SWITZERLAND: Catholic Bishop Vitus Huonder Says Bible "Unambiguously" Calls For Executing Homosexuals

Swiss Info reports:

Vitus Huonder, the controversial Catholic bishop of Chur in eastern Switzerland, has once again attracted criticism for quoting homophobic Bible passages and denouncing non-traditional family models. At the “Joy in Faith” forum in the German city of Fulda, he quoted a passage from the Bible which said homosexuals should be punished by death. In his 50-minute address on Friday, titled “Marriage – a gift, sacrament and order”, Huonder quoted various passages backing up his views. He also slammed gender theory, divorce, sex education and gay marriage. Regarding homosexuality, the 73-year-old bishop quoted two verses from the book of Leviticus, including Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” In response to applause, he continued: “Both of these passages alone suffice to clarify unambiguously the church’s position on homosexuality”. In his opinion, the passages also had implications for the definition of marriage and the family. “There is no diversity when it comes to marriage and family models, although a book has just come out in my bishopric called ‘Family Diversity’,” he said. “Even speaking of family diversity is an attack on the Creator.”

The Swiss LGBT rights group Pink Cross says it is looking into having Huonder charged under hate speech laws. Pink Cross: "It was in the name of these same Bible passages that a Jewish extremist stabbed six people.” Yesterday Huonder released a statement in which he expressed regret that his words were interpreted as "contemptuous."

RELATED: Sanctions against hate speech made on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity were approved by Switzerland's national legislature in March 2015.

NEW YORK: Dozens Of Catholic Churches Close As Archdiocese Consolidates

Reuters reports:

Teary-eyed and angry Catholic parishioners across New York attended final mass services on Friday in some of dozens of churches closing or stopping regular worship services. The closures follow an announcement by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York in November that it would consolidate 368 parishes into 294, reflecting a national trend of parish closures in the United States caused by low attendance, a shortage of priests and financial troubles. Parishioners expressed sadness at the shuttering of churches like Our Lady of Peace, a red brick church with an ornate interior on Manhattan's Upper East Side that is more than 100 years old. "It's like a death in the family," said Manhattan resident Lola Skaro, a retiree in her late 70s, who became emotional when talking about the church she had visited everyday since her retirement.

The Daily News notes that workers were changing the locks at some of the nearly two dozen closing churches in New York City as the final mass took place. (Tipped by JMG reader Jerald)

When The Pope Comes To Philadelphia

Philadelphia's blogs are chattering about security measures and road closures slated for when Pope Francis visits at the end of September.

As far as the city is concerned, no-vehicle boundaries will likely fall as such: Girard to Ridge to Spring Garden to the north, South Street to the south, the Delaware River to the east and 38th Street to the west. Basically, “no vehicles in greater center city/ucity,” the source said. “That’s why we’ve been calling it the traffic box. No traffic.” West Philly boundaries remain a bit hazy for city planners, but they do know a Pope fence will go up around the Parkway, probably from the Art Museum to City Hall, about two blocks wide on either side. “Pretend it’s a blizzard,” the source said. “Nothing functions normally during a blizzard.” Here’s what that would look like, with the red area representing the fence that will be put up and the black area representing the full security boundaries. It’s still being worked out what those boundaries might mean for residents. Papal event consultants confirmed to PlanPhilly that the Ben Franklin Bridge between Philadelphia and New Jersey will be shut down, and they’ve even made suggestions that the city should, for some period of time, shut down I-95.

City planners are bracing for crowds of up to 1.5 million over the weekend. Residents of the affected areas have reportedly been told they should "plan to walk miles" to reach their usual destinations. The majority of the city's rail system will be dedicated to express shuttles for papal worshipers and most regular stops will be bypassed. Craigslist is already seeing home rental listings for as much as $25,000 for the three-day papal visit. One optimistic fellow is asking $10K for his one bedroom apartment.

LOUISIANA: Married Gay Man Denied Communion At His Mother's Funeral

Via the New Orleans Advocate:

Tim Ardillo said he was standing next to his mother’s coffin leading his young son to receive a blessing when the priest presiding over the funeral Mass denied him communion. The longtime Catholic said the priest told him it was because he married outside the church, but Ardillo doesn’t think that’s the whole story. He believes he was denied the sacrament because, as is stated in his mother’s obituary, he is married to a man. The priest in question, the Rev. Mark Beard [PHOTO], of St. Helena Catholic Church in Amite, did not return multiple calls seeking comment in the week following the July 10 funeral. Ardillo said the church passed out a quotation from 1 Corinthians at Mass the next Sunday, which states, in a portion highlighted in red ink, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks in judgment of himself.”

