The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights deplores today’s ruling by the Massachusetts high court to allow homosexuals the right to march as a group in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade; the Catholic League entered an amicus brief in this case. Dr. William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League, made the following comments:
“Today’s ruling allowing homosexuals the right to march as a group in Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade brings to a head the war that homosexual militants have been waging against Catholics and the Catholic Church. The Catholic League entered an amicus brief in this case because of its support for both religious freedom and freedom of association. It looks forward to engaging this issue in the Supreme Court.
“It is a patent lie for homosexual militants to say that homosexuals have traditionally been excluded from marching in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It is well-known that homosexuals have long marched in every St. Patrick’s Day Parade, from Boston to San Francisco. But when gays marched, they did so by marching with their parish or association, and did not try to make a public display of their lifestyle.
“It is also well-known that march participants have never been asked what they do in bed and with whom. What we have here is a blatant attempt on the part of homosexual activists to make a public issue out of private behavior. It is gays, not straights, who are obsessed with homosexuality.
“The reason why Irish Catholics don’t want a homosexual contingency to march as a group has everything to do with their religious beliefs and their First Amendment rights. Homosexuality, like adultery, incest and bestiality, is viewed by Catholics, as well as by millions of others, as morally wrong. That is why they object when attempts are made to hijack their festivities for ends they do not support.
“The most sensible course of action now is for the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, the sponsors of the parade, to cancel the march. Perhaps it is time for heterosexuals to make a point of their own and petition to march in the next Gay Pride Parade under the banner ‘Straight Is Great.'”
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends the right of Catholics–lay and clergy alike–to participate in American life without defamation or discrimination.
