YESTERDAY saw as many as 6,000 marchers in Manhattan’s annual Gay Pride parade welcome the passage of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s bill making New York the sixth state to legalise same-sex marriage.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C Quinn and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in Manhattan's annual Pride March on Sunday, two days after the state legalized same-sex marriage. / JEMAL COUNTESS/Getty Images
The parade, according to this report, stretched almost twp miles from midtown to Greenwich Village. Participants dressed in everything from feathers and glitter to almost nothing at all, and held signs that read:
Thank You Governor Cuomo.
Cuomo signed the measure into law last Friday after New York’s Republican-controlled state Senate approved it earlier that night in a 33-29 vote. It cleared the way for gay marriages to begin July 24.
Cuomo, a 53-year-old Democrat, said New York’s passage of the law will pave the way for other states to follow its lead.
New York has sent a message to this nation, loud and clear.
It also sent a message to the Catholic Church:
You bunch of posturing ninnies in frocks are utterly irrelevant, and you no longer have a grip on New York!
Patrick Roberts, writing for Irish Central, said the vote for gay marriage was:
A major setback for Archbishop Timothy Dolan and the Catholic Church in New York which fought the legislation tooth and nail.
It is clear that the church power has waned in the aftermath of the pedophile sex scandals which have plagued the church in recent years.
Until quite recently a ‘belt of the crozier’ from the Catholic church would have stopped any such gay marriage bill in its tracks, especially one actively promoted by a Catholic governor.
Not any more and the church now looks exposed because of its opposition and its failure to turn the tide,
Dolan and another leading Irish American, Michael Long of the Conservative Party, made last ditch efforts to overturn the legislation which passed 33-29 with four Republican votes.
Afterwards the church issued a statement which read:
We strongly uphold the Catholic Church’s clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love. But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.
This definition cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths.
Roberts added:
Regardless of the statement the church has been comprehensively defeated on one of their signature issues. The four Republican senators, two of them Catholic, who voted for the bill and the Senate leader Senator Dean Skelos who allowed the vote, have made clear that it was a personal decision and they refused to be swayed by the Church lobbying.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
June 27th, 2011 at 11:26 am
More on those four Republican senators here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-York.html
June 27th, 2011 at 11:28 am
And the raft of “religous exceptions”!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/....._blog.html
June 27th, 2011 at 11:34 am
Way to go NY. Welcome to the 21st Century.
June 27th, 2011 at 11:40 am
“these timeless truths”
Because god said so.
¬_¬
June 27th, 2011 at 11:56 am
It’s so nice to see the catholic church being the kicked rather than the kicker.
June 27th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Don’t you just love it when the religious get smacked around.
It’s like seeing a schoolyard bully get caught in the act and being told to leave the school yard and never return.
And away he skulks…head down off into the sunset wondering what did I do wrong….not realizing how out of touch with the real world he has become.
They are losing the game and know it and are desperate to put any spin on it they can.
Wonder what Mrs. Backman and Mr. Romney have to say about it.????
Should make for interesting dialogue at a press conference.
June 27th, 2011 at 12:28 pm
New York’s Archbishop Feeling ‘Down’ About Gay Marriage
http://gawker.com/5815744/new-.....y-marriage
June 27th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
And the prize for “The most honest comment about why they really dislike gay marriage” on the Daily Fail page goes to:
No rationalisations, just “I don’t like it, so it should be illegal.”
Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.
—George Bernard Shaw
June 27th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Daz: Someone on another site remarked about the comments appended to the Daily Mail article!
Great quote from GBS. Here’s one from “Paul”:
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? (I Cor. 11:14)
Even when I was a Christian I could see that THAT was idiotic!
June 27th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Anonymous: What a delightful pic of that Macdonald’s employee shaking hands with a clown walking the streets dressed in an outrageous costume! (I see that someone has commented: “Do you want Friars with that?”)
Gay marriage will NOT be coming to New Jersey:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new.....-bill.html
June 27th, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Barriejohn, yes that was what made me see the stupidity, back in the sixties. Paul, the origonal damascus syndromee!
