The Bishop of Wollongong has postponed the controversial anti-same sex marriage talk planned to be held at St Therese Catholic Primary School’s hall tonight in the wake of the horrific Orlando massacre.
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On Tuesday afternoon, Bishop Peter Ingham said the talk on the “impacts’’ of same-sex marriage – which outraged some parents and others in the community – would be “better suited for another time”.
Members of Wollongong’s LGBTQI community had planned to protest the anti same-sex marriage talk, but decided to hold a vigil in an effort to “demonstrate that hate does not equal hate”.
Bishop Ingham said he had contacted Unity Wollongong to accept their invitation to join in their peaceful vigil for the victims of the Florida mass killing and offered for the event to be held inside the St Therese gates.
“Our primary call to action today is to stand together as the Illawarra community in solidarity against violence,” he said in a statement (see below).
“While concerns remain about the implications of changing the definition of civil marriage, I believe that, in the interests of compassion and sensitivity to all who are mourning the tragic events in Orlando, this conversation would be better suited for another time, and therefore tonight’s presentation has been postponed.
“I am calling on those who were planning to attend the AFA presentation also to join me in peace and solidarity.”
He said Pope Francis had described the Orlando massacre as “homicidal folly and senseless hatred” and asked Catholics to join in prayer and compassion for families of victims and the injured.
“We as a global Catholic Church community also know what it is to lose members of our community to hateful violence,” Bishop Ingham said.
“We must stand in prayerful solidarity with victims and all who are mourning the tragic and senseless loss of human life.”
Full statement from Bishop Peter Ingham
I join Pope Francis today and the entire Catholic community in expressing my horror and condemnation of the recent attack in Orlando, USA, which the Vatican has aptly described as “homicidal folly and senseless hatred”.
Pope Francis has asked that we join in prayer and compassion for the families of the victims and all the injured. Every human being is unique, irreplaceable, created in God’s image and loved by God. We as a global Catholic Church community also know what it is to lose members of our community to hateful violence. We must stand in prayerful solidarity with victims and all who are mourning the tragic and senseless loss of human life.
In my statement last week in relation to the Australian Family Association (AFA) presentation planned for St Therese West Wollongong tonight, I echoed Pope Francis’ description of Jesus “who set forth a demanding ideal yet never failed to show compassion and closeness to the frailty of individuals”.
Our primary call to action today is to stand together as the Illawarra community in solidarity against violence. While concerns remain about the implications of changing the definition of civil marriage, I believe that, in the interests of compassion and sensitivity to all who are mourning the tragic events in Orlando, this conversation would be better suited for another time, and therefore tonight’s presentation has been postponed.
UNITY Wollongong has invited us to join a vigil outside the gates of St Therese West Wollongong tonight at 7.00pm. I have contacted UNITY to accept their invitation. After consultation with the Parish Priest, Fr David O’Brien, we have offered for the vigil to be held inside the gates of St Therese to ensure a safe event.
I will be attending tonight’s vigil and I am calling on those who were planning to attend the AFA presentation also to join me in peace and solidarity. We pray for the victims and their families, and for peace in an increasingly dangerous world.
Most Rev Peter W Ingham, DD BISHOP OF WOLLONGONG
