VIRGINIA: Catholic Bishops Angry That Pro-Gay Gov Will Lead St. Patrick's Parade

The Catholic bishops of Virgina have issued a joint statement denouncing (of all groups) the Knights of Columbus over their invitation for Gov. Terry McAuliffe to lead this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

We are aware that the Knights of Columbus Council #3548 has extended an invitation to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to serve as Grand Marshal of the 2015 Norfolk Saint Patrick's Day Parade which the Governor has accepted. Council #3548, a regional, not parish council, has sponsored and organized this parade since its inception in 1967. The invitation was issued without the advice or consent of the local parish priest, the local bishop, or the Knights state council. Together with our brother bishops, we have been clear, consistent and firm in upholding the truths reflected in the fundamental doctrine and moral principles of our faith. It is an erroneous and serious mistake in judgment for any Catholic organization to grant awards, honors and platforms to any public person who clearly acts in defiance to Catholic teaching. While one must always respect the Office of the Governor and the person holding that office, and dialogue should be fostered, one cannot deny that the Governor has made public statements in opposition to the moral teaching of the Catholic Church on issues pertaining to the dignity of human life and marriage.

Wingnut infighting. Never not funny.

Bill Donohue: Knights Of Columbus Will Join My Boycott Of Guinness Beer

"We have amassed over 7,000 email addresses from the Knights of Columbus, constituting over 1,500 councils across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Today, we are asking the Knights to join us in our boycott of Guinness. We are confident that many Knights will participate. How do we know? Because we have been contacted by many councils already, anticipating our appeal to them. When Guinness pulled the plug on its sponsorship of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City—over the bogus argument that gays are barred from marching—it insulted Catholics of every ethnicity. The only way to send the corporate bullies at Guinness a message is to hit them in the pocket book." - Economic terrorist Bill Donohue, writing for the Catholic League.

NOM Praises Chris Christie

"We are appreciative and grateful to the governor and the attorney general for waging a vigorous defense. Our position is that the good people of New Jersey be trusted with this decision. Let’s have a conversation, a dialogue, a debate. [However our coalition] is not unified in its position on the consequences of same sex marriage. I personally do not believe that polygamy and incest will necessarily result." - Donald Sico, New Jersey lobbyist for NOM, speaking at yesterday's press conference for the just-formed anti-gay coalition.

Sico's last sentence above refers to a statement made at the press conference by a representative of the Knights Of Columbus: "There will inevitably be demands for legalization of polygamy – we’ve already seen this in Canada – polyandry, group marriage, marriage even between siblings."

NOM Announces NJ Hate Coalition

The New Jersey Family Policy Council and New Jersey Family First are two divisions of the same group and their mouthpiece is "ex-gay" crackpot Greg Quinlan. So basically this coalition is Catholics and "ex-gays."

NOM's Thomas Peters: Most Young Republicans Still Hate Same-Sex Marriage

"We need to remember that the same pundits who are currently lauding the victory of same-sex marriage in liberal states like Maine and Washington last November conveniently chose to ignore that in North Carolina earlier that same year, marriage won among under-40s by about eight points. The recent elections, in other words, did not necessarily show age-related demographic shifts as much as they highlighted the already-existing ethnic and geographical realities of the voting electorate. With a few of these facts and statistics in mind, one can now see how misguided Republican elites such the Illinois state GOP chairman are when they claim the GOP needs to abandon its stance on marriage to attract young voters. Instead, the GOP must continue to strengthen marriage if it wants to be appealing to Millenials in the long run." - NOM blogger Thomas Peters, writing for the National Review.

NOM Has SECRET Plans

"Dear Marriage Supporter, This year is going to be BIG! We've been working over the holiday break to formulate our national strategy for 2013. We're putting the finishing touches on our plans right now, and I'm excited about sharing some major new initiatives with you in the coming weeks...so be on the look out for those emails! By the time you read this, I'll be on a plane to help with one of these major initiatives—you'll be hearing about that in a few short days. But in the mean time, would you please consider making a donation to NOM of $25, $50, $100, $500 or more to help us fund the launch of these game-changing, outside-of-the-box initiatives?

