Diocese bans Sheehan appearance

[The Straight Story]

Diocese bans Sheehan appearance
The nationally famed critic of the Iraq War brings her message to Scranton.


SCRANTON – Cindy Sheehan, nationally known anti-war protester, spoke in front of the Scranton Diocese Chancery Building and the Lackawanna County Courthouse in downtown Scranton on Friday afternoon after the diocese refused to let her speak in any church-owned facility.

Organizers from New York such as Jack Gilroy, originally from Carbondale, attempted to find several venues for her to speak at, including non-religious venues like the Electric Theatre Company, but were unable to do so in time. Sheehan opted instead to bring her message to Courthouse Square.

“I’ve been banned from the White House, but I’ve never been banned from a city before,” Sheehan joked.

“The Diocese respects Ms. Sheehan’s right to speak about the issues involving the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq,” the diocese said in a statement released just before her speech.

“The reason she cannot be given a forum inside a Church facility is because she supports positions that are contrary to Church teaching, in particular her support for abortion rights and same-sex marriage.”

http://www.timesleader.com/news/Diocese_bans_Sheehan_appearance_04-09-2010.html

[SoxFan]

1. Scranton again

One of the most right-wing dioceses in the country.

I've never heard Sheehan mention abortion or gay marriage, to tell you the truth.

I wonder if they'll ban Republicans who oppose church teaching on capital punishment or the preferential option for the poor.

[movonne]

9. Well you can be a child abuser or do they ban them...I have not

seen that happen yet...oh I see you can have sexual relations with little boys but you can't marry them..

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Plus I hear she's opposed to child abuse.

[Cleita]

4. Good one!

:thumbsup:

[Cleita]

3. Pretty sad since until Cindy became an anti-war activist, she was active as a

lay Catholic from what I understand. Casey was supposed to be a chaplain's assistant when he went into the military. Anyway, it shows how the Church turns its back on you when you actually really do start following your conscience and doing what you believe is the moral thing.

[hobbit709]

5. I would consider being banned by the church(any church) an honor.

[no_hypocrisy]

6. John Cardinal O'Connor was the bishop from the Scranton diocese.

He replaced Terence Cardinal Cooke and was replaced by Edward Cardinal Eagan in the New York Diocese.

He was very strict in defending The Church and its rules. He was very much Scranton mentality in The Big Apple.

Joe Biden must have grown up in that diocese, but he doesn't impress me as having adopted its inflexibility and dogmatic approach to life.

[walldude]

7. So abortion and same-sex marriage BAD

Child Molestation GOOD! Ok thanks we got it now... :eyes:

[peacetalksforall]

8. I think I prefer NO politicas inside any church. And no church inside any

public funded building. Land plus church or public owned open spaces.

[Luminous Animal]

10. Church's lease out their facilities for secular events all the time.

[kgnu_fan]

11. Church went astray from the teaching of Jesus

[CanonRay]

12. So Peace is officially against Church teaching?

Well, that's quite a statement. :wtf: