The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights condemns the disruptive tactics that were used by the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project at St. James Cathedral in Brooklyn last Sunday. On August 29th, the gay organization disrupted a Mass said by Bishop Thomas V. Daily. The demonstrators interrupted the Bishop’s homily by marching through the aisle, past the altar, carrying signs and knocking over a cruet. The demonstrators were said to be protesting the Bishop’s recent pastoral letter on homosexuality.
In a statement released today, Catholic League President William A. Donohue explained the organization’s position. “We condemn disruptive tactics in any church or synagogue, and it is wholly irrelevant what the nature of the complaints may be. Those who differ with the teachings of the Catholic Church–on any matter–have many legitimate avenues of discourse available to them. Not among them, however, is the disruption of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. There is no right to trespass on the right of Americans to exercise their First Amendment freedom of religion.”
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights is the nation’s largest Catholic civil rights organization. It defends the rights of Catholics–lay and clergy alike–to participate in American life without defamation or discrimination.
