Brooklyn Bishop: Ban All Pro-Gay Lawmakers From Catholic Places

Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio is telling the Catholic schools and churches in his diocese to ban all visits from pro-gay state legislators.

DiMarzio, the leader of the Brooklyn diocese, has urged the Catholic institutions to decline donations and speaking engagements from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and any lawmaker who voted "yes" on the bill legalizing same-sex marriages. Calling New York's passage of gay marriage "another 'nail in the coffin' of marriage," DiMarzio issued a statement two days after the New York gay marriage bill was approved by the Legislature demanding that "all pastors and principals to not invite any state legislator to speak or be present at any parish or school celebration." The Catholic bishop also said the church should now speak more "forcefully and clearly" against gay marriage.

I'd like to see the Brooklyn diocese's list of top annual donors, just to cross-reference them with New York City's known mob-connected murderers and organized crime figures. Wanna bet there's a lot of names of both lists?

BROOKLYN: Catholic School Rejects Gift From Gay-Friendly Politician

New York state Assemblyman Joe Lentol voted in favor of same-sex marriage. Which means a Brooklyn Catholic school has to send back his $50 donation.

Officials at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg sent back a $50 gift from Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn) - following Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's edict to refuse any honors from pols who backed same-sex marriage. DiMarzio also told pastors and principals not to invite any state lawmakers to speak - whether or not they voted for the bill - because the diocese objects to the bill's dead-of-night approval. Lentol said he's been giving small donations around graduation time at the church's Queen of the Rosary Academy for the last 20 years - and was "disappointed" to have it sent back last week. "This was a civil issue involving equality for all people," Lentol said.

A diocese spokesman endorsed sending the money back, saying it was "preposterous" for his school to give pro-gay people a platform.