Cardinal Dolan's Parade Compromise

I have been mulling for nearly two months over Register columnist Pat Archibold’s blog (“Cardinal Dolan and the shameful NYC St. Patrick’s Gay Parade”, Sep 3, 2014).  Archibold is right.  This is indeed “shameful.”  Catholics need clarity on marriage and family from its leadership, not more confusion. 

St. Patrick and the Holy Faith are big deals in our family.  We have been recently blessed with a fourth consecutive generation of a Catholic “Patrick.”  A treasured photograph of all of us was taken on my Dad’s 88^th birthday (and Mary’s), Sep 8th.

Moreover, I have been a family doctor for 36 years, and am one now, more out of conviction than profession.  If a Catholic family doctor won’t stand up for marriage and family, who will? 

The main lesson that I have learned during these 36 years is the wisdom of the family.  Our Heavenly Father knew what He was doing when He willed that children would be born, loved, formed and defended in a family.  No one doubts the need for mother love, but for fifty years there has been a birth control pill fueled war on fatherhood, and I daily see the emotional, spiritual, educational and financial carnage.  The lack of father love leaves a hole in the soul.      

I do not believe that the Great Saint of the Emerald Isle, St. Patrick, would have agreed to anything like this.  Nor do I believe that the Great, coherent, courageous and holy defender of the sanctity of human life and marriage, St. John Paul II, would have either.  Moreover, did former Big Apple shepherd, John Cardinal O’Connor, ever agree to such a scandalous compromise? 

 The attacks (war) on wedding florist, caterers, & photographers, art businesses, and most recently pastors, who defend traditional marriage, erupt almost daily.  Doctors and lawyers are also now vulnerable.  The Cardinal’s scandalous decision has undermined the efforts of devout Catholics (and other Christians) to defend the sanctity of marriage.  Time magazine has already trumpeted this, with Obama’s exact wording, the “evolving” Catholic teaching on marriage.  Moreover, in a Boston Globe interview Dolan declared that “the culture wars are over” and any discussion of refusing communion to pro-abort politicians (uniformly of one party) is passé.  He also cheered “Bravo” to NFL “gay” activist and media darling, Michael Sam.  Should I toss my Catechism?

Cardinal Dolan’s unprecedented, compromise to allow “gays” to march behind him as he stars as Grand Marshall in the former St. Patrick’s Day (now Gay) Parade is still deeply distressing.  In the end, however, the rumblings of a distant thunder (Isaiah) may just rain on the ever-jolly prelate’s parade, “Woe to ye who call evil good and good evil.” 

If one “gay” float in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is OK this coming year, what about 3 or 10 or 20 the next year?  What about a float for the NARAL pro-aborts, or the man-boy-love predators (NAMBLA) with free pediatric condoms being tossed out, like candy, to children?  Does Dolan even remember that the investigation of the priest sex abuse scandal by the Review Board found that “80% of the abuse at issue was of a homosexual nature”?   

Like the sanctity of life, this is an ethical bright-line issue.  If “gay” is OK, if the family is not built on the marriage of one man and one woman, no other ethical line can or will hold.  The crossing of this line leads to a moral freefall that eventually embraces sodomy, polygamy, self-marriage, bestiality, etc., etc.  If this appears to be hyperbole, a judge in Utah has just ruled that the state ban on polygamy is unconstitutional. 

When Jesus encountered the woman caught in adultery, he was compassionate and protective, but he did not say “Bravo.”  After protecting her earthly life from stoning, he turned His concern to her eternal life, and He commanded her to “sin no more.”  If sodomy, and other sexual sins are now OK, or no big deal, why did Jesus accept such horrific suffering and death for sin?  Paradoxically, the recent supreme sacrilege of the Oklahoma City Satanic “Mass,” shows Satan’s profound appreciation for the Real Presence and the importance of sexual sins.  Ultimately, who wins when critical ethical questions are blurred and compromised? 

Serious Catholics, those who were taught to defend the sanctity of human life, real marriage and Religious Freedom by St. John Paul II the Great, Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI and Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Raymond Burke, are now out of favor.  We must accept our crosses, but solidarity is growing, and morning always follows the darkest hour.       

Nationally, only the homosexual group, Courage, endorses Church teaching on same-sex attraction.  A Parade that welcomes them and the inspiring Sisters of Life would truly honor St. Patrick, and in Holy Boldness, uphold Church teaching. 

When the eventual push for the grand prize of a same-sex “wedding” in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, on what coherent basis will Cardinal Dolan then oppose it?  Catholics who are still in the pews are desperate for true shepherds who, regardless of ridicule or risk, proclaim the Faith and defend the flock.       

Peter the bumbler and betrayer did finally man-up and, at great price, the Rock thrice confessed his love for the Lord.  Please, please, please, Cardinal Dolan, follow in St. Peter’s steps and rise to this test.  Reconsider your decision.  It won’t be easy, but your reward will be eternal.  Lastly, all—ordained, religious and laity—need to heed our Blessed Mother’s constant plea to pray the Rosary.  We must pray for our wounded Church in America.  God Bless America!  Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!