Ardillo says he has gotten an apology from the Diocese of Baton Rouge and from the Archbishop of New Orleans. (Tipped by JMG reader Ken)

REPORT: Disgraced Archbishop Cruised In Public Park And Asked for Poppers

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has more salacious allegations about disgraced former Archbishop John Nienstedt, who resigned last month.

The firm conducted interviews and collected affidavits, or sworn statements, from people who worked with or knew Nienstedt. The Star Tribune has confirmed that five Catholic priests, one former priest and a former seminarian were among those who provided affidavits. In one affidavit, a priest in Harrison Township, Mich., reported seeing Nienstedt at a gay nightclub in Windsor, Ontario, just across the border from Detroit in the 1980s. “I recall seeing John — and there is no doubt in my mind that it was him based on my prior interactions with him — at the Happy Tap,” the Rev. Lawrence Ventline wrote in his affidavit. “He appeared to wave me off as I was coming — and I backed off because I did not want impose on him.”

Another affidavit from a Michigan priest said that Nienstedt pulled up to his car in an area frequented by gay men one December in the early 1980s and asked him if he had any “poppers,” an inhalant used by gay men to enhance sexual pleasure. When he got into Nienstedt’s car, and Nienstedt recognized him as a former student, he changed the subject, the priest told the Star Tribune. A former seminarian at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, James Heathcott, also filed an affidavit. He said that Nienstedt — who was the seminary’s rector — expelled him after he refused an invitation to join Nienstedt and two other seminarians on a private weekend at a ski chalet in the late 1980s.

Nienstedt resigned after prosecutors filed criminal and civil charges against the archdiocese for "failure to protect children." Regarding today's accusations, Nienstedt claims to be "dumbfounded" and says that while he did regularly drive by that park, it was only because it was on the way to the cardinal's official residence. Nienstedt further claims to have been on assignment in Rome at time he is alleged to have asked for poppers. (Tipped by JMG reader Rick)

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: The Archdiocese declared bankruptcy in January 2015. Last summer Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt was accused of "sexual impropriety" with priests and other men. Nienstedt then denied allegations that he is gay to a local newspaper. Niedstedt was later grilled by a different local paper about his sexuality. In January 2012, Nienstedt ordered all of Minnesota's priests to remain silent if they opposed the coming referendum on same-sex marriage. Later in 2012, it was Nienstedt's ugly anti-gay public letter that launched NFL player Chris Kluwe into the spotlight after Kluwe penned a blistering response in a local newspaper. In September of that year Nienstedt declared that Satan loves sodomy. Also in September 2012, Nienstedt was accused of shielding a pedophile priest who is currently in prison. In 2010 Nienstedt ordered that communion be denied to openly gay students. Also in 2010, Nienstedt's archdiocese sent out 400,000 DVDs to Minnesota voters urging that they support anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. 

Headline Of The Day

Details. (Tipped by JMG reader Brandon)

KANSAS: Archbishop Praises Brownback For Religous Liberty Executive Order

"We are grateful that Governor Brownback has acted so swiftly to address some of the threats to religious freedom that have taken on new urgency since the United States Supreme Court’s misguided decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Given the far-reaching effects that redefining marriage will have on the law, and the fact that this incredibly consequential change in national social policy was effected by judicial fiat rather than the democratic process, there is tremendous uncertainty as to what the Obergefell decision will mean for everyday people just trying live their faith as they always have.

"Over the last several years, Catholic Charities in Boston, Washington D.C., and Illinois have been forced to close their adoption ministries because they will only place children in homes with a mother and father. Just last week, the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industry fined the Christian owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa $135,000 for declining to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding ceremony. Now that a constitutional right to same-sex marriage has been created, these kinds of cases, already on the rise, will undoubtedly proliferate.

