To: Most Rev. Thomas J. Paprocki, Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield
Tell Illinois Bishop: Don't respond to marriage equality with exorcism
Holding an exorcism in response to the enactment of marriage equality is no way to show Christ's love to the world. Please cancel this political stunt and reconsider your public ministry for the Pope Francis era.
Why is this important?
As U.S. Catholic bishops are struggling to adapt to Pope Francis's vision for a more inclusive and welcoming Catholic Church, one Illinois bishop thinks he knows exactly what the pope would want him to do: Blame marriage equality on the devil and schedule an "exorcism" at the same time the governor signs it into law.
According to Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Illinois legislature is "morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin … We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church."
While other Catholics are working to put service to the poor and broken at the center of the church's ministry, Bishop Paprocki is embarrassing the church with a pointless political stunt, staging what he's calling "prayers of supplication and exorcism in reparation for the sin of same-sex marriage."
According to Bishop Thomas Paprocki, the Illinois legislature is "morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin … We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has penetrated our state and our church."
While other Catholics are working to put service to the poor and broken at the center of the church's ministry, Bishop Paprocki is embarrassing the church with a pointless political stunt, staging what he's calling "prayers of supplication and exorcism in reparation for the sin of same-sex marriage."