by Aidan O'Connor
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ChurchMilitant.com
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December 12, 2022
Catholics disrespecting marriage
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WASHINGTON (ChurchMilitant.com) - A dissident Catholic organization is rejoicing over a bill that could threaten religious freedom in America.
Francis DeBernardo
New Ways Ministry issued a statement Friday praising sham-Catholic lawmakers in Washington, D.C., for passing the so-called Respect for Marriage Act. Once signed by Joe Biden, the legislation will codify same-sex "marriage" and open the door for the government to persecute religious institutions.
"New Ways Ministry joins with faithful Catholics across the U.S. in rejoicing at the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which helps protect the right of same-gender couples to marry," claimed New Ways Ministry's Executive Director Francis DeBernardo.
Legal experts with Alliance Defending Freedom recently warned Church Militant that the deceptively named bill actually disrespects marriage and could enable Biden's IRS to strip religious and nonprofit institutions of their tax-exempt status for holding a traditional view of marriage.
Vague wording in the bill could place faith-based adoption and foster care agencies in the radical Left's crosshairs. Also, the bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, forcing states to recognize so-called gay marriages from other states and setting up gay couples to be eligible for government benefits.
News Report: Codifying Same-Sex 'Marriage'
Despite all this, DeBernardo continued gushing over the Respect for Marriage Act:
We are particularly proud that this bill was shepherded through the House of Representatives by a Catholic, Honorable Nancy Pelosi, and will be signed by a Catholic, President Joe Biden. They are leaders who have imbibed Catholic Social Teaching, and their beliefs in the human dignity and equality of all people are inscribed in this Act.
DeBernardo's pro-sodomy organization, in direct opposition to Church teaching, promotes homosexuality. New Ways Ministy is hailed by LGBTQ organizations as "a national Catholic ministry of justice, education, and reconciliation for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer Catholics and the wider Church community."
Meanwhile, section 2357 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church does not mince words when addressing the homosexual lifestyle:
Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
Late Cdl. Francis George (L), Fr. James Martin
Deceased Cdl. Francis George, of the archdiocese of Chicago, once said of New Ways Ministry, it "only confuses the faithful regarding the authentic teaching and ministry of the Church with respect to persons with a homosexual inclination."
New Ways Ministry also works closely with homosexualist Jesuit James Martin. In 2016, the ministry awarded Martin its "Bridge Building Award" for his pro-LGBT work. Pope Francis has met personally with Martin and has even penned two letters to his fellow Jesuit, warmly encouraging Martin's work.
Meanwhile, DeBernado pointed to Pope Francis' vague position on LGBTQ groups and the colorful results from the Church's worldwide synodal listening sessions to illustrate his position, stating:
Legal protection for same-gender couples is a family value that many Catholics desire — even Pope Francis has said that these couples deserve protections. Catholics want same-gender couples to receive the same societal protections and benefits that opposite-sex couples enjoy. Family stability and equality are strong Catholic values. ... During the recent synodal conversations held around the country, Catholics resoundingly called for the church's hierarchy to dialogue more with and about LGBTQ+ people.
Wrapping up his statement, DeBernado took a shot at the USCCB, noting "the passage of this Act, which was supported by so many Catholic people and legislators, provides a perfect opportunity for the bishops to open up the much-needed, much-requested, and long overdue dialogue about equality for LGBTQ+ people."