"Kansans who believe that every child deserves a mother and a father should not be punished by the government for that belief. We urge Governor Brownback and members of the Legislature to make the protection of religious freedom for all Kansans a top priority in the coming months. Generations of Americans have taken freedom of conscience for granted. We, sadly, do not have that luxury anymore." - Archbishop Joseph Naumann, via press release.

Details Emerge On Papal Visit To DC

Via the Wall Street Journal:

Pope Francis’ September address to Congress will be broadcast live on the west side of the U.S. Capitol building, so members of the public can watch in a setup similar to presidential inaugurations, House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) announced Wednesday. The pope is expected to deliver brief remarks to the public assembled outside the Capitol after his Sept. 24 speech, said Mr. Boehner, who invited the pope to speak before lawmakers. The public will be able to watch the pope over giant television screens screens. “The visit of Pope Francis to the U.S. Capitol is a historic moment for the country,” Mr. Boehner said in a statement Wednesday. Mr. Boehner, who is Catholic, invited the pope to address Congress on March 13, 2014. The pope formally accepted the invitation on Feb. 5, 2015.

How much is this Catholic event costing the city?

Catholic Bishops Have The Sadz

"Regardless of what a narrow majority of the Supreme Court may declare at this moment in history, the nature of the human person and marriage remains unchanged and unchangeable. Just as Roe v. Wade did not settle the question of abortion over forty years ago, Obergefell v. Hodges does not settle the question of marriage today. Neither decision is rooted in the truth, and as a result, both will eventually fail. Today the Court is wrong again. It is profoundly immoral and unjust for the government to declare that two people of the same sex can constitute a marriage. The unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman is inscribed in our bodies as male and female. The protection of this meaning is a critical dimension of the 'integral ecology' that Pope Francis has called us to promote. Mandating marriage redefinition across the country is a tragic error that harms the common good and most vulnerable among us, especially children. The law has a duty to support every child’s basic right to be raised, where possible, by his or her married mother and father in a stable home." - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, via press release.

AUSTRALIA: Catholic Church Pressures Businesses To Back Off Marriage Support

The Archdiocese Of Sydney is ever so pissed at the 150+  Australian corporations that have placed a joint newspaper campaign in support of same-sex marriage.

The Catholic Church in Sydney is sending letters to companies that publicly support same-sex marriage, expressing its "grave concern" about their stance. The ABC has seen a copy of one letter addressed to the chairman of partners at Maurice Blackburn law firm, Steve Walsh, from the Archdiocese's business manager Michael Digges. "It is... with grave concern that I write to you about the Marriage Equality for Australians campaign," it reads. "You are publically supporting a strategic, political and well-funded campaign designed to pressure the Federal Government into changing the Marriage Act. For corporations to speak on such issues... is indeed overstepping their purpose and it is to be strongly resisted." Maurice Blackburn principal Liberty Sanger said she was not sure what the intention of the letter was, but either way the law firm would not be intimidated.

The letters contain veiled threats to boycott LGBT-supportive businesses, warning them that the church is a "significant user of goods and services."

Colin Farrell Celebrates Ireland Marriage

Colin Farrell appeared on the Tonight Show on Thursday where he celebrated Ireland's marriage referendum and mocked the response of the Catholic Church. At the end of the clip below, he mentions the photo of Gerry Adams and Panti Bliss that was brought up in the JMG interview published today.

MEXICO: Catholic Church Exorcises Satan Out Of Entire Nation Because Gays

Because gays and abortion, actually. Via Breitbart:

In an extraordinary act of spiritual warfare, several bishops and exorcist priests have performed what is being called a “Magno Exorcismo” (great exorcism) of the entire country of Mexico following a series of events that the bishops see as linked to the presence and influence of Satan. On May 20, the former Archbishop of Guadalajara, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez [PHOTO], the Archbishop of San Luis Potosi, Carlos Cabrero, as well as several exorcist priests from various Mexican dioceses held a closed-door exorcism ritual at the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Luis Potosí. Bishop Cabrero explained the hush-hush nature of the ceremony, saying that otherwise “it arouses morbid curiosity and misinterpretations” when what we are after is simply “doing good for everyone.” In a telephone interview, Father Fortea declined to give details about the ceremony, but said that “undoubtedly the abortion, Satanism, corruption, the cult of ‘holy’ death and the legalization of sexual aberrations have caused great satanic infestation throughout Mexico.” All of this, he said, has unleashed widespread violence precisely because of the action of the devil. The purpose of the exorcism was to “drive the demons out of Mexico,” he said.

