You will be distressed at my decision, but not surprised. We have spoken about this possibility for some time now. In fact, I suspect you would join me if you did not have such a valuable mission in this vibrant community. I will still volunteer for the children's programs, and remain involved in activism, but I can no longer participate in the one rite that binds me to the Catholic Church. I cannot swallow the bile another day. I cannot look up at the altar when you read the gospel, give a homily that is so beautiful, it makes me weep, raise the chalice we believe is to be shared by everyone. I cannot bear the thought of you being driven from your ministry when the bishop discovers you are gay.

Hatred fueled by the resources of hundreds of thousands of parishes will be the central reason why the Church will eventually wither and die. I can no longer bear the stench of the rotting body and hierarchical ignorance. I can no longer embrace what has become a menace and money machine to support evil. We are all tainted by what happened in Maine. We are all lesser citizens because our brothers and sisters are lesser citizens.

We remain joined in friendship and common cause, my dear friend. I will need your counsel in this dark time because I feel hatred bubbling in my thoughts. I do not want to be them. Bless you, dear Andrew.

With great affection,

M.

The Catholic Church was a leading supporter of the repeal campaign, even asking parishes to pass a second collection plate at Sunday mass to help the cause.

NYT

This article was a sidebar under the blaring headlines about the gubernatorial, mayoral and NY-23 articles. It numbed me that an indicia of hatred was but a sidebar.

Update: Blessings for all of you who have offered a safe-haven in your religious communities which are free from hatred. Your "parishes" are beacons of hope. I am remaining a member of my community as it relates to social and environmental justice. We have incredible men and women who are atheists, agnostics, Jews, Muslims, and probably Wiccans. Each is here not for the ideology of the Catholic Church; rather, for the positive impact on the lives of those who have either been maligned or forgotten.

I join hands with you in sisterhood/brotherhood so that our common cause will defeat hatred and indifference. Peace.