far, they are going to lose any respect and sympathy people may have for them. This will bind Catholics closer together who are going to the mass.

From our perspective, that`s the best thing that could happen.

I don’t suppose it’s occurred to the protestors that the Catholic Church is the single largest relief entity for the AIDS epidemic in Africa, where people do not have government support for medication, diagnosis is late, and people are literally dropping like flies?

Do you think they`d let a vital piece of truth like that get in the way of their depraved agenda?

 

[mantanz]

I don’t suppose it’s occurred to the protestors that the Catholic Church is the single largest relief entity for the AIDS epidemic in Africa, where people do not have government support for medication, diagnosis is late, and people are literally dropping like flies?

Wouldn’t prevention be better than relief? Oh wait… condoms aren’t allowed. I forgot, silly me. LOL.

 

[mantanz]

The church doesn’t teach what’s in the bible? Wow… because I just read that passage in my bible… I’d hate to think what was written in the bible WASN’T TRUE!

 

[JRKH]

Sort of in keeping with the old WWJD bumper stickers, I thought what would be the most profound and loving response the Church could give to these people who attempt to disrupt services.
This is my thought.

When the ashes of the aids victims are placed on the steps of the Church, the priest should have prepared a small service including prayers for the dead who have been brought to the Church, and possibly even a sprinkling with holy water of the urns. In fact, I think it would be both good and proper if those in attendance cried and grieved over these victims. Christ died for them too.

Of course I don’t know the particulars of what might be “liturgically proper” in such a case, but I do know that, while Jesus incarnate did not sin nor does He condone sin, He did walk among sinners, eat with sinners, and talk with them.
Jesus’ method of resistance to sin is to love the sinner away from sin and into holiness. I hope that those attending services at Mission Dolores will be properly loving in the face of this protest.

Peace
James

 

[mantanz]

That’s actually why I’m here… I’m trying to understand why a friend of mine has adopted Catholicism… he sent me here. I find it hard to understand which bits should and shouldn’t be taken literally, or need to be interpreted…

Sorry, not meaning to take the Mickey, just trying to understand the contradictions…

But I was quite serious about the condom thing… why tell people they can’t use them? Surely using condoms would be a better way to handle the AIDS epidemic in Africa? And by the way, AIDS is FAR more prevalent in heterosexual females than homosexuals… but that’s another topic altogether

 

[mantanz]

She sounds like she was a wonderful woman

 

[ZoeyBdo]

How is the Catholic church to blame for people going against their teachings? And why do homosexuals care about abortion rights? Think about that one… it’s not like they have a chance of getting pregnant!!!

This is… just… I don’t even have the words…

 

[JRKH]

Wouldn’t prevention be better than relief? Oh wait… condoms aren’t allowed. I forgot, silly me. LOL.

The thing that I just can’t understand is why they feel the need to target the Catholic Church…
After all, the Catholic Church is a private organization who’s membership is entirely voluntary. Those who disagree with the position of the Church are perfectly free to go and do whatever they please. The Church can do little to interfere with them.

This stuff just comes off as grandstanding…

Peace
James

 

[pepipop]

Here are two secular links as to why condoms in Africa have/would not work to solve the problem of aids. One from a leading Harvard researcher of aids.
catholicnewsagency.com/news/harvard_researcher_agrees_with_pope_on_condoms_in_africa/

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/27/AR2009032702825.html

 

[JRKH]

That’s actually why I’m here… I’m trying to understand why a friend of mine has adopted Catholicism… he sent me here. I find it hard to understand which bits should and shouldn’t be taken literally, or need to be interpreted…

Welcome to the Boards. Hopefully we can help, but please be patient…

Sorry, not meaning to take the Mickey, just trying to understand the contradictions…

As time goes on hopefully we can show you that there really are no contradictions.

