[Not] Breaking news; Catholic church still hateful

[Angrboda]

Funny, because in the other thread you seemed to think the Pope DID have that power. Make up your mind.

Boru

Do you have any concept of the word "Nuance"?

The Pope/Vatican does have power and influence. But not in any western government law making power. 

He only has power over those who follow him. Nobody in the open free west is mandated by government to worship him or his religion. He has no power over same sex couples. 

His proclaiming the Vatican cannot bless same sex unions because "it is a sin" is an attempt for that institution to assert power over others.

Documents presented in a federal court case over same-sex marriages has exposed deep involvement by religious groups in a 2008 referendum that overturned such unions in California.

Lawyers David Boies and Theodore Olson have teamed up in court to argue that the California vote to deny marriage rights to same-sex couples violates the U.S. Constitution. The partnership raised eyebrows because the two come from opposite sides of the political spectrum. Boies is known for his liberal views, and Olson served as solicitor general in the administration of President George W. Bush.

Boies and Olson have filed the litigation in a federal court based in San Francisco. With the trial moving forward, the two have sought to show the discriminatory character of the same-sex marriage ban, including the extent of church involvement in outlawing such marriages in California.

Golden State voters narrowly approved Proposition 8 in November of 2008. The state constitutional amendment overturned a ruling by the California Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage.

Boies and Olson have introduced into evidence memos and e-mails that show how leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) worked in concert to win passage of Prop. 8.

For example, the executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sent an e-mail to bishops and a cardinal pointing out that Catholics had played a prominent role in lining up volunteers and donating money to win a spot for Prop. 8 on the ballot, reported the Los Angeles Times.

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The documents, the legal Web site went on to report, “also shed some light on the Prop 8 campaign’s finances.” They show, for example, that the campaign to gather signatures to get Prop. 8 on the ballot cost $1.5 million.

Reported law.com, “The bulk of that money came from the LDS church, the Catholic Church in San Diego, a foundation run by wealthy conservative Howard Ahmanson, and assorted small donors.”

(link)