Will YOU Let Them Get Away With This? Huh?

Here is a special message from catholicvote.org: There is no tip toeing around this.  It’s time to be blunt.  Early Sunday morning, 49 of our fellow Americans were killed by a purportedly gay, radical Islamist, who pledged allegiance to ISIS. The killer scoped several locations for his heinous crime, including Disney World where tens of thousands of families visit every day. He ultimately committed his crime at a gay night club.    Shamefully, in the days since the massacre, partisan ideologues have used the mass-murder to demonize Christians, gun owners, and anyone who doesn’t fully embrace the radical LGBT agenda.  ...and it’s not just the ACLU.  Several of our own Bishops are engaging in this madness.  This is disgraceful. And wrong.  Every person killed in Orlando was made in the image and likeness of God. Human dignity does not stop at the doorstep of a gay night club. Each of the victims was loved by God beyond measure.  Not a single Catholic has celebrated this crime. Not one Catholic voice has called for violence against gay and lesbian people. But now, an increasing number of leaders are attempting to exploit the terrorist attack in Orlando to advance political agendas -- and they are even blaming us!  Don’t believe me? Consider just these few examples: Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida, wrote in a national editorial: “sadly it is religion, including our own, which targets, mostly verbally, and also often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people. Attacks today on LGBT men and women often plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to violence.” Link. A New York Times editorial today: “...lawmakers who have actively championed discriminatory laws and policies, and those who have quietly enabled them with votes, should force themselves to read the obituaries and look at the photos. The 49 people killed in Orlando were victims of a terrorist attack. But they also need to be remembered as casualties of a society where hate has deep roots.” Link. Chase Strangio, a lawyer for the ACLU's LGBT & AIDS Project: “The Christian Right has introduced 200 anti-LGBT bills in the last six months and people blaming Islam for this. No. You know what is gross - your thoughts and prayers and Islamophobia after you created this anti-queer climate.” Link. Virginia Congressman Don Beyer claimed if you oppose transgender bathrooms, you are part of the problem. “Hatred breeds hatred… we are not blameless.” he said. Link. Did you get that? You and I are partly to blame for Orlando.  Catholics who believe in the natural institution of marriage and the intrinsic beauty and complementarity of men and women, and who desire to protect women and children from predators in public restrooms helped fuel this terrorist attack? This is outrageous.  This is nothing more than the shameless exploitation of a terrible terrorist attack to fuel hatred of anyone that believes in the time-honored institution of marriage, and traditional sexual morality.  What happened in Orlando was an act of terrorism, fueled by a radical ideology and carried out by a mad man. To suggest that faithful Catholics helped encourage this attack is beyond disgraceful.  We will not stand for it. And neither should you.  I am asking every CV member to write or call Bishop Lynch in St. Petersburg today.  Ask him to clarify his comments, which suggest that Catholic teaching on marriage and sexuality somehow “breeds contempt for gays.” Ask him to consider issuing a public clarification.  CONTACT INFO: Bishop Robert Lynch Diocese of St. Petersburg P.O. Box 40200 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-0200 Phone: 727-344-1611 Fax: 727-345-2143 Email: communicate@dosp.org Please do not personally attack the Bishop. He remains a shepherd of the Church. However, we must defend our rights as Catholics to follow the teachings of our Church -- and respond together to the insinuation that doing so leads to violence.  We ask you to be charitable, but firm.  Someone has to stand up.  If not us, who?

Brian Burch President, Catholicvote.org