AP: Cardinal to lead St. Pat parade with 1st gay group
7. sept. 2014
Rachel Zoll, AP, skrive bl.a.
There is no more natural spot for Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan — a proud, ebullient Irish-American — than grand marshal of the city's historic St. Patrick's Day Parade. But the honor now has an added significance: Parade organizers said Wednesday they will allow the first gay group to march under its own banner.
Dolan was quick to issue a statement of support for the parade organizers, accepting their decision. While supporters of gay and lesbian Catholics are cheering, some conservatives want the archbishop to withdraw from the event.
"I think we're seeing the Catholicism of Pope Francis come to the Archdiocese of New York," said J. Patrick Hornbeck, chairman of the theology department at Fordham University. "Cardinal Dolan's statement is welcoming. He did not make this decision, but sees the parade as an opportunity for unity."
Pope Francis last year said church leaders should focus more on mercy than on divisive social issues. He famously said, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about gays and lesbians who are seeking God.
But Pat Archbold, a writer for the theologically conservative National Catholic Register, called Dolan's decision to remain as grand marshal a "total capitulation to gay identity groups."
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"I think Pope Francis has been teaching the bishops what being a pastor means."
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