But I was quite serious about the condom thing… why tell people they can’t use them? Surely using condoms would be a better way to handle the AIDS epidemic in Africa? And by the way, AIDS is FAR more prevalent in heterosexual females than homosexuals… but that’s another topic altogether

The answer to this is somewhat complicated. The overlapping issues of marriage, reproduction and disease control need to be looked at as a whole. The Church simply cannot treat these things in a separate manner. VERY briefly it’s like this…

The Church teaches that sexual activity is reserved to the marriage bed and is to be open to life (reproduction). Sex outside of marriage, or the use of contraceptives are considered sinful by the Church. Condoms are among these contraceptive items forbidden.
Now consider…If a person, if a couple, live within the rules of the Church regarding marriage and sexuality, it is virtually impossible for them to contract or spread Aids or any other STD. Monogamy and fidelity are sure barriers to the spread of STDs…

So then - given the Church’s teachings on these matters, how can the Church permit the use of condoms to prevent the spread of disease when the primary way that the disease is spread is by sexual sin? How can permission to use condoms be made without the tacit approval of the sin which produces the problem in the first place (promiscuity)

Now - consider further. Is the person (Catholic) who is willing to cheat on his wife (sin of adultery) going to feel bound by the Church’s teaching on the use of condoms???
Ditto for the active homosexual…

Do you begin to see how these things are interconnected?

Peace
James

 

[mantanz]

Hmm, I get the argument for abortion (although, I’m a bit on the fence about it… God gave us free will, yet we’re not allowed to use it?)… but there is a big difference between preventing new life and killing new life… why is preventing new life so bad on an already over-crowded planet?

But yeah, you’re right… I’m certainly not doing anything that worthwhile currently! Unless the joy people get from playing my videogames counts… NOT QUITE AT THAT LEVEL! lol.

 

[mantanz]

Welcome to the Boards. Hopefully we can help, but please be patient…

As time goes on hopefully we can show you that there really are no contradictions.

The answer to this is somewhat complicated. The overlapping issues of marriage, reproduction and disease control need to be looked at as a whole. The Church simply cannot treat these things in a separate manner. VERY briefly it’s like this…

The Church teaches that sexual activity is reserved to the marriage bed and is to be open to life (reproduction). Sex outside of marriage, or the use of contraceptives are considered sinful by the Church. Condoms are among these contraceptive items forbidden.
Now consider…If a person, if a couple, live within the rules of the Church regarding marriage and sexuality, it is virtually impossible for them to contract or spread Aids or any other STD. Monogamy and fidelity are sure barriers to the spread of STDs…

So then - given the Church’s teachings on these matters, how can the Church permit the use of condoms to prevent the spread of disease when the primary way that the disease is spread is by sexual sin? How can permission to use condoms be made without the tacit approval of the sin which produces the problem in the first place (promiscuity)

Now - consider further. Is the person (Catholic) who is willing to cheat on his wife (sin of adultery) going to feel bound by the Church’s teaching on the use of condoms???
Ditto for the active homosexual…

Do you begin to see how these things are interconnected?

Peace
James

So why not let gay men get married then? Surely if good Catholic gay men refrained from sex until marriage, the rules would still apply?

I see your points… though I think that being careful in regards to these diseases is a must… people are always going to have sex outside of marriage (pretty hard to fight that primal urge sometimes, especially when alcohol is involved), so surely preventative measures would be recommended?

 

[JRKH]

So why not let gay men get married then? Surely if good Catholic gay men refrained from sex until marriage, the rules would still apply?

Within the teachings of the Church marriage, as ordained by God is between a man and woman and ordered toward reproduction. Two people of the same sex simply cannot fulfill either of these things.

I see your points… though I think that being careful in regards to these diseases is a must… people are always going to have sex outside of marriage (pretty hard to fight that primal urge sometimes, especially when alcohol is involved), so surely preventative measures would be recommended?

Even assuming your statement, “people are always going to have sex outside of marriage”, is true, it can have no bearing on the teachings of the Church. Thus, my original premise remains. If a person is willing to disregard Church teaching re: adultery and fornication, they are going to be willing to disregard her teaching re: contraception. On the other hand, if a person seeks to follow church teaching re: contraception, they will likely not “sleep around”.

So the problem here has absolutely NOTHING to do with Catholic church teaching on the use of condoms. The Church’s teaching is completely consistent AND completely healthy.

Peace
James

 

[mantanz]

Within the teachings of the Church marriage, as ordained by God is between a man and woman and ordered toward reproduction. Two people of the same sex simply cannot fulfill either of these things.

James

My mother is gay… she has had two children (one of which is me. lol)… what if gay people have had children, later realised they are gay (as with my Mum)… shouldn’t they have the right to marry those they love? Especially if they have already had children? Although, honestly… marriage is a religious affair, I’m not sure why anyone who is not a Christian would really want to… seems a bit odd that a non-christian would want to be married… maybe for the legal benefits… I don’t really see why, myself… but still, if they wanted to, shouldn’t they have the same rights? We are all human…