Pro-gay Teen Refused Catholic Church Confirmation

17-year-old Lennon Cihak of Barnesville, MN made clear to his priest, and to the world via Facebook, that he opposes the Roman Catholic doctrine of the sacrament of marriage.  Logically, Lennon refused to join his peers in the process of confirmation into the church, and his priest said that Lennon certainly would NOT be confirmed unless his defiant beliefs changed.  Not surprisingly, the liberal media is outraged that the teen's beliefs won't be accepted by the local church, and have harassed the priest and church leaders.

For background, read Catholic Church Stands Firm in Culture War and also read Bishops Chasten VP Biden, a 'Practicing Catholic' as well as Minnesota One-Man-One-Woman Marriage Amendment Rejected by Voters

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-- From "Minn. gay-marriage supporter denied confirmation" by The Associated Press 11/15/12

Shana Cihak said her 17-year-old son, Lennon, wasn't allowed to be confirmed at Assumption Church in Barnesville last month after posting a Facebook picture of himself with a political sign he altered to oppose the marriage amendment on Minnesota's ballot. Voters on Nov. 6 rejected the constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

Assumption Rev. Gary LaMoine told The Associated Press Thursday that the teen was not denied confirmation but declined to explain, calling it an "internal and pastoral" matter.

"Some people chose to run out into the public and put it out in the media," LaMoine told the AP, adding that he was consulting with the Catholic Diocese of Crookston about the issue.

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From "MN priest discusses ‘denial of Confirmation’ to pro-gay marriage teen" posted at Catholic World News 11/19/12

“A couple of candidates chose not to enter into full communion with the Catholic community because of their disagreement with the teaching of the Church concerning marriage,” Father LaMoine said. “I have personally spent much time talking to [the Cihak family] face to face about their unwillingness to accept the teaching of the Church on marriage but to no avail.”

Father LaMoine added that even if the teen had not chosen to withdraw from the Confirmation program, he could not be confirmed unless he accepted Catholic teaching on marriage.

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From "2nd student denied Catholic confirmation in Barnesville In letter to parish, priest apologizes for actions of family" by Erik Burgess, Forum Communications Co., DL-Online (Detroit Lakes) 11/19/12

“I apologize to the parish for the actions of this family,” LaMoine wrote.

In the letter sent out to the parish, LaMoine says Lennon voluntarily withdrew from the program after LaMoine saw the [Facebook pro-same-sex-marriage] photo and challenged him on why he was “rejecting a central teaching of the Church.”

When reached by phone Friday evening, Lennon said the other confirmation class member referred to in the letter is a “good friend” who also was at odds with church teachings about same-sex marriage.

The incident has caused “a lot of embarrassment” for the church, LaMoine told The Forum on Friday, which is why he apologized for the actions of the family in the letter.

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