Minnesota voters will decide this November whether to approve a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman. Catholics are divided on the issue, which we have reported before (See Minnesota Catholics divided on marriage amendment and Minnesota gears up for November marriage vote), even though the leadership of the Minnesota church has spent a good chunk of change on keeping the defition of marriage traditional (See Knights of Columbus key contributor against same-sex marriage
One group of Catholics, who support marriage equality, have been praying publicly weekly about the matter. Tomorrow marks that groups sixth month of meetings. Read the following press release to get more of their story:
Catholic Prayer Group, Hushed but Undeterred, Completes Six Months Vigil against Marriage Amendment
St. Paul, Minn. — A group of Minnesota Catholics who dissent from the archdiocese’s position on the Marriage Amendment will celebrate six straight months of weekly prayer vigils inside the St. Paul Cathedral on Tuesday, October 23 at 6:00 pm. The gathering of 25 to 50 Catholics has continued its rosary vigil despite the order of silence imposed by the parish rector on April 17, the group’s first appearance in the Cathedral.
“That we were not allowed to pray out loud seemed ridiculous at first,” said Barb Frey, one of the group’s leaders. “But after a while we began to understand that our presence alone was a powerful way to express our dissent. We want to give courage to the many other Catholics who are doubting this unnecessary diversion of church resources away from the neediest. You are not alone.”
After a women’s retreat in February, the group of practicing Catholics decided that they wanted to demonstrate their opposition to the archdiocese’s active leadership against gay marriage. “We turned to prayer as we so often do when faced with pain or injustice,” said Marilyn Gates. “It has been a source of solace and hope for all of us.”
The vigil, which is framed by the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary that are signed to the group by an ASL interpreter, has established and maintained an unfaltering presence in the Cathedral each week, including members of various Twin Cities parishes as well as Catholics who have left the Church in protest of its harsh policies against gay and lesbian families.
This Tuesday’s vigil presence is expected to be large, but silent.
For more information, contact Barbara Frey, freyx001@gmail.com or Marilyn Gates, marilynagates@yahoo.com