"Already this year we've scored a major victory by defeating a same-sex marriage bill during the Illinois legislature lame duck session—a push that was once again heralded as "inevitable" by same-sex marriage advocates and the media...a bill that had political pressure brought to bear by Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama! Make no mistake: we still have a long way to go to stop same-sex marriage from coming to IL, but what a way to start the year! Please make a donation right away to NOM to help us launch these major new 2013 initiatives. I look forward to sharing this exciting news with you in the days and weeks to come." - Hate group leader Brian Brown, lying to his followers about Illinois, where NOM had ZERO to do with last week's result.  Buy hey, Eugene Delgaudio is also taking credit!

Infographic From Freedom To Marry

REPORT: The Catholic Church Is 2012's Top Funder Of Anti-Gay Campaigns

From a report issued today by the Human Rights Campaign:

Taking up where the Mormons left off in 2008, the Catholic Church – and its affiliate, the Knights of Columbus – have made considerable investments in the marriage fights in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine this election cycle – spending at least $1.1 million to date. In addition, a close ally of the Church and past co-conspirator, the National Organization for Marriage, has spent nearly $1.4 million this cycle. Marriage equality opponents across the four states have, to date, raised roughly $4.1 million. The Catholic Church’s contributions make up 27 percent of that total figure. When you add in the contributions of Church ally NOM, the reality of the coordinated effort becomes clear: the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and NOM are responsible for funding nearly 60 percent of all anti-equality efforts in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington State and Maine.

The Catholic LGBT coalition Equally Blessed today also issued a report on the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Church.

According to the report, which is based primarily on the Knights’ filings with the Internal Revenue Service, the organization donated $6.25 million to anti-marriage equality efforts between 2005-2012, with most of the money directed toward ballot measures aimed at banning marriage equality in 12 states. The sum includes:

- $1.9 million in donations to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), $1.4 million of which was devoted to a successful and highly controversial campaign to overturn marriage equality legislation in Maine.
- A $1.1 million dollar donation to ProjectMarriage.com which supported the passage of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that banned marriage equality in California.
- More than $630,000 in donations to groups working against marriage equality through ballot initiatives that will be voted on next month in Maryland, Minnesota and Washington.

According to NOM’s internal memos, unsealed during legal proceedings in Maine, the organization adopted a strategy of turning the Black and Hispanic communities against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people during the campaign to overturn marriage equality legislation in that state. The same memos advocated finding children who had been raised by same-sex couples and persuading them to speak out against their parents.

74% Of Americans Believe That Religious Beliefs Should Supercede Civil Law?

According to a Marist Poll paid for by the Knights Of Columbus (AHEM), 74% of respondents say that religious beliefs should always take precedence over civil law. World Net Daily:

In the Knights of Columbus-Marist Poll, nearly three in four Americans, 74 percent, said freedom of religion should be protected “even if it conflicts with other laws.” Majorities of Americans also would protect the First Amendment conscience rights of health care workers, insurers and hospitals, the poll said. “This survey reveals that the American people are fundamentally dedicated to protecting the First Amendment conscience rights of everyone,” said Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson. “Allowing people to opt out of these procedures or services – which violate their faith – is the right thing to do. It is also key to protecting the First Amendment rights of all Americans and enjoys strong public support as well.”

Hurray! My religion demands that I drive on the sidewalk. Stop repressing my religious liberty and get out of my way, assholes! HONK.

MINNESOTA: Here's What's On The DVD The Catholic Church Sent Out

The Knights of Columbus produced this program which the Catholic Church has sent out on DVD to all Catholics in Minnesota. Slaggie Gilamonster appears in the second clip.

Knights Of Columbus Donate More To Fight Gay Marriage Than Fight Hunger

God's Gentle People™ at the Catholic charity Knights of Columbus have donated more to fight marriage equality than it has allocated for its own food bank program.

