'Marriage equality exorcism' a bizarre comedy of verbal contradictions

Paprocki

On the same day last month in which Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed that state's marriage equality bill into law,  Illinois Bishop Thomas Paprocki held what was called an exorcism of the law at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

To tell the truth, I really didn't pay attention to this event because I found it silly. However, I read a snippet from what a site, Catholic Vote, highlighted what it called "12 Must-Read Quotes" from his homily.

If Catholic Vote meant to highlight these quotes in order to praise Paprocki, the site failed miserably. Let's look at some of the "must-read" quotes along with a few comments of my own:

The fact is that a “minor exorcism” takes place in every Baptism and Confirmation ceremony when we renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises. This prayer service will be along those lines. I’m not saying that anyone involved in the redefinition of marriage is possessed by the devil, which, if that were the case, would require the remedy of a “Major Exorcism,” but all of us are certainly subject to the devil’s evil influences and in need of protection and deliverance from evil.

Whew!

Our prayer service today and my words are not meant to demonize anyone, but are intended to call attention to the diabolical influences of the devil that have penetrated our culture, both in the state and in the Church. These demonic influences are not readily apparent to the undiscerning eye, which is why they are so deceptive.

Okay, now I'm confused.

The deception of the Devil in same-sex marriage may be understood by recalling the words of Pope Francis when he faced a similar situation as Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 2010. Regarding the proposed redefinition of civil marriage in Argentina, then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio wrote on June 22, 2010, “The Argentine people must face, in the next few weeks, a situation whose result may gravely harm the family. It is the bill on matrimony of persons of the same sex. The identity of the family, and its survival, are in jeopardy here: father, mother, and children. The life of so many children who will be discriminated beforehand due to the lack of human maturity that God willed them to have with a father and a mother is in jeopardy. A clear rejection of the law of God, engraved in our hearts, is in jeopardy. . . . Let us not be naive: it is not a simple political struggle; it is an intention [which is] destructive of the plan of God. It is not a mere legislative project (this is a mere instrument), but rather a ‘move’ of the father of lies who wishes to confuse and deceive the children of God.”   The Pope’s reference to the “father of lies” comes from the Gospel of John (8:44), where Jesus refers to the devil as “a liar and the father of lies.” So Pope Francis is saying that same-sex “marriage” comes from the devil and should be condemned as such.

Okay, so it is a major exorcism . . .

The work of discouragement by the Devil in same-sex marriage is apparent in the message being conveyed to defenders of traditional marriage that the universal redefinition of marriage is unstoppable, so we might as well just stop trying. But the legalization of abortion on demand forty years ago did not silence those who believe that abortion is contrary to God’s law. On the contrary, Roe v. Wade only heightened the need for more concerted efforts to protect all human life from conception to natural death. So, too, the legal redefinition of civil marriage does not put an end to the need for discourse and action to defend natural marriage in accord with God’s plan, but only serves to heighten the need for greater efforts in this regard.

Are you surprised? Of course he was going to tie abortion in this sucker somehow.

Politicians responsible for enacting civil same-sex marriage legislation are morally complicit as co-operators in facilitating this grave sin.

That's right. Paprocki is even exorcising civil marriage which has nothing to do with the church because . . . well what the hell. 

We must also affirm the teaching of the Catholic Church that homosexual persons “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.

I checked Paprocki's homily in its uncut version and confirmed that yes, after talking about the Devil and implying that marriage equality is Satanically influenced, he included this lovely CYA statement of how lgbts must be "treated with respect, compassion, and sensitivity." Paprocki probably felt that talking nice about lgbts before throwing out all of that stuff about Satan would have seemed hypocritical instead of what it looks like now, which is . . . hypocritical. Okay wait a minute . . .

Paprocki's attempt to play both sides of the fence leaves me conflicted about his "exorcism. And more importantly, it makes me wonder will laughing at it cause me to look like Linda Blair in The Exorcist and spit pea soup? Because not only do I despise pea soup, but green is not my color.