This article has been CORRECTED to name Joe Sacerdo as the author of the original commentary, not Bishop Gracida, who had reposted the commentary on his blog. We sincerely apologize for the error.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas, June 22, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Corpus Christi’s outspokenly conservative retired Catholic bishop has re-posted a strong commentary against the scandal surrounding Boston’s “gay pride” Mass scheduled for next month, in which the author calls it a “travesty” that the archdiocese would countenance the event.
Bishop René Henry Gracida on his blog Tuesday posted an article by pseudonymous blogger Joe Sacerdo, of the conservative Catholic blog Bryan Hehir Exposed, discussing the event originally planned by the Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia’s Parish to coincide with Boston’s gay pride month, before it was cancelled by the Archdiocese of Boston. Gay rights supporters in the parish were only partially mollified when the archdiocese clarified that the Mass, themed “All Are Welcome,” was being rescheduled for July 10.
The diocese had said it was worried that the original date gave “the unintended impression” that the Mass was meant to celebrate gay pride month. However, the original statement in the church bulletin announcing the Mass had explicitly invited “all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month.”
Echoing the sentiments of local pro-family Catholic leaders, Sacerdo concluded, “It’s pretty bad in Boston.”
“So, unless I’m mistaken, Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Bishop Robert Hennessey, [archdiocesan spokesman] Terry Donilon, Fr. John Unni, and the leadership of the Archdiocese of Boston are saying that the previous Mass promoted to celebrate and commemorate Boston Pride Month and Gay Pride – that includes the agenda and values reflected in the Gay Pride parade – is now on for July 10 with their full approval,” he wrote. “Has Cardinal O’Malley totally lost his marbles?
“If the above is true, then every one of those people is showing they probably can’t serve the Catholic church in Boston any longer, and all have to go.”
The retired bishop questioned why “a Mass promoted to celebrate Boston Pride month in June” was “not permissible,” while “a Mass celebrating Boston Gay Pride in July is OK.”
“Where’s any call to repentance and conversion?” asked Sacerdo.
Read Sacerdo’s commentary here.
Bishop Gracida had spoken out forcefully against the Boston archdiocese’s public and elaborate funeral for pro-abortion Catholic Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009, in which Cardinal O’Malley participated.