Catholic priest supports gay parents
A Queensland Catholic priest has made headlines by publicly contradicting his Archbishop after that state voted to legalise altruistic surrogacy for same-sex couples and singles this month.
Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby lobbied Queensland’s Attorney-General Cameron Dick and wrote to state Parliament against the bill, which he claimed would harm the “institution of our family which is the foundation of our society”.
Bathersby quoted Pope Benedict XVI in his letter as saying, “the best chance children have of developing properly is found in a family because of the uniquely complementary roles played by husband and wife”.
But last week Father Stan Griffith of Caloundra Parish on the Sunshine Coast contradicted his Archbishop, speaking out in favour of surrogacy and of same-sex couples becoming parents.
“The most important thing is that a child is loved and treasured and I can see no reason that this would not be the case if both parents were the same sex,” Griffith told a Sunshine Coast Daily journalist.
“Families are different now … they’re not just straight mums and dads.
“Allowing same-sex couples to have children is an example of how the definition of ‘family’ is diversifying.”
Griffith also accused local MPs who voted against the bill of appealing to “people’s fear” and said their actions “smacked of discrimination”.
Griffith was joined in support for the bill by Richard Gowty, the Anglican Archdeacon of St Mark’s Church, Buderim.
Gowty said he fully supported the right of same-sex couples to have children.
“There are many same-sex couples in very stable relationships and they have the same desires for children as traditional parents,” he said.
“The issue is about the love a child’s parents provide, not the sexuality of the parents.”
It is unknown whether Griffith is being disciplined for his comments but when Sydney Star Observer called Caloundra Parish we were told he was not able to speak to journalists.
Last year Bathersby sacked Father Peter Kennedy of South Brisbane’s St Mary’s Church for, among other things, blessing same-sex couples and providing communion to gay and divorced people.
Rajat Mathew from University of Qeensland,hostel,says Father Stan Griffiths has guts to contradict his Archbisop and the Pope,like Peter Kennedy will he be sacked?Most of my friends at school and now even in college are gay,including me, but such a life style,should not be prolonged to prevent marriage with the opposite sex.otherwise its the end of your progeny.Like in the Scandinaavian countries population can drop incredibly affecting the State.Anyway Rev Stan seems to endorse homosexuality openly when the Catholic Church is trying to curb it.
The Surrogacy Act 2010 No 2 – is still not effective yet.
It says – “awaiting proclamation”.
I think this goes to show that there is diversity within religions with a number of clergy (and not just of one denomination) being dissatisfied with the official line of their church, and willing to be ‘defrocked’ in favor of expressing what they think is closer to the meaning of their religion.
That said, the bible is very much open to interpretation. Look at one passage it says “Love your neighbor”, look at another it says “stone the gays”. This guy is probably sick of focusing on the negative when he probably signed up thinking it was all about love and all that.
Good on him for shifting the focus back to the positive!
As a queer ex catholic atheist and I’m happy to see one of the flock finally using his brain!
What next, will Gay Michelangelo be banned? Will the Pope burn the Sistine Chapel! Many other Popes did not have a problem with us, but they were never Nazi’s. Some say if you worship the Pope you get closer to God. I think the more you act like him the more you are closer to Hitler. I think the Ex-Nazi Pope is not so Ex-Nazi. How else could his deep hate be explained? Many Priest are working to show him the light in what looks to me like a very dark mind.
The original Bible text did not discriminate against us and shows Jesus supported same couples! http://www.whywouldwe.net