Thanks be to God for sending us a courageous leader, speaking with the authority of his office. Our prayers are with you, Your Excellency.

Does the decree also state that Catholic individuals may not attend, celebrate or in any way participate in any such “ceremony” performed elsewhere? Or in any way indicate acceptance of such a “union”?

God bless Archbishop Dolan!  He is courageous in the face of the absolute hypocrisy of our age.  Thank you for your leadership and strength, Archbishop Dolan.  You are in my prayers!

Thanks be to God!!!

Claritas, claritas, claritas.

The Orthodox are on board with this too. Silence at best from Protestant quarters, the “People of the Book.”

Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.  Romans 10:3

So grateful to God for blessing us with Archbishop Dolan and his courageous leadership.

Thanks be to God.  Now we need to pray to God for this courageous Archbishop because he will be attacked.

Hopefully other Bishops will muster the same courage as this Bishop. If not all will be lost to the secular world with no rights afforded to those who believe in God.  God Bless him.

Francis: no, the decree doesn’t deal with that. It’s only concerning Church property and employees.  However, this decree doesn’t actually change anything from what it was.  The Church has always taught what it does on homosexuality.  No Catholic can participate in such a ceremony or accept such a union because the very nature of it is intrinsically disordered. 

I suspect that any Catholic claiming support for homosexuality would fall under “heretics” here:
Can. 1364 §1. Without prejudice to the prescript of ? can. 194, §1, n. 2, an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication; in addition, a cleric can be punished with the penalties mentioned in ? can. 1336, §1, nn. 1, 2, and 3.

Incredible that such a statement has to be made.

Steve,

My point is that unless the people are reminded repeatedly that they may not participate by going to such ceremonies, or wishing them well, or treating them as married, they will do so and the witness we lay people should give will not happen. My fear is this will be another topic we never hear from the pulpit and the assumption will be that we are to remain silent.

For example; your children will hear in the public schools that this is OK, but they will not hear from the church that it is not.

Frank

I am very pleased that archbishop Dolan, took the stand that he did. Obviously we will here ignorant and nasty opposition from the other side.I have said in the past 40years or so, that the biggest error made in our society today is attributed to the lack of courage by our local bishops and cardinals to stand up to the sound teaching of the church. There should never be any confusion by any’catholic’ pertaing to the social issues of today. And, I am certain that we wouldn’t be in the fix that we are in today. Sin is sin! Homosexualality or adultery in a marriage.Now we need for the entire USCCB to take an affirmative stand with bishop Dolan, to show solidarity. Remember, if they hate you or curse you, you know your doing the work of the Lord. God bless, Bishop Dolan!!!

Thank you Archbishop Dolan.  May all the Bishops of our country be as strong.  May the people realize God gave us marriage as a unique union between one man and one woman.  People do not define marriage, God does.  We need to obey Him to be truly free.

As GOD is, so is the truth. Thank you Archbishop Dolan for having the courage to stand on the side of truth, in public. May God continue to heap His blessings upon you and may you always be attuned and in love with His Word.

Bravo, Archbishop Dolan, its about time someone stood up to the public and let them know where the catholic church stands. If they would only read the bible where GOD said it is not good for man to be alone and then he created woman. The media and hollywood are just shoving it down our throats. They can’t help what they are but they can help what they do. Love the sinner but hate the sin.

Thanks be to Almighty God for the the correct direction given by the Archbishop of New York. More priests should do this with their parishes. God Bless the Archbishop.

Dear Bishop Dolan
Thank you for protecting The Church, Our Faith and the Truth.  May Our Lord Bless and protect you in all your work.  God Bless You.

TOLERATE the sinner. Hate the sin.

ANDREW, STAND DOWN. YOU SHOULD BE IMPEACHED:
“Indeed, Democratic elites turn to self-described “Catholics” like Cuomo to shield their agenda from being labeled “anti-Catholic” or hostile to cherished moral and social values. Mario Cuomo was among the first to travel this well-worn path, publicly defying his Church. Since then, the spectacle of Catholics “courageously” defending legal abortion, embryonic stem-cell research and same-sex “marriage” has become commonplace.”
TIME TO REPLACE THESE SELF-DESCRIBED CATHOLICS.

WOW!  Excellent!  A man after God’s own heart.  Truly, someone who teaches and leads the Catholic faithful.  Thank you, God.

