Tuesday, May 31, 2011

NSW priest slams Vatican

SX News
A NSW Catholic priest facing disciplinary action for expressing his support for marriage equality has slammed the Vatican for its attempts to censor him. 

Amid cheers of support at a rally for marriage equality in Sydney on Saturday, Father Joseph Sedjrari, a 12-year parish priest, criticised the Vatican for reprimanding him for committing the “crime of thought”.

“It is still criminal for the Church to think for yourself,” Sedjrari told the crowd. “Moreover, it’s even more criminal to say something.”

Sedjrari’s comments follows a letter he received from his bishop, ordering him to recant an email he sent to parliamentarians in February stating his support for marriage equality.

In that email, Sedjrari said he believed that “most Catholics are in support of equality for same-sex couples to marry the person they love”.

“I’m currently not allowed to marry same-sex couples under Australian law but given the chance, I would value any opportunity to bring any two loving adults together in married life,” the message read.

A few weeks later, Sedjrari said he was contacted by his bishop who he claims was contacted by the Christian lobby over the email.

“The angry bishop stated, ‘Unfortunately, the content of your email has become widely known and is cause for scandal’. I was ordered to recant my opinion and face disciplinary action,” Sedjrari said.

“I was glad to face whatever disciplinary action that comes just because I have committed the crime of thought.”

Sedjrari slammed the Vatican for its attempts at silencing parishioners on “hot topics” such as women priests, priestly marriage, abortion and euthanasia.

“However, the worst of the worst of all thought crimes a priest can commit is to actually say something about marriage equality,” he said.

Sedjrari, who has worked within the Catholic Church for two decades, urged rally participants not to become complacent.

“Please do not think for a moment that equality will just happen over time. The Christian lobbies are there working hard to make sure it won’t happen. Please get involved with whatever organisation you think is really enhancing civil liberties, civil rights, human rights and equality. I came here to reiterate this year’s Mardi Gras message: ‘say something’.”