Fresno priest comes out for gay marriage

A courageous man

good for him, no one should be ashamed of being gay.

Good riddance...don't let the church door hit you on the way out, Geoffrey!

I would imagine that Mr Farow agonized over this decision for a long time. A brave step, a braver man.
All the best from your fellow brothers and sisters !!!!!!!

He should be defrocked, but the American bishops are too cowardly to do the right thing. The Pope needs to take direct action in cases like this.

Good for Geoffrey. It is time that people realize that bein gay is not a choice and there are gay people in every aspects of life adn gay people diserve all that marriage has to offer.

"The Pope needs to take direct action in cases like this."

The Vatican missed that chance at urgency and credibility with the priest-child- sexual-molestation cases.

What can the pope do? Withhold communion cookies and milk?

Why should he be defrocked? Catholic doctrine is not against being gay, just acting on it. He has taken an oath of celibacy as a priest. The man is entitled to an opinion; he only gave it when he was asked.

"Catholic doctrine is not against being gay, just acting on it. "
If gay marriage isn't acting on it, I don't know what is, besides the obvious.
The priest's coming out for this is the same as coming out for abortion.

I'm tired of all these so-called religious people that use their religion to spread hate and prosecution of others that have different opinions from theirs! I have a suggestion - why don't you try meeting your maker sooner rather than later, so we can all live at peace here on earth! Throughout history, most wars have started due to religious differences anyway. No religious bigots = no wars!

So tell me all you holier-than-thou full of hate catholics...is your pope still a member of the nazi party? Probably, but either way, should he (or you) be casting judgement on other people?

He's from Cal, why is this a suprise. If you don't follow the doctrine, leave - it's that simple. THere are plenty of denominations that support it. Listen to all you enlightened individuals - half of you think the act is disgusting and you know it.

Pepper...The Pope's a Nazi? Gee, how original.

Amazing how Catholic-bashing is the last refuge of haters left in society. Are you proud, Pepper?
Catholics aren't entitled to an opinion? Then in fairness, let's go after Muslims, Protestants, humanists, secularists, Unitarians and socialists.
Pepper? Are you still there?

> Why should he be defrocked?

Because he misused his position to give a homily that he knew to be in contradiction to Catholic doctrine.

That's * always * been a reason to defrock, or excommunicate, a priest.

How much do you know to write these comments?

Thank you, TJIC!

What a mess. This "priest" has forgotten his duty to His church. He is causing hurt to orthodox practicing Catholics everywhere... I think we are all sick of the drama! We should all be praying for this man.

The Church already blesses same-gender marriages! By this I mean the ECCLESIA, the full Body of Christ, the Church in the pews (not the hierarchy) supports same-gender unions.

According to every survey, about two-thirds of practicing Catholics reject Rome’s position and support either civil unions or full marriage rights for committed gay couples.

Fr. Farrow reflects the sense of the faithful more than the pope and bishops on this issue, and many local priests quietly perform blessings of same-gender commitments.

The most beloved gay Catholic of our time, Fr. Mychal Judge, ‘the Saint of 9/11’, often asked, “Is there so much love in the world that we can afford to discriminate against any kind of love ?!” He also urged us to “not let the institutional church get in the way of your relationship with God.”
http://SaintMychalJudge.blogspot.com
(cross-posted)

Wow...where to start?

What does Ratzinger being in the Hitler Youth which was MANDATORY at the time have to do with ANY OF THIS? Watch out, the facts might get in the way of your hatred.

The Catholic Church does NOT teach that homosexuality is a choice. Please read your catechism.

Leslie, withold "milk and cookies"? Actually, it's the "Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus." I know you don't even want to begin to believe that. So my next question would be: WHY are bothering to read this blog?

Sorry, John, the Church is not a democracy. Never has been, never will be. "Ecclessia" does NOT mean the laity ONLY but the entire Mystical Body of Christ, that means EVERYONE (priests, nuns, religious) This is what you meant to insuate. But, hey, what's in a definition?

This case has to do with gay marriage, not being gay. This priest could continue in his priesthood provided that his celibacy, like any straight priest, is honestly pursued and lived out. That's what he discerned, prayed about, and pledged himself to. He promised obedience to his bishop and his call for an important referendum question on marriage being, as it has been, between a man and a woman which the Church teaches very clearly on.

So what's he do instead? He calls TV cameras into his parish to declare himself out of the closet, torpedoes the referendum effort in his parish when parishioners honestly were asking for direction on it, violating what he signed up for.

That's courage?

Wow, reading these comments I notice the anti-gay ones are so mean and bitter. The others are mostly supportive, loving and kind. Really--think about that. I am definitely voting NO on this mean Prop 8. Why should all couples in love be able to get a marriage license? It has nothing to do with religion, otherwise atheists wouldn't be allowed to get marriage licenses either.

Justin: you're darn right that is courage. For all the reasons you mention, this man had everything stacked against him except one thing and one thing only: what his heart told him was right. ANd he had the courage and strength to stand up for it.