Where was the outrage when the Catholic-in-name only Gov. of N.Y. jammed this abomination through ?  Where was the outrage when it only passed the N.Y. Senate with the swing votes of TWO (2) supposed Catholic, Knights-of-Columbus ?  Where was the outrage when the Bishop of Albany stood mute over all of this & still lets his good Gov. friend receive the SACRAMENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!  Be outraged every time these supposedly Catholic politicians openly oppose Church teachings, not after they pass the laws !!!!!

Bravo Archbishop Dolan for standing up and being a REAL man and fearless leader!!!!!!

Thank you Archbishop Timothy Dolan!  Now comes the gnashing of teeth from the pagans, Catholic sodomites, their sentimental hand holders, and the woo woo moonbat theologians…

“Jesus Christ affirmed the privileged place of marriage in human and Christian society by “raising this union to the dignity of a sacrament when entered into by two baptized persons,” the archbishop said in an Oct. 18 decree.
Either the archbishop is a fool or he is certain every person in his archdiocese is an uneducated ass.  It was at the only marriage that is mentioned in the gospels that he took pity on the young couple and got them out of an embarrassing situation but it takes a giant leap of faith to call that “raising this union to the dignity of a sacrament when entered into by two baptized persons.”  Does he live on the same planet as us? 
  Whatever you think of his conclusions we expect logical thinking of our leaders and any responsible teacher would pointed out this blatant error to a ten year old.

God bless Archbishop Dolan, and God bless our Church.
The courageous Archbishop will need spiritual support—sign up to pray a monthly rosary for him (or daily, or weekly, your choice)—at http://rosaryforthebishop.org/statistics/dolan .
You can also sign up to pray for any bishop, several bishops, or for the Holy Father at http://rosaryforthebishop.org/

Thank you so much and God bless you for standing firm to the gospel.  I am praying for you that you will continue to find strength, solice and comfort.  I’m also praying that our society, that seems to be asleep to what is happening, come to its senses.

PRAISE BE JESUS !!!!
WHO has given Archbishop Dolan the GREAT GIFT OF HOLY BOLDNESS AND HOLY COURAGE.
We Love you Archbishop for standing up for TRUTH.
God bless you.
A ROSARY IN THANKSGIVING TO OUR BLESSED MOTHER.

Thank You Archbishop! Keep on speaking clearly about Church teaching…there are many Catholics, including some clergy, who have not been educated in what and why the Church teaches what she does…I pray that you courage will inspire other bishops to stand firm on the foundation of Peter and the Apostles!

We should not talk about marriage merely as a sexual relationship. Mariage is a universally recognised union of man and woman - the two genders of the human race. It is the natural institution designed to sustain and stabalise society and to provide the environment in which love is nurtured. If we damage the structure and inportance of marriage we will damage society. A long time ago Confucius said something similar.

Oh Gosh, Shar Ryan, Jesus raised Marriage to a Sacrament when He reiterated that from the very beginning God intended one man to marry one woman. Shar Ryan, the Sacrament of Matrimony is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church Nos.1601-1616. Jesus Christ re-affirmed the Marriage as a Sacrament in Matthew 19:3-9.  He also authoritatively condemns Divorce in Matthew 5:31-32.  Bishop Dolan has simply reiterated the Doctrine of the Catholic Church by issuing this very timely Decree with regard to the Sacrament of Matrimony. 

To respond to you, Francis Ruffing, Catholics are not permitted to attend such “Marriage"ceremonies. We are also not permitted to attend or participate in Church Services of Protestant Churches unless it is some Celebration for a Family Member or a close friend.

Grey Bear, any Catholic who takes part in passing Laws that are contrary to the Catholic Church has already removed himself/herself from the Catholic Church. And any Catholic who supports abortion, same-sex co-habitations, euthanasia, stem-cell experiments on embroys and the anti-God culture of worshiping self in the name of “my human rights” knows fully well they are defying the Church teachings and, consequently, automatically ex-communicating themselves from the Church. Condemnation by their Parish Priests or their Bishop is not the Authority which separates them from the Church, but their own actions do.  We can cheat man but we can never ever, cheat God.  Any Catholic who disobeys God’s Divine Law as taught by His One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church does so at their own peril.

The following quotation is from: “PASTORAL CARE OF HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS
by The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (Cardinal Ratzinger)
————————————————————————————————————

Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church issued on October 1, 1986.

“All support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church, which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted. Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous.”
We will be discussing this document at 8pm ET Thurs. Listen at http://www.rpconradio.com Call .in to 866-716-1040.

