World News
Cardinal: Group's support of gay marriage not authentic church teaching
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WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has denounced a Maryland-based organization for its criticism of Catholic efforts to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman and said it does not offer "an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching." Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago said in a Feb. 5 statement that "no one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching and an authentic Catholic pastoral practice.," He added that "New Ways Ministry has no approval or recognition from the Catholic Church and ... cannot speak on behalf of the Catholic faithful in the United States." New Ways Ministry, based in Mount Rainier, Md., describes itself as a "gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities." Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, said in a statement posted on his organization's Web site that the cardinal's words "will not impede or slow us in our efforts to work for justice for lesbian/gay people in the church and society." Although he made no reference to the issue of same-sex marriage, DeBernardo said "for more than three decades, New Ways Ministry has had its programs reviewed by scores of Catholic bishops, theologians and pastoral leaders, and we have always been found to be firmly in line with authentic Catholic teaching." In March 2009 DeBernardo testified before a Maryland House of Delegates committee against a proposed constitutional amendment that would have limited marriage to a man and woman and in favor of the Religious Freedom & Civil Marriage Protection Act, which would have given same-sex couples the right to marry. DeBernardo said he was "astonished that Cardinal George released such a statement" without contacting New Ways or informing the organization that it was being released to the press.
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