by: Pam SpauldingMon Oct 06, 2008 at 07:30:00 AM EDT |
 Father Geoffrey Farrow of the Saint Paul Newman Center on the campus of the University of California (Fresno) is a brave man because he delivered what was likely his final Mass on Sunday -- a homily on love, acceptance and fellowship -- and spoke out against Proposition 8. He is bucking the recommendation of his bishop, placing 23 years of service to the church on the line. (ABC30, there is video):"In directing the faithful to vote yes on proposition 8, the California Bishops are not only entering the political arena, they are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology and the very statements by the church itself that homosexual is innate," says Fr. Geoff. |
We sat down with Father Geoff before mass, and he answered the question many are probably wondering... Is he gay? "It's a secondary issue. But yes, I am. And when I was a boy I asked God please make me normal and the prayer never got answered and I realized why. Because God would've made somebody else he wouldn't have made me."There was a mixed reaction by parishioners to the homily (about half stood to give a standing ovation. There were also familiar protestations of "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." Bishop John Steinbock, the head of the Diocese of Fresno gave a limp answer, knowing that Farrow's public position will have grave consequences, saying "Proposition 8 is not a homosexuality issue rather about the institution of marriage which is the basis of our society."
Read the entire homily of Father Farrow -- (CLICK HERE)
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In a follow up to this story. I spoke with my Mom yesterday (81 year old Catholic) who complained that the priest gave a speech on getting out and voting cuz the Bishop ordered him too. "I thought about getting up and walking out." Funny how this lady gets a little brave late in life when it comes to politics.
4 comments:
that is an awesome story. i hope it gets national attention. i've emailed it to cnn.com. maybe this will be a positive turning point for the church to start accepting rather than rejecting those it claims to be the children of God.
Kudos for the honesty of Father Farrow (and for Lorraine's moments of strength too)
God loves everyone including people with homosexual orientation or who any other sexual temptations or disorders and so should we. But at the same time God is the one who made marriage to be between a man and woman, not 2 men or 2 women as recorded in the Bible and has been the universal understanding until this century. I think the priest should follow Church teaching, which is also the teaching of the Bible, that marriage is between a man and woman. Rejecting homosexual marriage or sexual acts is not rejecting people who have a homosexual orientation.
The priest is wrong that rejecting homosexual marriage is the same as rejecting homosexuals as persons or will lead to denying them civil rights. Rather it is some homosexuals who want to deny traditional Christians the right to teach their children what the Bible says as some of them are trying to take over what is taught in schools and trying to change society to redefine marriage to include homosexuals. I'm glad the bishop had the guts to censor the priest because he is teaching things that aren't true.
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