RELATED: On June 3rd the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that states may no longer ban same-sex marriage, although couples in the majority of Mexican states must still, for now, hire a lawyer, pay around $1000, and wait a month to obtain a judge's order to marry. Same-sex marriages have been recognized nationwide since Mexico City repealed its ban in 2010 and three states had already done away with their bans, but the latest ruling will surely expedite the removal of the remaining roadblocks. 

Bill Donohue Has The Archbishop Sadz

"Ever since Nienstedt criticized the gay movie, Brokeback Mountain, he has been a marked man. The Star Tribune, the St. Cloud Times, Minnesota Public Radio, the New York Times, as well as an array of wayward priests, Catholic journalists, former Catholics, and unethical lawyers, have been out to get him. Just today, Fr. Mike Tegeder said it was a good sign that Nienstedt resigned; Tegeder supports gay marriage. Nienstedt’s sin is that he is an orthodox Catholic. Nienstedt was twice accused of inappropriate touching, and twice the charges proved false. He is a good man who was unfairly treated." - Bill Donohue, on today's resignation by Archbishop John Niendstedt.

MINNESOTA: Archbishop John Nienstedt Resigns Over Molestation Scandal

"In order to give the Archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face, I have submitted my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and I have just received word that he has accepted it. The Catholic Church is not our Church, but Christ’s Church, and we are merely stewards for a time. My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them. Thus, my decision to step down. I leave with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put in place solid protocols to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults. I ask for continued prayers for the well-being of this Archdiocese and its future leaders. I also ask for your continued prayers for me." - Archbishop John Nienstedt, in a press release issued this morning.

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

The Vatican said Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche. They resigned under the code of canon law that allows bishops to resign before they retire because of illness or some other "grave" reason that makes them unfit for office. Earlier this month, prosecutors charged the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as a corporation of having "turned a blind eye" to repeated reports of inappropriate behavior by a priest who was later convicted of molesting two boys. No individual was named in the indictment. The resignations came just days after Pope Francis approved the creation of a new tribunal inside the Vatican to hear cases of bishops who failed to protect children from sexually abusive priests. Francis' decision followed years of criticism that the Vatican had never held bishops accountable for having ignored warnings about abusive priests and simply moved them from parish to parish rather than report them to police or remove them from ministry.

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: The Archdiocese declared bankruptcy in January 2015. Last summer Minneapolis Archbishop John Nienstedt was accused of "sexual impropriety" with priests and other men. Nienstedt then denied allegations that he is gay to a local newspaper. Niedstedt was later grilled by a different local paper about his sexuality. In January 2012, Nienstedt ordered all of Minnesota's priests to remain silent if they opposed the coming referendum on same-sex marriage. Later in 2012, it was Nienstedt's ugly anti-gay public letter that launched NFL player Chris Kluwe into the spotlight after Kluwe penned a blistering response in a local newspaper. In September of that year Nienstedt declared that Satan loves sodomy. Also in September 2012, Nienstedt was accused of shielding a pedophile priest who is currently in prison. In 2010 Nienstedt ordered that communion be denied to openly gay students. Also in 2010, Nienstedt's archdiocese sent out 400,000 DVDs to Minnesota voters urging that they support anti-gay gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer.

Pope Francis To Meet Married Gay Activist

Pope Francis will hold his first-ever meeting with a married gay activist during a visit to Paraguay next month.

The activist is Simón Cazal, executive director of the Paraguayan LGBT rights group SOMOSGAY, who married another SOMOSGAY activist, Sergio López, in neighboring Argentina in 2012. Though the pope has reportedly held pastoral meetings with some LGBT people, this meeting marks the first time he will publicly meet with an LGBT political activist. Cazal received an invitation on June 4 from the committee of the Paraguayan bishops’ conference to participate in a roundtable with the pope and civil society leaders. The invitation — provided to BuzzFeed News by SOMOSGAY — said it was extended in recognition of the “high impact of your organization on Paraguayan society.” The meeting will be held on July 11 in the capital, Asunción.

