After St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, Massachusetts responded to President Obama's endorsement of same-sex "marriage" by placing the message "Two men are friends, not spouses" on it's front sign, hate-raged anti-Christian homosexual activists descended on the church with threats and demands for love rather than the church's so-called hateful signage.
For background, read Homosexualists Issue Death Threats to Christians and also read Militant Homosexualists Vandalize Illinois Christian Academy as well as Law Protects Worship Services from Militant Gays
-- From "Church's gay marriage message sparks uproar" by Byron Barnett, WHDH-TV7 5/16/12
“It was never meant to be hateful. It was never meant to cause harm to people, just a statement. Six words, we thought we’d get across our point of view in sort of a pithy,” said Monsignor Gerard O’Connor of St. Francis Xavier Church.
Uproar ensued -- protesters with signs gathered outside the church, a barrage of comments were made on Facebook, and a threatening message laced with profanity was left on the church’s voicemail.
“Your sign is completely [expletive]…even post something like that,” the voicemail said. “Your church should be burned.”
“To see the responses come back to us. I didn’t realize the church hated so much by the people that disagree with us,” said O’Connor.
“We think we have the right to express our difference of opinion in freedom without the backlash of hatred,” said O’Connor.
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From "A sign posted by a Church in Acushnet causes uproar" by John Guice, ABC WLNE-TV6 Reporter 5/16/12
Chad Michael Peters [says] he's been married to a man for five year and found the sign offensive and outrageous.
The Church has received hate e-mails and phone calls, even death threats. Monsignor Gerard O'Connor says, he's doesn't mind stating the churches position on gay marriage. The church did change the sign, but not because of pressure. They say they've always changed it every twenty-four hours.
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From "Anti gay marriage sign sparks protest at Acushnet church" by Anika Clark, South Coast Today 5/16/12
“I didn't calculate reaction into it because, to be honest with you, we're a Catholic institution and our responsibility is to speak out on behalf of Christ,” said Steven Guillotte, director of pastoral services at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Acushnet, who put up the message Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, three signs of a very different tone were found Wednesday on church property. Among other things they tell the reader to “Pray for Death” and make a sexually derogatory reference to the Virgin Mary.
O'Connor said the protesters have every right to stand on the sidewalk and make a statement but the church also has the right to put up its message. “I thought we had freedom of religion, freedom of speech,” he said. “Show your point of view. But why couldn't we?”
The pastor also disputed the idea that the church's message board was “hateful.” The Catholic Church has “always said marriage is ... a sacrament between a man and a woman, which is open to life,” he said. “It doesn't mean we hate you because of your sexuality. ... But apparently we're hated now because we have that view.”
[New Bedford resident Joshua] Scribner agreed the church is entitled to its beliefs. But “there's a line, I feel, of respect that they kind of crossed,” he said. While the church's message is often heard on the news, “when you're in a small community, I just feel like you need to think about others' feelings. ... I mean, that's what they preach.”
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From "Threats against Mass. Catholic church for anti-gay marriage sign" posted at New England Cable News 5/16/12
The Catholic Action League characterized the episode as "compelling evidence clearly demonstrating which side in the conflict over same sex marriage engages in hate tactics."
"At a time when homosexual pride parades monopolize public thoroughfares with police protection, it is now unsafe to post a message upholding traditional morality on private property. This event tells us all we need to know about the totalitarian instincts of organized homosexualism in America. What began as a so-called 'gay rights' movement, has become a neo-fascist enterprise dedicated to suppressing, harassing, censoring, silencing and punishing anyone supportive of biblical morality," said Catholic Action League Executive Director C. J. Doyle.
He also said Attorney General Martha Coakley and Bristol County District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter should investigate the threats against Saint Francis Xavier Parish for possible prosecution as hate crimes.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read 'Gay Rights' Winning, Loss of Religious Liberty Documented - Washington Post writer demonstrates it's a "zero sum" game: Winning homosexual 'rights' means Christians must lose freedom of religion.
