KINGSTON, Ontario, June 25, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) — LGBT activists have launched a mail campaign asking a bishop to immediately remove a priest who cautioned his parishioners against attending so-called “Pride” events.
An online form letter composed by the activists claims that Fr. Robert Chisholm of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Picton, Ontario, “went against what Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken about: the need for the Catholic Church to welcome and love all people regardless of sexual orientation. Father Chisholm is directly contradicting papal edict with this statement.”
No distinction is made in the letter between loving all people “regardless of sexual orientation” and the often vile demonstrations of nudity and simulated homosexual and sadomasochistic acts at Pride events that even self-identifying gays find to be a source of “horror” and “shame.”
Despite Pope Francis’s now famous question asked early in his pontificate, “Who am I to judge?,” the Holy See has again affirmed that the complementary nature of man and woman is “biological fact.”
The activists also claim that Fr. Chisholm “is promoting a dangerous and harmful culture of hate” and that “young people within the community … are so vulnerable to hateful comments like Father Chisholm’s.”
As previously reported by LifeSiteNews, the pastor addressed his primary concern to parents who might have planned to take their children to Pride events, which are “contrary to Christian faith and morals” and which might prove harmful, leading them “away from God’s revealed Truth.”
Earlier this month, Fr. Chisholm wrote in his parish bulletin:
A reminder that Catholics and all other Christians should not attend LGBTQ2 “Pride Month” events held this month. They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. This is especially harmful to the children because it could lead them away from God’s revealed Truth. Even in “The County” there are Pride flags and banners flying courtesy of the Government. Think…these are your tax dollars at work!
The announcement triggered a backlash from LGBT activists, who hastily arranged a protest outside Chisholm’s parish during Mass the following Sunday.
In response to the uproar, Kingston archbishop Michael Mulhall distanced himself from Fr. Chisholm, issuing a statement on the archdiocese’s website calling the priest’s statement “inappropriate.”
“I did not sanction this message, and it does not reflect the spirit of accompanying charity and compassion that should always characterize our faith. The archdiocese has spoken with the pastor of the parish. He regrets any hurt his inappropriate comments have caused,” he stated.
Fr. Chisholm was subsequently directed by the archdiocesan chancery not to deliver a homily the following Sunday.
Despite Archbishop Mulhall’s statement to the contrary, Fr. Chisholm has not expressed regret and has instead stood behind his words of warning.
When Global News asked Fr. Chisholm why he published his warning against attending “Pride” events in his bulletin, he said: “Because as a shepherd, it’s my duty to keep my flock safe.”
LGBT online letter
Here’s the full text of the online form letter, which has reportedly been signed and emailed to Bishop Mulhall by 276 individuals:
Your Excellency,
I am calling on you to remove Reverend Chisholm from St. Gregory The Great Roman Catholic Church in Picton, Ontario immediately.
As you are aware, Father Chisholm recently posted a bulletin on the church’s website telling Catholics and Christians that they should not attend Pride month events. The bulletin is below:
“A reminder that Catholics and all other Christians should not attend LGBTQ2 ‘Pride Month’ events held this month. They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. This is especially harmful to the children because it could lead them away from God’s revealed Truth. Even in ‘The County’ there are Pride flags and banners flying courtesy of the Government. Think…these are your tax dollars at work!”
Not only is his statement factually inaccurate — the Picton Business Improvement Association (BIA) fundraised and paid for the Pride flags and installation — it goes against what Pope Francis has repeatedly spoken about: the need for the Catholic Church to welcome and love all people regardless of sexual orientation. Father Chisholm is directly contradicting papal edict with this statement.
Through this bulletin, he is promoting a dangerous and harmful culture of hate towards a group that is already marginalized. The LGBTQ2+ community need and deserve love and compassion, especially young people within the community who are so vulnerable to hateful comments like Father Chisholm’s.
Father Chisholm’s message does not reflect my values. I stand with the LGBTQ2+ community and believe that their rights are human rights. That is why I am calling on you to take action to remove Father Chisholm from St. Gregory The Great Roman Catholic Church in Picton, Ontario immediately.
A petition in support of Fr. Chisholm launched by LifeSiteNews has now garnered over 3,500 signatures, more than 10 times the signatories calling for Chisholm’s removal.
“Thank you for your courage in fulfilling your duty to keep your flock safe by warning them of the spiritual danger of partaking in LGBT ‘Pride Month’ events,” the petition begins.
“The LGBT ‘Pride’ message is increasingly overtaking the culture right now, and is even infiltrating the Church herself, presenting a grievous risk to our faith and the faith of our children,” it continues.
“As Catholics, we believe that all men and women deserve respect and compassion, but at the same time, we can never ‘respect’ sin or an agenda to promote sin,” it adds. “We support you and pray that the archbishop will repent of his actions, and choose rather to defend you in the face of these protests.”
Contact information for respectful communications:
Archbishop Michael Mulhall
Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario
Ph: (613) 548-4461
[email protected]
To support Fr. Robert Chisholm:
Ph: (613) 476-6276
Email: [email protected]