SOMOSGAY says the invitation to meet with the pope came as a surprise as they had not requested an audience during the papal visit. Paraguay currently does not offer any legal protections to its LGBT citizens and a constitutional ban on same-sex unions was enacted in 1992. Homosexuality has been legal there since 1880.

MINNESOTA: St. Paul Prosecutors Charge Archdiocese In Sex Abuse Cover-Up

Via the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

Ramsey County attorney John Choi said Friday that a 20-month investigation has led to criminal charges against the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for "failing to protect children." Choi cited the case of Curtis Wehmeyer, a priest convicted of molesting two boys. "It is not only Curtis Wehmeyer who is criminally responsible for the harm caused, but it is the archdiocese as well," he said. Choi called the archdiocese program to monitor problem priests "a sham." "We were falsely led to believe that the leadership structure of the Archdiocese had an effective program in place" to monitor priests, he said. Choi said six gross misdemeanor charges have been filed against the archdiocese, but not against any individuals.

Misdemeanor charges against no individuals?

Cardinal Raymond Burke: Marriage Vote Means Ireland Is Worse Than The Pagans

"I mean, this is a defiance of God. It’s just incredible. Pagans may have tolerated homosexual behaviours, they never dared to say this was marriage." - Cardinal Raymond Burke, speaking Wednesday at Oxford University's Newman Society. More from The Tablet:

Though the talk consisted primarily in an overview of Pope Benedict XVI's chiefest intellectual contributions, Cardinal Burke adopted a more personal note in his answers to questions at the end. Responding to a question about the marginalisation of faith in the public sphere, he stressed the primary importance of fortifying the family in its understanding of how faith “illumines daily living”. ‘The culture is thoroughly corrupted, if I may say so, and the children are being exposed to this, especially through the internet.’ He told the audience that he was “constantly” telling his nieces and nephews to keep their family computers in public areas of the house so that their children would not “imbibe this poison that’s out there.”

PREVIOUSLY ON JMG: Burke says he would deny communion to pro-gay legislators. Burke gets booted from Vatican post after clashing with Pope Francis. Burke says families should not expose their children to their evil gay relatives.

The Vatican Has The Ireland Sadz

Via Ireland's RTE News:

The Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano has said that Ireland’s passing of the same-sex marriage referendum constitutes as a "defeat" that highlights a gap between the church and modern society. While neither the Pope nor the Vatican have reacted officially to the referendum result, the newspaper reported of "a challenge for the whole Church," and of "the distance, in some areas, between society and the Church." It said: "The margin between the 'yes' and the 'no' votes was too large not to be accepted as a defeat. It was the result of high voter turnout, notably among young people,". On Saturday the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said the marriage referendum results show that the church has a huge task in front of it to get its message to young people. He said the Catholic Church "needs to have a reality check across the board."

(Tipped by JMG reader Eric)

NEW JERSEY: Archdiocese Fires Priest For Posting Pro-LGBT Facebook Message

Via the New York Daily News:

The director of Seton Hall University’s campus ministry lost his job because he expressed his agreement with a gay marriage equality group, Rev. Warren Hall said Friday on Twitter. The tweet, which has since been taken down, said he got canned for using his Facebook page to back the California-based organization NoH8 Campaign, which rose up in 2008 in response to the state’s Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage. “I’ve been fired from SHU for posting a pic on FB supporting LGBT ‘No H8’.” Hall previously wrote, according to NJ Advance Media. “I'm sorry it was met with this response. I'll miss my work here.” Representatives for the South Orange-based Roman Catholic university told the publication that the director of Seton Hall’s campus ministry is appointed by the Archbishop of Newark and “serves at his discretion.” A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, Jim Goodness, declined to disclose the reasons for Hall’s dismissal in an interview with NJ Advance Media but said that Hall is being reassigned within the archdiocese, which covers Bergen, Union, Hudson and Essex counties. The move immediately provoked a reaction from alumni and students, who started a change.org petition demanding his reinstatement.

Here's the petition.

Vatican Recognizes "State Of Palestine"

Via the Associated Press:

The Vatican has officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty. The treaty, which was finalized Wednesday but still has to be signed, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic relations from the Palestinian Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine. The Vatican had welcomed the decision by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012 to recognize a Palestinian state. But the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes an official recognition. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to see Pope Francis on Saturday before the canonization of two new saints from the Holy Land a day later.

Teabagistan will go nuts.