The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal society founded in New Haven in 1881, does a lot of good work. In a report detailing its charitable giving during 2009, the organization noted that while the “Knights and their families are hardly immune to the economic downturn,” they had once again furthered their proud 128-year tradition of service — a tradition including “helping the widows and orphans of the late 19th century” and “providing coats to poor, cold children.” Add to that list a donation of a whopping $1.4 million in 2009 to the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting same-sex marriage through the ballot initiative system in California, Maine and other states. While NOM hasn’t yet made public its 2009 fundraising numbers, the amount of charitable contributions it received in 2008 totaled approximately $2.9 million. The NOM donation eclipses what the Knights’ Supreme Council spent on some of its own charitable programs — such as its new effort supporting food banks or its total spending on education initiatives — in the same year, much to the outrage of some observers, including Catholic groups.

NOM has sued in state courts to prevent the disclosure of their donors, but the Knights of Columbus proudly announced their donation in a public report.

Concerned Catholics Are Concerned About Pro-Gay Knights Of Columbus

Calling it a "scandal" that "pro-homosexual politicians" are not expelled from the Knights of Columbus, the Concerned Catholics of America are calling on attendees of an upcoming convention to demand just that. Oh, and everyone in charge should resign.

For all their good works, the Knights' national leadership stubbornly harbors enemies of unborn babies and man-woman marriage. This past January 13, Supreme Advocate John Marrella, without any legal basis, directed that members and state and local councils must not contact politicians about matters of faith and morals, except as "private citizens." What's more, this past April 15, contrary to the Knights' Charter Constitution and Laws, Marrella ordered that "...a subordinate council may not impose fraternal discipline with respect to a public figure's official actions on matters pertaining to faith and morals." Past Supreme Knight Virgil Dechant once insisted that pro-abortion politicians will "never" be expelled, and Supreme Treasurer Emilio Moure sabotaged a California Knights' pro-life resolution. Join us in demanding that the Knights expel pro-abortion and pro-homosexual politicians, and that Anderson, Marrella, and Moure reform or resign now.

The group includes Emperor Palpatine's email address in their complaint form.

Knights Of Columbus Join Anti-Marriage Equality Battle In New Jersey

The Knights of Columbus and other groups are working to get an anti-marriage equality referendum put on New Jersey's 2010 ballot.

Organizations opposed to letting gay or lesbian couples marry are urging lawmakers to put a question on the 2010 ballot asking voters whether to amend the state constitution to ban such unions. While there's still time to get a referendum on this year's ballot, conservative activists said at a Wednesday news conference that it's not practical to think officials would put such a question on the ballot in a gubernatorial election year. Such a route would also mean the Legislature could put a question on the ballot without the three-fifths supermajority usually used to propose constitutional amendments. Proposals passed two years in a row by a simple majority also are presented to voters.

Jim White of the New Jersey Knights of Columbus says homosexuality is "inherently unhealthy" and that New Jersey "should discourage it." White: "Frankly, government does not have the right to meddle with marriage." Garden State Equality wants the legislature to vote on the issue now, but no vote is likely before the November gubernatorial election.

AZ: Knights Of Columbus Donate $100K To Support Proposition 102

The Knights of Columbus, a charity arm of the Catholic Church, has donated $100,000 to support Arizona's gay marriage ban.

The New Haven, Conn.-based Catholic group donated the money to Yesformarriage.com, a campaign committee that backs Proposition 102, which would add a ban on gay marriages to the Arizona Constitution. Current state law prohibits same-sex marriage but that provision is not in the constitution.

YesforMarriage has raised close to $7 million in favor of Prop. 102 with backing from conservative Christian and Mormon advocates, as well as some business leaders. Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Greater Phoenix, which offers alternative services to abortion, donated $100,000.

Some of the money has gone into television ads and English and Spanish billboards around the Phoenix area. Kyrsten Sinema, chairwoman of Arizona Together, which opposes Prop. 102, said the “yes” campaign is well funded with most of its donations coming from Mormon contributors. Still, she is optimistic voters will defeat the measure. Arizona Together has raised $600,000, she said.

So much for the KoC's motto of "Charity, Unity, Fraternity."

Donate to No On 102 here.