June 27th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I’m really enjoying my breakfast this morning, as I watch the ‘WORM’ of a church writhe in pain. I’m happy that I’ve lived 66 years in order to be able to witness the destruction & crumbling of the despicable, without any morals church. I can’t wait until all the churches have been turned into apartments for the poor as the church continues to pay out the huge judgements against them for all the child-abuse, and are forced to sell off all of the churches property in order to fulfill all those obligations. And now I’d like to offer Arch-asshole-bishop Dolan, of New York some advice on how to asuage his feelings of depression…. Go out and buy yourself a new dress Arch-bishop… That always makes my wife feel better!!!! ;-O
June 27th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
It is hugely satisfying to witness the resounding slap in the face delivered to the Holy Roman Catholic Church!
As for Archbishop Dolan – I am NOT moved to tears at his sadness… Cry me a River, you bastard!
June 27th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
To add a little thought to the discussion…. Hey Catholick church, while you’re licking you wounds, how about bending a little lower, and KISS MY ASS!!!!!!!!!
June 27th, 2011 at 2:41 pm
Ah yes, you and your timeless truths. You sit in mass together every sunday, desperatly trying to convince one another of your relevance. Oh well. You have been demonstrated your relevance.
Your pathetic, hateful, passive agressive antics have been shown the door. Hopefully, the rest of you follows soon.
June 27th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
@CriticalEyeYayeye: I don’t want to jump to conclusions but would I be right in thinking you are happy about the RC superstionists taking a hammering?
The same dressed in frocks with big hats guys who are so ready to spout their “timeless truths” about homosexuality keep their mouths shut, unless forced to comment, about the child abuse which infests their priesthood.
June 27th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
I find it ironic that anti-discrimination laws have to make exceptions for religions of love and understanding.
June 27th, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Dear Broga, Yes, it brings joy to my heart to see the Catholickass church take a beating.
June 27th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
“Timeless truths”? Does that mean they haven’t existed as truths for any length of time?
June 27th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
The church’s statement basically invalidates the marriages of couples who happen to be infertile, which makes me wonder why they are not pressing for laws banning childless marriage. It’s almost as if they’re only really put off by all the gayness and don’t actually believe the rationalisations they are spouting.
I happened to catch a documentary yesterday about the KKK and, naturally saw anew what vicious, hate-filled thugs they are. Yet throughout I could not help but feel that in some ways they are not as bad as the Catholic church and other religions, because they make their hate plain, they don’t hide it (even if they hide their faces) and are honest that they think non-Christians and non-Whites should not be treated like human beings. The church is much more insidious, pretending to be all about love and compassion (and having the gall to consistently insist it respects homosexuals) while doing its utmost to spread division and derision while denying swathes of the population (homosexuals, transsexuals, women, children, people of other faiths, people of no faith…) their rights and the respect they deserve. In some cases, they would deny them their lives or their physical or mental health, such as with women who need abortions or children who don’t need to be raped, battered, stolen from their parents and forced to convert and speak English or be electrocuted to death with a car battery.
The Catholic Church and all religions that demote other human beings below the status of themselves deserve less than contempt, they deserve to be continually smashed by bold legislatures and a rapturous public that makes it plain their bigotry will not be tolerated. So well done to the politicians and people of New York for seeing this through and throwing a heck of a party to show how proud they are of their state for allowing two people who love one another to marry.
June 27th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
“But we just as strongly affirm that marriage is the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong, loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.
This definition cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths.”
I presume that they have Biblical support for these “Timeless Truths”? Oh no, they don’t do they, these so called truths are so timeless that back in Biblical times marriage was the joining of one man and anywhere between one and seven hundred women.
Legalising gay marriage does no harm to anyone. The is no reason to oppose it other than malice.
June 27th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
No, Albie, because some bloke in a frock said a god said so…
June 27th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Quote Mr Long: “This definition [of marriage] cannot change..”
Words and their meaning can and do change over time. I suggest that what Mr Long and his fellow bigots mean is the xtian definition cannot change, presumably because the religious cannot shake off their stone-age beliefs. I wonder if Mr Long knows there is a definition of marry that describes the fitting together of two mechanical parts?
June 27th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
AngieRS
I used to know a really nice bloke who had a penchant for frocks. Mind you, he had a penchant for left-hooks that was also a sight to behold…
BarrieJohn
Does this count as long, or tall, according to Paul?
June 27th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
@Stonyground: The RC definition is not quite as simple as they state. Being married in a registry office – as I was – is not regarded as a marriage. Mine, as it happens, has lasted 40 plus years while I know a number of RCs who have left the sacred union and a few who managed to get an annulment. The grounds for one annulment was “non consumation” which is expensive. The grounds, of course, were bogus.
