Catholic Patriarch Blasts Israel For Allowing Gay Parade

By Michele Chabin
Religion News Service

JERUSALEM (RNS) The Catholic Church's highest official in the Holy Land sharply criticized Israeli authorities for permitting a gay pride march on Thursday (July 29) through the streets of Jerusalem.

In a statement issued Friday following the city's 8th Annual Gay Pride Parade, which attracted 3,000 marchers, Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal said the event seeks to "defy family and marriage."

Twal said the parade, "its organizers and the authorities who allow it, care neither for the feelings of families nor the holiness of this city."

The patriarch said homosexuals can "have their parade wherever they want," as long as it is not in Jerusalem, a city considered holy to Christians, Muslims and Jews.

"Leave Jerusalem to her pilgrims and faithful," Twal urged. "This city has suffered enough wounds and humiliation."

Twal accused Israeli government officials of barring "millions of Arab believers, including inhabitants of the areas of the Palestinian Authority," from making pilgrimages to the city for 'security reasons' whereas such a parade is permitted."

Although Israel permits thousands of Muslim tourists--including many with no diplomatic ties with the Jewish state--to enter, officials limit the number of Palestinians to prevent the kinds of terror attacks that shook Jerusalem during Palestinian uprisings.

Twal said his views were shared by many Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze leaders "based upon our responsibility for guarding the holiness and sanctity of this city.

"Expressing our profound respect for each human being, we proclaim the truth of the Ten Commandments, which are the basis of happiness according to the Lord's word: `If you wish to enter into eternal life, keep the commandments.'"

Comments

[Jolicoeur1]

08:59 AM on 08/16/2010

Hey, why not, every day is blast Israel day.

[kati34]

03:24 PM on 08/07/2010

'Twal said the parade, "its organizers and the authorities who allow it, care neither for the feelings of families nor the holiness of this city."'

this statement is just not true.

first of all, many of the organizers are part of families themselves, along with the straight allies who attended with their children. "the feelings of families" are definitely not homogeneous.

the second part is even more erroneous. not only is there a strong sect of religious LGBT people who are often ignored by both the queer and religious populations, but also, the organizers have specifically aimed to work with the religious community to make the parade safe and respectful. were jerusalemites dancing on floats? no. they did not try to make waves. they simply said that we are here, you need to respect us.

[Anbreen]

09:08 PM on 08/11/2010

Well, I'd like to blast the Vatican for covering and enabling institutional child rape.

Does having a gay pride parade hurt or kill anybody? Nooooooooooooo.

Does molesting kids hurt of kill anybody? Yeessssssss!

The Vatican is the LAST org that should open its collective mouth in criticism.

Israel didn't do anything wrong, here.

[bob5148]

01:18 PM on 08/05/2010

Well, now that most Catholics are doing their own thing anyway and 'customizing' their "religion" to fit their lustful ways, I guess the RCC has to lecture to someone else now!

[manray05]

02:21 PM on 08/03/2010

The RCC on a soapbox claiming moral superiority. Then trying to hide assets so they can avoid claims for child assaults and molestation.

This is the definition of hypocrisy - I'd rather drop my kids off at a gay bar than a Catholic Church.

[esalter]

03:07 PM on 08/06/2010

As a lifelong Catholic i have one thing to say about that, amen!

[Higgs Boson]

03:07 AM on 08/03/2010

Ever notice how religious zealots always seek to silence those whom they disagree with and yet they are the first to whine and cry if anyone dares to disagree with them .

[scottyknows]

08:53 PM on 08/04/2010

No, I haven't noticed that.

But I have noticed people trying to silence Rush and Fox News. Who are those whiners, anyway?

[Del Jambe]

02:37 PM on 08/05/2010

Nobody has ever tried to silence them. We call them out for their commentary that threatens the civilized world and point out that neither are actually sources of information. When a company pays money to sponsor a show- we simply show them clips from the show they're paying for to make certain that the message conveyed is one that they are comfortable having associated with their firm. I certainly don't use businesses that sponsor hate.

[MaxwellPuthoff]

07:48 PM on 08/10/2010

Example?

[MalloMel]

12:35 AM on 08/03/2010

"Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal said the event seeks to "defy family and marriage."

Actually, the biggest threat to family and marriage is divorce, and I don't see the RCC getting all rabid over divorce. I wonder why that is?

Sure, they say they are against divorce, but I just don't see them foaming at the mouth when they say it.

[Muskered]

07:35 PM on 08/02/2010

Mr Twal --- apparently you haven't been caught yet?

[TanzaniaTeacher]

05:47 PM on 08/02/2010

The RCC should know all about humiliation.

[scottyknows]

05:17 PM on 08/02/2010

I fail to see the outrage that says a man attracted to a boy is immoral, but a man attracted to a man is natural. Weren't they both born with those attractions?

[Higgs Boson]

03:08 AM on 08/03/2010

give it some more though and maybe the answer will come to you ............

[Ken Roberts]

08:32 AM on 08/03/2010

Maybe he was trying to point out the hypocrisy of pedophile priests=good - gay men=bad. Trying to believe the optimistic side here. It's a struggle. =)

[MaxwellPuthoff]

07:49 PM on 08/10/2010

Being attracted to a boy is one thing, actually raping one is another. You "fail to see" a lot of things.

[suemj]

04:57 PM on 08/02/2010

Catholic clergy need to stop being so judgemental, and clean up their own house! I'd rather be around a kind Gay human-being or any kind human for that matter than child-molesters of whom these same clergy allow loose and rampant, knowingly transferred from church to church to hurt others. This is all criminal, and they should all be prosecuted. I won't even start on their views of women/ birth control, etc.

[Giac Belli]

04:43 PM on 08/02/2010

this is proof God doesn't exist...otherwise he/she/it would have rained fire and brimestone on the vatican in a heartbeat for the those little boy buggering/raping priests. (remember sodom and that other place?) :) look it up in bible TALES.
OR.... God actually condones this stuff.....so therefore business as usual. :)

[StCuthbert]

03:04 PM on 08/02/2010

I always say, if you're hated by the far left *and* the far right, you must be doing something right!

[Marcus047]

02:02 PM on 08/02/2010

"Twal accused Israeli government officials of barring "millions of Arab believers, including inhabitants of the areas of the Palestinian Authority," from making pilgrimages to the city for 'security reasons' whereas such a parade is permitted.""

When was the last time a gay man, a lesbian mother, or a drag queen blew themselves up, killing dozens? When was the last time a gay teen stabbed a haredi? When was the last time a transgender woman came into a catholic church and shot people praying. When the LGBT community becomes violent, then come complain about security threats.

[EuroRant1]

01:48 PM on 08/02/2010

I think everyone should back down from all the heavy criticism of this holy man. He speaks and is an infallible representative from God and of the Catholic ideals.

Thereby we all know that God is a child raper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhrKL0pEerI
(thank you David Cross for setting us straight)

[UmberLamp]

01:46 PM on 08/02/2010

And the missing 11th commandment; No gays.