Priest Comes out and says no on 8

10/5/2008 Fresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- Father Geoffrey Farrow of the Saint Paul Newman Center in northeast Fresno shocked parishioners Sunday morning when he came out against Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate the right for same sex couples to marry in California.
After 23 years as an ordained Catholic Priest, Father Geoffrey Farrow has likely given his final mass. Sunday morning he invited us to hear his message, a message that shocked many parishioners.
11 o'clock mass began as usual Sunday. Father Geoff led parishioners through prayer and communion.
The homily taught of acceptance, love and rejection. But it was his closing remarks that left some parishioners stunned. "What most Catholics hear about being gay or lesbian at their parish is silence
Fr. Geoff says after numerous inquiries from parishioners asking for direction on Proposition 8, if passed would ban gay marriage, the Father said he must go against the Bishops recommendation and instead go with what he feels is right.
"In directing the faithful to vote yes on proposition 8, the California Bishops are not only entering the political arena, they are ignoring the advances and insights of neurology, psychology and the very statements by the church itself that homosexual is innate," says Fr. Geoff.
The priest acknowledges his controversial comments will have consequences. "I know that these words of truth will cost me dearly. But to withhold them would be far more costly and I would become an accomplice to a moral evil that strips gay and lesbian couples, not only of their civil rights but of their human dignity as well."
We sat down with Father Geoff before mass, and he answered the question many are probably wondering... Is he gay? "It's a secondary issue. But yes, I am. And when I was a boy I asked God please make me normal and the prayer never got answered and I realized why. Because God would've made somebody else he wouldn't have made me."
Sunday mass ended with about half the congregation giving a standing ovation. Outside parishioners had mixed reaction about the priest's remarks.
Esmeralda Gonzalez, Parishioner, says "My reaction was extremely shocking I believe that as the body of Christ and as being Catholics we are made to follow by commandments. And God made it to be Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve."
Joshua De La Cerda, Parishioner, says "This is something Jesus would have done, or Christ would have done, spoke out for the truth."
Fr. Geoff said after months of struggling with what to do, said in the end he followed his heart. "In any event regardless of what I or anyone else does in their life, one day you die, and on that day were you true to your conscience, were you true to what you believe. And I think that's the question each of us has to answer. If the answer is no, hell already began before you died."
The parish is clearly divided over this controversy. A few parishioners left in tears.
We contacted Bishop John Steinbock, the head of the Diocese of Fresno this afternoon. He said he has not talked to Father Geoff Farrow, only has heard rumors about what happened today. He told us Proposition 8 is not a homosexuality issue rather about the institution of marriage which is the basis of our society.

http://abclocal.go.com/kf...id=6431105

OMG... this man has given up everything to follow his convictions.

That doesn't happen often... God bless him.

Same stand I had to take with my family.
I'd rather stand before God honestly than lie to please man.

June7 said:

OMG... this man has given up everything to follow his convictions.

That doesn't happen often... God bless him.

ehuffnsd said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

god, he's amazing. that takes unbelievable courage.

ehuffnsd said:

Great act of humanity and bravery. It takes courage, intellect and great awareness to reject ingrained dogma and prejudice, and instead recognise reality. This man should run for office if the bigots sack him..

ehuffnsd said:

stand up and be counted, america!

PANDURITO said:

ehuffnsd said:

Joshua De La Cerda, Parishioner, says "This is something Jesus would have done, or Christ would have done, spoke out for the truth."

that took tremendous courage.

PANDURITO said:

ehuffnsd said:

Joshua De La Cerda, Parishioner, says "This is something Jesus would have done, or Christ would have done, spoke out for the truth."

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

meow85 said:

PANDURITO said:

You doubt Jesus would have stood up for what was right even in the face of religious dogma?

If that's so, you may have been reading about a different man than I've been.

ehuffnsd said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

meow85 said:

HiinEnkelte said:

I think I will be voting yes on Prop 8. I'm in the group that thinks that homosexuals should have all of the legal rights of a heterosexual couple, but I don't think it should be called "marriage"... am I an asshole because of that? I want visiting rights, etc (name whatever "right" you want - I don't think I would be against it) ... I think those things are important and necessary. I just don't think it should be called "marriage", because it isn't. Am I an asshole? How should I vote? If I vote "yes", are there opportunities to ensure that homosexual couples rights' are equal with heterosexual rights (which I consider equal) while still holding the belief that a "marriage" is between a man and a woman? Can I judge between the love between a man a woman and the love the between a man/woman and a man/woman? I don't think I can - not sure if "society" can think I either.

Drunk edit....
[Edited 10/7/08 21:54pm]

There is one orger who is a COMPLETE RACIST who should be banned from this board but will never be.

http://uk.youtube.com/wat...jo85WhbYqM

CliffClaven said:

CliffClaven said:

evenstar3 said:

CliffClaven said:

I think I will be voting yes on Prop 8. I'm in the group that thinks that homosexuals should have all of the legal rights of a heterosexual couple, but I don't think it should be called "marriage"... am I an asshole because of that? I want visiting rights, etc (name whatever "right" you want - I don't think I would be against it) ... I think those things are important and necessary. I just don't think it should be called "marriage", because it isn't. Am I an asshole? How should I vote? If I vote "yes", are there opportunities to ensure that homosexual couples rights' are equal with heterosexual rights (which I consider equal) while still holding the belief that a "marriage" is between a man and a woman? Can I judge both the love between a man a woman and the love the between a man/woman and a man/woman? I think I can - not sure if "society" can think I can.

Drunk edit....
[Edited 10/7/08 21:51pm]

and why don't you think it should be called marriage?

There is one orger who is a COMPLETE RACIST who should be banned from this board but will never be.

http://uk.youtube.com/wat...jo85WhbYqM

CliffClaven said:

evenstar3 said:

and why don't you think it should be called marriage?

Thanks for the eyeroll - I answered the question civially and without malice, and I get an eyeroll.... nice.

My personal opinion is that marriage means the union between a man and a woman. I do, however, believe that homosexuals should have the same legal rights in a "civil union" (I am not an expert on what that means). But, I guarantee if you ask me "should a homosexual couple in a civil union have [insert whatever right you want] that married heterosexual couples have", I can't imagine that I would say no. It's just not "marriage" in the definition of the word. It should be more about the rights than the word anyways.

evenstar3 said:

There is one orger who is a COMPLETE RACIST who should be banned from this board but will never be.

http://uk.youtube.com/wat...jo85WhbYqM

ehuffnsd said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

CliffClaven said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.

CliffClaven said:

It's not that The Joker's gay. What he is, is Batsexual. He'd be whacking it to Batsy whether our hero had girl parts or boy parts underneath that rubber.