Many are remembering Boston’s recently deceased former mayor, including some praising him for his Catholic faith despite his support for abortion and homosexual 'marriage'.
Thomas Menino, Boston’s longest-serving mayor, serving from 1993-2014, died October 30. He’d resigned in January of this year after a record five terms, and was diagnosed with cancer thereafter.
During his tenure, Menino backed taxpayer financed abortions at Boston City Hospital, and led the city’s Gay Pride Parade each year. He boycotted the city’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, banning civil servants from marching as well, because homosexual activists weren’t allowed to march.
He was also among a few civic leaders who in 2012 vowed to ban Chik-fil-A restaurants from establishing in their municipalities as a result of the Christian business’ support for marriage, later backing off some from his original statements.
Known for his common-man persona, Menino was “hugely popular” in Boston, according to the Washington Post, which reported a 2013 poll gave him a 74 percent approval rating after two decades in office, and that nearly half of the city’s 640,000 residents had met him personally.
Most recently Menino was praised for his response after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the Boston Globe reported, checking himself out of the hospital early after a surgery in order to lead the city in the terror attack’s aftermath.
The city held a procession through the city in honor of the former mayor on November 3 prior to the funeral at his home parish, Most Precious Blood Church, which was private. The procession visited locations special to Menino, with thousands of citizens paying respects.
On Sunday, All Souls Day, Cardinal Sean O’Malley offered a memorial Mass for Menino at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross that was attended by 400 people.
In a statement on the day of his death, the cardinal said, “Mayor Menino placed family, faith and public service above all else.”
In 2005, Catholic Charities of Boston honored Menino at their annual fundraising dinner, prompting objections from Catholic groups.
A memo from the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts to Cardinal O’Malley detailed Menino’s support for activities that contravene Church teaching throughout his political career.
After the memo became public, O’Malley withdrew from the event. A statement from Catholic Charities at the time said, “In light of the Mayor's past statements concerning abortion and same-sex marriage policies, the Archbishop regrets that he cannot attend the dinner.”
In his speech, Menino said, “What moves me most about being a Christian is what Jesus taught us about being religious. He did not give priority to piety. He didn’t make holiness the big thing. And he did not tell us to go around talking up God, either.”
The cardinal and Menino got past the disagreement and collaborated on later projects, such as rededication of a Catholic Charities teen center.