Example: if you believed your church told you to murder someone would you do it if you knew that person to be completely innocent? See, no matter how strong one's commitment to self, church, or anything else, what makes us human is our ability to reason. Otherwise we might as well all be robots, programmed for the same responses. This man is more courageous than I bet you have ever been in your life. Maybe that's why you don't recognize it.

Justin,
Actually, in the early centuries, the Church was somewhat of a democracy, with local laity electing bishops and priests. In turn, bishops’ synods were arenas of free debate, and the pope was ‘first among equals’.

There were originally seven loosely confederated churches; Rome was but one of them. Beginning with Constantine and accelerating around 1000 AD, Rome began taking control of Christianity, centralizing ecclesial power, and usurping the traditional rights of local bishops, priests, and laity. The history of Rome's seizing of power is a shameful story of lust for power, and not of Divine will.

Of course clergy and religious are part of the Ecclesia. My points are that the magisterium alone is not infallible, it does not reflect the broad sense of the faithful on the issue of homosexuality, and that by early tradition, the laity do have some rights of input on such issues.

The Church may not be a pure democracy, but Christ certainly did not intend for it to be an absolute theocracy.

Courageous? Hardly. The man took Holy Vows to be celibate. He is a shame to the Catholic Church and humanity. There's nothing brave about making a mockery of the Altar of God. He makes me sick, and I wish the parishioners would have walked out!

What makes me even more disgusted is the applauding of this grotesque lack of integrity. Embrace anything in the name of liberalism I guess.

Ms. Kovach, it's attitudes likes yours that truly make me sick. What a hateful, judgmental, horrible disposition you have. I hope you're proud of yourself. You are the one making a mockery out of God and all He stands for with such feelings toward others that have NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

D.Richner....You're showing true liberal colors by giving a display of intolerance. True Catholics follow their beliefs in the faith. Your diatribe is an example of anti-Catholic bigotry. Your interpretation of God's feelings toward the issue are presumptuous at best, blasphemous at worst.
Good luck standing before the Lord someday. Our prayers are with you,as we hope your prayers are with us.

buccaneer81, I am a Catholic! "Follow their beliefs in the faith" is exactly what this priest is doing, as do I. What is wrong with you that anyone who doesn't see things YOUR way is wrong? How completely and utterly un-Christian of you. My priest is the most wonderful, supportive and wise leader of any parish I've ever belonged to. He teaches me the loving ways of God, not the holier-than-thou judgmental ways you seem be embracing. Sweetie, I am in good standing with my priest, my conscience, and God. For you to imply otherwise, and then have the gall to top it with fake piety toward me, which is quite obviously hollow since you're so quick to leave me spiritually behind, is something you ought to think long and hard about. People like you are the Catholic church's biggest problem today. You're like the American version of the Taliban on a Christian Jihad against anyone who doesn't share your exact views. Yuck. Pitiable.

D. Richner, your judgement against Ms. Kovach shows your lack on integrity. The priest made promises to his Bishop to live a celibate life, for him to do otherwise shows his disrespect for his Bishop, his priesthood and the faithful that look to him for guidence. Manifest public sin warrants public admonishment. Judgement for public sin is more than acceptable, and is even Biblical. Do we not have a great image of Christ in the Temple admonishing the money changers?

This priest has shown blatant disregard for the teachings of the Church as passed down from the beginnings of the Faith. He deserves prayers for his conversion.

as for you being in good standing with your conscience, I have no doubts that you are, just as you are with your god and your priest.

Says you, Dearie.

Craig, there has been no evidence that Fr. Farrow has broken his vow of celibacy/chastity. You are guilty of false accusation by presumption.

Apparently you automatically equate "gay" with "sexually active", when most people understand the term as interchangeable with "homosexual" in describing orientation only.

Father Farrow should be praised for his honesty.

How many others have the courage to speak out? Its much easier to remain silent and hide one's true nature for fear of the consequences. He must have prayed deeply for guidance while struggling with this decision.

God bless Father Farrow.

If Catholic parishioners only knew that over half their priests are gay....they would then realize the absolute hypocrisy of church leadership support for (straight) marriage. This man is a courageous priest knowing that a loving Jesus calls all to his altar!

Fr. Farrow deserves support not condemnation. The Christ I worship would give it to him. Perhaps some of the comments above come from people who would nail Christ again to a cross because of his preference for the needy amongst us. Christians must be followers of Christ and his teaching NOT full of hate and hurtful which makes THEM siners.

I'm glad he told the truth. I think it is very easy for priests to be trapped into living a life that they do not agree with, and truth is one of the major virtues of Catholocism, so good for him. I hope he lives a very happy life.

I suspect a lot of Catholic priests are gay. It's a way for them to live with their homosexuality free of condemnation, since they take a vow of celibacy anyway. (Besides, who's gonna tease a priest with the F word?) I've often wondered how much it bothers them that the Catholic Church's stance can be pretty mean toward gays. I have a feeling that Prop 8 is, for many of them, the straw that broke the camel's back. It's one thing to have a doctrine within the church toward gays, it's another altogether to push for limitations of civil liberties in the secular society. That's just plain mean. I hope more preists listen to that little voice in them (their heart!) and stand up.

Good for him, Vote No On 8!