A 17-year-old Roman Catholic teen in
Minnesota has been denied confirmation over his support for gay
marriage.
Lennon Cihak was denied the religious
rite after the Rev. Gary LaMoine at the Assumption Church in
Barnesville, Minnesota found a pro-marriage equality post on Cihak's
Facebook page.
Lennon posted a photo of himself
holding a defaced Minnesota for Marriage sign supporting passage of a
failed constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual
couples. The word “NO” was written over “YES,” and the
phrase “Marriage One Man, One Woman” was replaced with “Equal
Marriage Rights One [blank], One [blank].”
According
to the AP, Lennon was denied confirmation in mid-October.
“You kind of know the Catholic
beliefs, but I never thought they would deny somebody confirmation
because you weren't 100 percent,” said Lennon's mother, Shana
Cihak. “I guess that's what shocks me.”
Mrs. Cihak said her son had prepared
for his confirmation this year by going to church every week and
volunteering around the community.
Lennon said others in his confirmation
class had “liked” the photo without facing retribution.
“I just thought it was wrong to
single him out,” Mrs. Cihak said.
Mr. Cihak said the family has been told
it can no longer participate in Communion at the church.
Lennon supported his faith, saying it
was LaMoine who was being too strict.
“He won't loosen up about things,”
he said.