Bob Maguire, a Catholic priest in Melbourne, just did perhaps the most exciting thing his his fifty-year tenure as a man of cloth: he came out in support of officiating gay civil unions. The 75-year-old, who successfully battled last year to avoid a forced retirement, says “there are many priests who support and want the right to marry same sex couples.” Including him. But he won’t perform a gay civil union ceremony inside the church. And he absolutely won’t do gay marriages: “I will not do gay weddings. I cannot do gay weddings.”
John Tim Dale
Well at least he makes it clear that he supports Gay civil unions outside the Church (well DUH), but not the sacramental rite of Matrimony for Gay couples (well DUH) neither which is allowed by the Church.
However a civil union for gay couples is something he is willing to do, so long as it doesn’t conflict with his Roman Catholic believes in administering the rite of Matrimony. I think the article should *clearly* point out the difference.
But I can see how many devout Roman Catholics may object to this one priest’s opinion. I doubt his Bishop Superior will permit him to do any of these things. Let alone represent the view of his diocese or parish.
the crustybastard
How appropriate the priest is looking down on us.
Boner
God bless him.
Jeffree
You have to wonder how long it will be before he gets forcibly retired & forbidden to speak in public. Guy would have made a lovely unitarian!