White House petitioned to label Catholic Church a 'hate group'

[rug]

By Michelle Bauman

Washington D.C., Jan 4, 2013 / 04:09 am (CNA/EWTN News).- An online petition asking the White House to designate the Catholic Church as a “hate group” for its views on marriage is drawing criticism for generating unjust animosity.

The petition reveals an “underlying agenda,” which is not simply to prevent violent crimes, but to “stigmatize any disapproval of homosexuality at all and essentially to silence us,” said Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C.

He explained to CNA on Jan. 3 that applying the “hate group” label to organizations that are morally opposed to redefining marriage is simply “name-calling designed to cut us out of the public debate.”

Initiated on Christmas Day, a petition on the White House website had collected 1,640 signatures by Jan. 3.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/white-house-petitioned-to-label-catholic-church-a-hate-group/

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/officially-recognize-roman-catholic-church-hate-group/CZB81hWK

It's at about 2,000 now.

If it ever succeeded it would present an interesting dilemma. More than half the Catholics in the 113th Congressare Democrats.

[Lionessa]

1. No real dilemma. Seems the WH is quite okay with

ignoring the petitions they don't want to deal with, like the re-classify marijuana one, iirc.

[rug]

2. I haven't been following the petitions too closely.

Has any action been taken on any of them?

[eShirl]

3. or like the petition to allow everyone to punch Grover Norquist once,

"squarely in the d!ck"

[Gman]

4. I wouldn't be surprised to find out some DU'er started the petition.

Seriously. If you watch the Religion forum you know what I'm talking about.

[rug]

5. I'm almost tempted to post the link to count the recs.

[Gman]

6. It'll top the greatest page in no time.

[JNelson6563]

7. How stupid.

Aren't many churches formally against gay marriage? Wouldn't that make all with such policy "hate groups"?

That Catholicism is singled out speaks volumes. Really sad to see so many working hard to further divisions. That's the one sure way to prevent progress.

Julie

[rug]

8. That's a good point. The political question, as always, is "cui bono?"

Religion is always susceptible to being a political football. And the sides keep changing.