Archbishop warns against vilifying homosexuals

Roman Catholic Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley yesterday expressed ''deep sadness" at the impending legal marriages of same-sex couples in Massachusetts, but cautioned Catholics not to express ''anger against or vilification of any group of people, especially our homosexual brothers and sisters."

O'Malley exhorted opponents of same-sex marriage to demonstrate restraint on the same day that a group of more than 100 Catholic priests, nuns, theologians, and laypeople issued a brief statement calling for ''all of our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth to treat same sex couples with respect and to do no harm to them or their families."

O'Malley's spokesman said the archbishop had planned to speak out on marriage over the weekend, but decided to move up the release of his statement in response to the letter from the prominent Catholics, who include Boston City Council President Michael F. Flaherty, Fitchburg State College president Robert V. Antonucci, state Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci, the Rev. Kenneth R. Himes, Boston College theology department chairman, state Representatives Robert P. Spellane and Marie P. St. Fleur, and dozens of priests, nuns, and theologians.

Although both statements warned against violence, the statement from the priests, nuns, and laypeople referred specifically to respect for same-sex couples and urged discussion of the issue, saying, ''We urge a respectful discourse and dialogue among all people."

That statement did not criticize O'Malley or other bishops, but organizers said it was driven by frustration with a variety of statements from the bishops, including the decision by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference to distribute to parishes a video on marriage that critics found offensive.

''Some of us felt very strongly that, given the harsh negative tone that some church leaders took during the spring, someone needed to take the high road and call folks back to a more Gospel-oriented and gentle place, as well as remind people of the need for more civic discourse," said Larry Kessler, founding director of the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts and one of the organizers of the letter.

Another organizer, the Rev. Walter H. Cuenin, emphasized the call for discussion that he said has been missing thus far within the Catholic Church. ''The letter is not meant as criticism, but certainly over the last several months, as this issue has been so controversial, we've seen the need for the church to find a way to express its teaching, but at the same time to do it in a way that doesn't alienate gay Catholics," said Cuenin, pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Newton.

Cuenin said he was delighted by O'Malley's statement yesterday. ''He presents the teaching of the church, but his whole tone was very pastoral," Cuenin said.

In his statement, O'Malley urged respect for all, while reiterating the church's position that ''The Catholic Church remains committed to the truth that marriage is a unique bond between a wife and a husband, a bond which is the bedrock and foundation of our families and society."

O'Malley's statement drew criticism from the Religious Coalition for Freedom to Marry, a group of non-Catholic clergy and congregations that support same-sex marriage rights.

''We are deeply saddened by the Catholic hierarchy's continued attempts to impose its religious definition of marriage on others," said the coalition's cochairwoman, Rabbi Devon Lerner. ''Denying gay and lesbian families equal marriage would perpetuate discrimination against them."

Michael Paulson can be reached at mpaulson@globe.com.