Health & Fitness

Archbishop Decries Priest's Sermon on Same-Sex Marriage

"Preaching the word of God requires subordination of personal views to the word of God as taught by the Catholic Church," writes Archbishop William Lori.

A sermon in favor of same-sex marriage given by a Baltimore priest is being decried by Archbishop William Lori.

Fr. Richard T. Lawrence, a priest at St. Vincent de Paul church, gave the sermon with his own personal views this past week after reading a letter to the congregation from Lori on the same issue, according to the National Catholic Reporter.

The letter from Lori that Lawrence read asked Catholics "show up on election day and do our part by voting against Question 6," the Civil Marriage Protection Act," according to the report.

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"It seems to me, therefore," Lawrence said, according to the National Catholic Reporter, "that even if we do not believe that gay marriage ever could or should be allowed in the church, we could live with a provision that allows civil marriage of gay and lesbian couples. Personally, however, I would go farther than that."

The online report said that Lawrence received a standing ovation from parishioners.

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But Lori, in a statement published on the Archdiocese website, wrote that expressing such views was contrary to the role of priests.

"Preaching the word of God requires subordination of personal views to the word of God as taught by the Catholic Church. This was my promise when I became a priest, as it is the promise of every priest at his ordination," writes Lori.

"No bishop, priest or deacon has the right to use the pulpit to advance his personal opinions," Lori continues. "The pulpit is the place where the living word of God, as it comes to us through the teachings of the Church, is to be proclaimed and taught."

Lori does not mention Lawrence or reference the sermons directly.


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