Tag Archives: President Obama

Outsiders calling out outsiders 2

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North Carolina’s two Catholic Bishops, Michael F. Burbidge of the Raleigh Diocese and Peter Jugis of the Charlotte Diocese, issued a statement responding to President Obama’s opposition to Amendment One. The Most Reverends wrote:

“As Catholics, we are FOR marriage, as we believe it is a vocation in which God calls couples to faithfully and permanently embrace a fruitful union in a mutual self-giving bond of love, according to His purposes. It is not only the union itself that is essential to these purposes, but also the life to which spouses are called to be open, the gift of children. Children have the right to the indispensable place of fatherhood and motherhood in their lives as they grow, are loved, nurtured and formed by those whose unique vocation it is to be a father and a mother through the bond of one man and one woman in marriage.”

Bishop Jugis is a native of Charlotte. Bishop Burbidge is from Philadelphia.

Yet both are “outsiders” to marriage, as Catholic Bishops have been called to the priesthood. I’m curious as to why Amendment One supporters are not calling them out, as they have done with other so called outsiders.

As an ecclesiastical leader, I differ with the Bishops interpretation of spiritual life. As someone who desires marriage equality for all, including myself, I differ with the Bishops “outside” view of marriage. I hope you will forgive them for their ignorance.

Outsiders calling out outsiders

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In the past week, a number of “outsiders” have spoken out against Amendment One.

First to come out, President Obama.

Now the California Democratic Party is joining the movement.

After each announcement, the voice of the pro-amendment movement Tami Fitzgerald, condemns the “outsiders” for meddling in North Carolina politics; Fitzgerald told the News and Observer:

“Their only hope is to recruit radical activists from liberal places like Hollywood to help them attempt to usurp the will of the people of North Carolina.”

“I believe President Obama has no business inserting himself into the people’s business here in North Carolina.”

Tami, an outsider herself, a native Oklahoman, is the chairwoman of the Vote for Marriage NC coalition. The coalition, the source of Fitzgerald’s employement, is funded in majority by outsiders, including the The National Organization for Marriage and the Heritage Foundation.

As a “native” – I must laugh at the hypocrisy.

Pres. Obama’s response to the Ides of Love

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A day after hundreds took to the streets in Raleigh to “say no to Amendment 1,” President Barack Obama is now speaking out against the amendment.

Cameron French, North Carolina Press Secretary for Obama for America, says Obama is opposed to the amendment, which is up for a vote on May 8.

“The record is clear that the President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same sex couples,” said French.

More at NBC-17.

Higher education can’t be a luxury

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When kids do graduate [from high school], the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.

We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; we’ll run out of money. States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.

So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury -– it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.

Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address.