My brother, long time ago, wanted to marry an RC and her parents were known as “strong catholics.” The conditions were laid down very quickly: he must convert; the children must be brought up as RCs. The relationship broke up. The sheer bloody impudence of these people is stunning. That they, and their priest, should assume to ignore the wishes of the people involved and replace them with their requirements is extraordinary. But they do.
June 27th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
S’funny, that, Daz, so have I but they were nice people.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:06 am
“”We strongly uphold the Catholic Church’s clear teaching that we always treat our homosexual brothers and sisters with respect, dignity and love.”"
That must be a new teaching. In the past they’ve treated homosexuals with disdain, violence and hatred.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:58 am
Isn’t the god fantasy all powerful? Like powerful enough to influence a bunch of politicians? Seems like err…”no”. This god fantasy is again proved a failure. Why bother with this god? It can’t do anything of value to anyone. Maybe it doesn’t exist. Maybe???
June 28th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Stonyground: I take it that you are referring to King Solomon – the wisest man who ever lived – who had 700 wives and 300 concubines! (I Kings 11:3)
June 28th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Pity that Dolan isn’t so zealous in other matters!
http://www.bishop-accountabili.....Dolans.htm
June 28th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
JMW
Hear, hear to all that.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
barriejohn:
I couldn’t read
…without thinking of this.
Seriously, though, it says something, just in that there’s a need for a site named Bishop Accountability. (Which is now bookmarked in my ‘Scum’ folder. Thanks.)
June 28th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
OT: My new hobby; annoying Bob Hutton with trivia and pedantry:
June 28th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Daz: http://scotteriology.files.wor.....-jesus.jpg
(Of course, he wouldn’t have had long hair, as that, too, would have been “unnatural”!)
June 28th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
@Daz – Man! bob Hutton has left me alone of late – I don’t miss his idiocy though. truly it was pathetic to behold.
June 28th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Daz
I grew utterly bored of baiting Hutton and decided ignoring the tosser was probably more effective than trying to engage him, and thereby feeding his pious little ego. Not only does he disregard anything that he can’t actually answer (which is most things), but when he does reply all he tells you to do is look up the answers on Google – or repent before the fires of Hades start licking the soles of your feet. He really is a loathsome prig.
June 28th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
@Barriejohn
That is correct.
When it came to Solomon, I was actually quite interested to read about his legendary wisdom. Unfortunately the Bible bangs on and on about how wise he was but the only example given is that episode when he threatened to chop a baby in half.
June 28th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
Stonyground: He’s supposed to have written Ecclesiastes, a book, like the Koran, full of wisdom and knowledge of science, including, in the first few verses, an understanding of the water cycle. Sadly, all these claims are completely bogus!
http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CH/CH133.html
June 28th, 2011 at 8:03 pm
Stargraves and AgentCormac:
Yeah, that’s why I decided to shift to pedantry and trivia. I know I’ll never get an answer out of him on anything approaching serious, but he’s like a weird creature that just crawled from a swamp; I just can’t stop myself poking it with a stick to see what happens.
I know, I’m petty…
June 29th, 2011 at 3:59 am
The Roman Catholics have many timeless truths. Slavery. Blood libel. Purgatory. Celabacy for priests (including incoming episcopal priests who are married and can have kids). Claims to Israel. Geocentrism.
Of course I am joking. The RCs will do what religion tends to do: be 100% against it until they change their mind, then crow about how they led the change. Religion always plays catchup to secular ethics while claiming secular ethics doesn’t exist.
June 29th, 2011 at 9:13 am
@Stonyground
“Legalising gay marriage does no harm to anyone. There is no reason to oppose it other than malice.”
Oh yeah. What about the floods and hurricanes?
June 29th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Wake up all you doubters out there, and face REALITY….. THE ONLY THING THE church really cares about is ITSELF! And that, my friends is the TRUTH!!!!
July 27th, 2011 at 2:35 am
Jesus didn’t say a word against gays specifically but he did say something against sin and he did something for sinners. Like, love them to the point of being crucified unjustly to free and save all people from all sin and error. If homosexual intercourse is a sin Jesus isn’t in favor of it or promoting a life-style or legislation making it seem OK to commit this sinful act. Just like Jesus isn’t for any sin like divorce, fornication, or adultery.