Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of
Springfield has declared it a sin for gay men and women to enter a
civil marriage.
In a
press release announcing an event next Wednesday to counter
Governor Pat Quinn's planned ceremony to sign a bill legalizing gay
nuptials in Illinois, Paprocki stated that “since same-sex marriage
is contrary to the plan of God, those who contract civil same-sex
marriage are culpable of serious sin.”
Politicians who enacted the legislation
are “morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave
sin,” he added.
Paprocki, a vocal opponent of the law,
added: “It is scandalous that so many Catholic politicians are
responsible for enabling the passage of this legislation and even
twisting the words of the pope to rationalize their actions despite
the clear teaching of the church. All politicians now have the moral
obligation to work for the repeal of this sinful and objectionable
legislation. We must pray for deliverance from this evil which has
penetrated our state and our church.”
Paprocki will offer “Prayers of
Supplication and Exorcism in Reparation for the Sin of Same-Sex
Marriage” at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in
Springfield at approximately the same time Quinn signs the marriage
bill into law.