Using what may have been their only opportunity to make a public statement in support of equal marriage rights without drawing the wrath of Church superiors, an overwhelming majority of priests in western Massachusetts chose NOT to sign the anti-gay marriage petition.
The Springfield Republican newspaper reports that only 20% of active local priests (31 of 154) signed the document. The article quotes Rev. James J. Scahill, a priest that did not sign, who advances the claim that the clergy's lack of support for the petition was deliberate.
Priests that declined to sign would have done so in direct defiance of instructions from their respective bishops (read Springfield Bishop McDonnell's letter) who urged them to support the petition and use their churches as signature collection centers. Priests even received detailed schedules, talking points for homilies, and suggested church bulletin blurbs as part of a "strategy" document.
Some clergy may have been dissuaded from taking more direct action in opposition to the petition after the removal of fellow priests from their parishes following their decisions to speak out.
Father Cuenin, formerly of Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton, was forced to resign the week after he included this statement in his church bulletin (pdf):
"I am placing at the doors of the church the forms the Archdiocese has sent for those who may want to sign and register their opposition to gay marriage. But we will not do any signing of petitions in our church as we follow that rule for all issues. Catholics differ on these matters and we need to respect the rights of all. Wherever you as an individual may stand on this issue, we must do all that we can to work for the dignity of gay people and for the protection of their rights. They must always feel welcome in our community."
And the Rev. George Lange of St. Luke the Evangelist church in Westborough was disciplined after including this message in his bulletin:
"The priests of this parish do not feel that they can support this amendment. They do not see any value to it and they see it as an attack upon certain people in our parish, namely those who are gay."
It has been rumoured that priests were even threatened with the loss of their pensions if they did not support the Church in this matter.
KnowThyNeighbor.org is unaware of any reports regarding the number of priests signing in the other Massachusetts diocese: Boston, Fall River, and Worcester.
Aaron Toleos, Director
(978) 821-4620, [email protected]