Ordinance designed to advance gay 'rights' overturned by voters
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Fr. Andrew Wesley speaking at a rally against the "human rights" ordinance

Hamtramck, Mich., Nov 6, 2008 / 05:11 am (CNA).- Voters in the town of Hamtramck, Michigan have overturned an ordinance which would have given legal protections to homosexual behavior, expression and attire. The regulations could also have forced businesses to permit men who perceive themselves as women to use women’s restrooms.

Any attempts to prevent such activity, according to the Thomas More Law Center, would have subjected violators to investigations, criminal prosecution, civil litigation, and fines of up to five hundred dollars a day.

The proposal, labeled as a “human rights” ordinance, was defeated 2,903 votes to 2,333.

Father Andrew Wesley, the administrator of St. Ladislaus Parish in Hamtramck and one of the leaders in the fight against the ordinance, wrote a letter published last week in Hamtramck’s The Citizen newspaper supporting overturning the ordinance and denying that the Catholics and Muslims in the town were being intolerant by opposing the measure.

Ordinance opponents knew that “this type of legislation has been used successfully by gay groups in other parts of the country to bring lawsuits against businesses because physical males were refused entrance into women’s restrooms,” Father Wesley’s letter said.

He added that the wording of the ordinance has also been used to bring lawsuits against Catholic adoption agencies which refused to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center, commented on the ordinance opponents’ election victory.

“Radical homosexual groups have lost statewide attempts to impose their agenda on the public,” he said. “They are now engaged in a strategy of putting pressure on municipalities –in many cases successfully – to enact draconian provisions like Hamtramck’s.  In this case their new strategy failed as the will of the people prevailed.”

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Lily
Utah 11/11/2008 01:21 PM EST
Jeffrey - the success of prop 8 would suggest that Fr. Wesley's views are NOT unpopular! Keep the faith! God never promised it would be easy, remember? Just worth it. And don't forget, we are working for the next life, so we will be rewarded then!
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Published by: Jeffrey
Sacramento, Ca., U.S.A. 11/10/2008 07:54 AM EST
It is heartening to see a priest take a stand for what is right even when it is unpopular. Please pray that our rather timorous bishops will follow suit. Tim, you assert that Fr. Wesley's stand has split the Catholic community. Well it is his duty to preach the truth when it needs to be preached regardless of splits or controversy by those who should acceept it. And if he found allies among the Islamics, then the Islamics are right on this issue.
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Published by: Ronnie
Brooklyn, NY, USA 11/09/2008 01:11 PM EST
Is Tim suggesting to be open minded we have to accept sin?...Love, tolerance and peace does not reflect sin. And who are the real bigots, intolerant close minded people but those who want to impose the wages of sin? Remember the wages of sin are death. Love the sinner, yes, but hate the sin....
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Published by: Jackie
Philly/PA/USA 11/08/2008 11:48 AM EST
The only people dividing the church are Catholics such as Tim who refuse to abide by thousands-of-years-old teachings of the Catholic Church. Jesus certainly did not preach it's okay to commit sin. Give me a break and either live by your church's teachings from of old.
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Published by: Tim
Hamtramck/MI/USA 11/07/2008 11:36 AM EST
Another example of why open minded young people like my wife and me have stopped going to Catholic Church after 12 years of Catholic education...and stopped giving money. I thought Jesus taught love, tolerance, and peace. All I heard from Andrew Wesley was hate and bigotry. This issue has split the Catholic community in Hamtramck, and that's not what we need. His St. Ladislaus Church will be the next Catholic Church to close, and probably become a Mosque. I was present when Resurrection Church was sold to an Islamic center, and watched as they sledge hammered the cross off the peak of the roof. Maybe Wesley's new friends, The Islamic Extremists he partnered with, will help spread the word of Jesus Christ. This was a civil matter to prevent discrimination in housing and employment. Opponents chose to scare people by lying about cross-dressing, child molesting, public and nudity.
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