Leave it to the bishops of the Catholic Church to blast politicians who favor marriage equality for same sex couples. Why cleanse the ranks of the Church hierarchy of those who aided and abetted child rapists when you can denigrate and bash gays. As the Dallas Morning News reported, 2/3's of the U.S. bishops allowed molesters to continue in parishes without warning potential victims or their parents. The latest disingenuous blow hard to engage in such behavior is the well fed looking Bishop Thomas J. Tobin (pictured at right). I increasingly believe that the Catholic Church, Mormon Church and other denominations that continue to meddle with CIVIL legislation need to have their tax exempt status revoked by the IRS. It is beyond ridiculous that blatant political activity is being engaged in open violation of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tobin has his panties in a major wad because Rhode Island's new governor, Lincoln Chafee, supports marriage equality for same sex couples. The Providence Journal has details on Tobin's bullshit. Here are highlights:*
PROVIDENCE –– Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas J. Tobin lashed out at Governor Chafee and legislative leaders on Friday for trying to advance legislation that would legalize gay marriage in Rhode Island, suggesting that the state’s leaders should focus on job creation and the state’s economy.
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But Chafee and House Speaker Gordon D. Fox, who is openly gay, reiterated their support for allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. Chafee repeated his argument that gay marriage, in his view, is an economic issue.
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Tobin’s comments came Friday, the day after bills to legalize gay marriage were introduced again in the General Assembly. They represent the bishop’s second public rebuke of the new governor, who took office on Tuesday.
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The bills, introduced by state Rep. Arthur Handy, D-Cranston, and Sen. Rhoda Perry, D-Providence, would recognize “civil marriage” between people of identical gender, while leaving religious institutions the right to refuse to participate.
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Tobin, in a statement to the media, said the drive to allow same-sex marriage in Rhode Island was “morally wrong and detrimental to the well-being of our state” and called out Chafee in particular for his support of the measure.
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Chafee, who is Episcopalian, stood by his support of gay marriage, repeating an argument he made in his inauguration speech that permitting gay and lesbian couples to legally marry is, to some degree, an economic issue for the state. “The status quo economically is not working. Our foundation here in Rhode Island was built on tolerance and acceptance, and this is an area I want to move our state forward on, by building on our strengths of centuries ago,” he said. “Let’s give marriage equality a chance to grow our state.”
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Chafee senior adviser Stephen Hourahan said later that the governor believes that legalizing gay marriage can provide incentive for “the best and brightest” talents — especially gay and lesbian professionals — to consider relocating to the state for job opportunities. It can even help boost the wedding industry. “It’s the idea that to have it in place is a very positive thing to a state,” said Hourahan.
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If legislation is approved this year, Rhode Island would join Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Vermont among the New England states that recognize gay marriage, though there is a repeal effort under way in New Hampshire.
