Bishop speaks clearly as efforts to protect marriage continue

A protest rally was held Tuesday at Illinois capitol in Springfield for so-called "marriage equality" and members of the Rainbow Sash Movement had planned to pray and protest in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception:

The Rainbow Sash Movement is calling for silent prayer to begin 4:30PM just before the 5:15PM Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A rosary for Marriage Equality will be said in silence. By standing up in the Cathedral you will indicate you are there to pray the rosary for Marriage Equality. Let us come together as a spiritual family in prayer after the March.

Naturally, that prompted a clear response from His Excellency the Most Reverend Thomas John Paprocki, Bishop of Springfield in Illinois (with my emphases):

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."

It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.

People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.

Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness [video here].

The State Journal-Register reports that police were present outside the Cathedral prior to the evening Mass, presumably as a precaution:

Police cars were parked near the church in the hour leading up to Tuesday’s Mass, and one officer could be seen standing within the main entryway doors.

In the same report, the SJR notes that one member of the Rainbow Sash Movement entered the Cathedral - without wearing a sash - and did not cause a scene.

About 12 additional votes are still needed in order for the Illinois House to pass SB 10, the so-called (despite the grave threats it poses to religious liberty) Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, which has already passed in the Senate by a vote of 34-21.

Please, make every effort to attend Wednesday's Defend Marriage Lobby Day at the capitol and ask your Representative to vote no on SB 10 in favor of religious liberty.

Update: A friend who went to pray in the Cathedral at 4:30 p.m. said "the whole thing wound up being a non-event," which is good to know.

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf

The Rainbow Sash Movement has encouraged Roman Catholics to come to Springfield to "have a loud Catholic presence for marriage equality." They have announced plans to gather at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at 4:30 p.m. just before the 5:15 p.m. Mass to stand in the Cathedral and indicate that they are there to pray the rosary for "marriage equality."
It is blasphemy to show disrespect or irreverence to God or to something holy. Since Jesus clearly taught that marriage as created by God is a sacred institution between a man and a woman (see Matthew 19:4-6 and Mark 10:6-9), praying for same-sex marriage should be seen as blasphemous and as such will not be permitted in the cathedral.
People wearing a rainbow sash or who otherwise identify themselves as affiliated with the Rainbow Sash Movement will not be admitted into the cathedral and anyone who gets up to pray for same-sex marriage in the cathedral will be asked to leave.
Of course, our cathedral and parish churches are always open to everyone who wishes to repent their sins and ask for God's forgiveness.
- See more at: http://dio.org/communications/press-releases348-statement-regarding-planned-rainbow-sash-event-at-cathedral.html#sthash.z4wLUPS7.dpuf