Don’t forget, Mary42 and others, that opposite-sex cohabitation is sinful as well.  One sometimes meets Catholics who are justly inclined to stress the sinfulness of homosexual activity, but sort of want to slide over the wrong of heterosexual fornication. The right and proper use of the sexual faculty is between a husband and wife in faithful marriage, and nowhere else.  Thank you, Abp. Dolan!

thanks be to GOD we support the bishop 100% GOD BLESS THE SHEPARD

It is a relief to see the Archbishop issuing clear instructions based in Catholic theology and practice.  Without thought for the purpose of marriage and the traditions based thereon, secularly oriented persons have given the nod to gay “marriage,” thereby changing the meaning, substance and parameters of something that Catholics view as sacred.  Having to decline gay wedding invitations from friends and family, or refuse assistance with these events will be a daunting task for all of us for many reasons, but also because we will have to endure a huge backlash when we make this stand.  None of us likes to be on the hotseat, but we are going to have to get used to becoming targets.  The Archbishop is giving us an example of strength and clarity to which we can look for inspiration when we have to decline such invitations and requests.

As far as I know Catholic individuals do not have the same bar, and it does not address city employees. I live in Massachusetts and if such a decree was pronounced, someone would sue.
There should also be decree about public (supposed) Catholics from having communion.

Elinor, I did not even see the need of mentioning self-evident sinfulness of sodomy and lesbianism.  The Holy Bible is emphatic that these sins are not only grave, but a serious insult to God the Creator who created One Man and One Woman and ordered us to multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.  I am one of those people who find it absolutely incomprehensible that anyone would want to champion and defend such filthy acts. They reduce human beings to the level lower than the animals. Elinor, the same Holy Book and the majority of world Religions and cultures equally condemn fornication and adultery in the strongest terms possible.  Remember, Jesus Christ’s condemnation of these acts by heterosexuals is very, very harsh, and rightly so.

I am grateful for the courage and clarity of Arch. Downlan but of course the country and politicians are beginning to dismiss ‘religion’ and ‘religious’ issues…when we have ‘Catholic’ politicians like Pelosi, Biden, Sebellius, Dodd, et al aggressively advocating for the killing of preborn human babies and yet are allowed to continue to receive the Eucharist which only Catholics in good standing are permitted to do, then the public sees them as ‘Catholics in good standing’ and then tend to dismiss Catholic teachings, Catholic stands on other issues. If a child engages in terrible, immoral behavior and the parents give no consequences and allow the child to continue to receive privileges, then the child never learns that his/her behavior is wrong…Cardinal Burke, the head of the Vatican’s supreme court and a Canon Lawyer has said over and over and over that such ‘Catholic’ politicians should not receive the Eucharist but because other Bishops disagree, nothing is done about this. By the way, both Pope John Paul and Pope Benedict have also stated that such politicians should not receive the Eucharist…but, again, the Bishops disagree and Pelosi herself stated publicly that her Bishop had never spoken to her about this and therefore, she said, the Bishops must disagree. There is NO issue so essential as whether or not the preborn baby has the right to life. Mother Theresa said that the evils that befall us stem from this massive slaughter of preborn human babies and further, that a nation that kills its young will not survive. I wonder what about Bishops that allow Catholic politicians to aggressively advance the anti-agenda in the USA and abroad and still receive the Eucharist…? will they survive? will they enable those who publicly repudiate and defy Church teachings to confuse Catholics and others who look to the Church for guidance? Let’s not be surprised when the secular government dismisses Church teachings when some Bishops do the same…

Florin, every Catholic who knows his/her Faith is fully aware that receiving Holy Communion when one is in a state of Mortal Sin/s is adding Sacrilege upon oneself.  One does not need the Bishop to shout that from the Pulpit. Those American Leaders you mention who continue to defy the Moral and Pastoral Teachings of the Church, specially regarding the murdering of unborn babies are fully aware they are insulting God by receiving Jesus in a state of Mortal Sins.  The very fact that they continue to defy the Church and mislead many Catholics whose grounding in the Faith is not strong is yet another added Mortal Sin which Jesus condemned very harshly.  He said such a person should have a mill-stone tied around their necks and be thrown into the deepest Sea.  It is sad that American Catholics have created a god in their own images and continue to pick and chose what to accept and what to disregard.  Yet they are fully aware that to be an authentic Catholic is to faithfully obey God’s Divine Law and the Teachings of the Church.  All we can do is pray for them because soon, oh very, very soon, they will stand before God’s Judgement Seat where He has the Last Word and the Casing Vote. They, nevertheless, are fully aware they have already deliberately and with full knowledge, imperiled their Eternal Destination. Bear in mind, Florin, that one goes to Hell on their own choice: God only ratifies their choice.

A Bishop doing his job! It’s great! Thank you Jesus!