HOME | DD
digitalgrace β
Priest in Union
by-nc-nd
Published: 2008-11-19 16:35:05 +0000 UTC; Views: 47076; Favourites: 1214; Downloads: 206
Redirect to original
Description
Father John Joseph Reid and Father Lawrence Turner are Catholic priest that fell in love with each other and married in Massachusetts. They now preside over the New Devine Mercy Catholic Communities. The opening statement of their website is listed below.In imitation of Jesus Christ, we welcome all people to worship and celebrate God's all-inclusive love with us. Whoever you are, where ever you are in your life, we thank you for choosing to be here with us today. Our Mission: To Extend God's Kingdom of Justice, Truth, Love and Peace. [link]
More than 1,000 people attended a rally at Fort Lauderdale City Hall protesting the passage of Amendment 2 in Florida and Proposition 8 in California, which discriminates against LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual ) people in The United States of America.
The protests were part of the βJoin the Impactβ [link] campaign to have a synchronized reaction of outrage across the country because of the passage of laws in Arizona, California and Florida defining marriage as an institution between a man and a woman only.
Proposition 8 in California and Amendment 2 in Florida have become a symbol of the struggle for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. It is also argued the laws will restrict rights to heterosexuals who are domestic partners and not married.
Related content
Comments: 1285
Fantastic image and a beautiful story, thank you for sharing.
π: 0 β©: 0
It's really nice to see the other side of the story.
I've seen too many pictures of religious people who are anti-LGBT. Those pictures make me cringe when they use the words "Jesus" and "God" to help support their cause. It makes it look as if every devout Christian is automatically anti-gay.
But, as your picture shows, that's really not the case at all. I'm one of those Christians who support gay-marriage. Thanks for sharing this with us, and being willing to endure the hate comments that I'm sure will follow from those who do not support what this picture symbolizes.
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm very happy to see this 
It's very positive and uplifting. To me, at least. Good to see such support.
π: 0 β©: 0
Great photo, gallery and good luck defending your views from the comments that are sure to come and have already showed up.
My take on LGBT rights in America:
As an observer looking into the problems America is facing Iβd have to say the LGBT rights problem is tied for best smoke screen ever created by a government and on par with the Berlin Olympics trying to hide the holocaust. I mean to completely focus on the rights of a few when the entire country is falling apart and slowly taking the rights away from all of its citizens takes real planning, to bad they didnβt use it on something a little more productive.
By the way I am in no means implying that the LGBT community doesnβt deserve rights, at all, Iβm actually really sickened at the fact that America doesnβt allow it but at the same Iβm not surprised.
Also if anyone actually replies to my comment, note that I wonβt answer you. I have other things to do.
π: 0 β©: 1
It's okay if you don't reply to this, but I just wanted to tell you I agree with you. You make a lot of sense. And that's coming from a gay American.
π: 0 β©: 1
wow okay i wasn't expecting anyone to agree with me, thank you.
π: 0 β©: 0
I know two men who have been married for 21 years <3
Times are changing!
π: 0 β©: 0
That's so lovely. C: And a wonderful story.
>_> I'm not going to join the debate on religion and homosexuality because I never thought religion was anything to set your life by. But hey, that's me.
I'll just say that this is a truly touching and inspiring piece.
π: 0 β©: 0
hummm
it seems... More and more Love and hate cannot be separated. What a sad world we live in.
Where is the problem if they love each other?
Where is the problem if people think it's wrong? like do they care...
Where is the problem: People are too lazy to think by themselves... they rather think like other peoples.
what a sad world we live in...
π: 0 β©: 0
from an ex-catholic pov this is exceedingly odd only because i'm surprised they havent been excommunicated. but as a lesbian all i have to say is KEEP FIGHTIN!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
You'll notice their church is "New Devine Mercy Catholic Communities". It's doubtful that they're in good standing with the church. I'd venture that they are probably already excommunicated.
But they may still practice as Catholics, just like the female priests in several of the churches in east US. Even so, the Roman Catholic Church does not consider them priests.
π: 0 β©: 0
That's hope right there.
Thank fucking God. I thought I'd never see the day.
π: 0 β©: 0
Such a beautiful and inspiring story!
Great job!!
π: 0 β©: 0
I love the sincerity on his face. A man of God who realizes there is more to life than living strictly to the word (at least this is what I see). When I saw the thumbnail on the daily deviation page, I saw his hands together and thought he was praying. With the full image, combined with his expression, I now see how he is pleading, imploring, for peace and understanding among people. This is what makes a message to God or to anyone genuine, in my opinion. You put your heart and soul and all your being into your cause and emotions and interactions and your message.
When I normally see clergymen, I see an outdated pride. With these figures, I see wise men who have lived life and know real pain, pain that cuts to the core of existance. Even without the rainbow flag, he still shows his passion for something more important than pride and greed, his passion of the heart.
I know one reason this deviation was chosen was it's context, of the protests and of photojournalism. I am a supporter of human rights (including gay rights, women's rights, men's rights, the bill of rights, and especially the right and freedom to love anyone no matter who they may be or for what reason the love evolves). This photo, however, is beyond human rights and politcal debates. This is a person who lives with all of his passion and power and being for what is right and true in his heart. Such a person, to me, is what people should try to aspire to be.
Thank you for this photo, and congratulations on your daily deviation.
π: 0 β©: 0
wow this is like really moving.
I love your gallery, makes me think about what is the right thing to do.
One time my teacher said the law is suppose to put the people first, not the other way around.
And also i think that is what Jesus did,he put the people first when he healed the sick on the Sabbath day. I think people should realize that love your neighbor like yourself is the main christian principle we should follow. After all. Isn't it out of love that God created this world?
Im a christian and as much conflicting this isssue is with my religion, we really have no right on condemning these people.
as they have said, we are all equal, we are all sinners. who are we the christians to tell the non-believers they will go to hell when we're not even sure if we will go to heaven?
π: 0 β©: 0
Awwww that's a cute story : )
π: 0 β©: 0
God loves without condition.
Yet we punish those who do the same.
It's perfectly acceptable for males to view two female lovers as 'hot', but if there is actual love involved, it's a different story.
There is a stigma attached to women finding two male lovers attractive, instinctively people respond with 'that's disgusting' - how is it any different to men drooling over two women?
Our society prides itself on freedom of self, yet viciously hinders those to try to live by the mantra of 'be yourself'
Any love that is truly love is beautiful. I am glad these two men of God have found happiness with one another
π: 0 β©: 1
I'm young, i have not studied the bible through and through... but i was taught against homosexuality. I was raised up so... and i personally do not agree with homosexuality.
I do,however, have gay friends and lesbian friends.... all of which choose to switch orientation. That's fine with me, they can choose to do what they want, but -i- shall not oppose my beliefs upon them and they shall not oppose theirs against me. Sure, to spread the word of God sometimes you need to speak boldly or loudly to gain someones attention. But you should never FORCE the word upon them. To me that is wrong. You shall speak of his word and if they so listen, continue to teach to them... if they protest let them rest in their own peace.
Something i see quite often is that so many people try to OVER analyze the bible for every little detail... and some of it you can't take literally anymore as times have changed and things have evolved. and i do believe that science has all but played a role in this... i'm not against it... but i AM saying that SOME of the reasons that people lack belief or take the bible literally is because they live in a scientific world... all of which has made numerous things different than in the days of the bible. i do not blame science at all but do not mistake science for faith.
and here's a story for you... my life personally... something i experienced...
when i was younger, going through hormonal stages and undecided of who i was or what i wanted to do... i was curious... and within a year or so of the curiosity i found myself to announce i was "Bi" ... i wasn't sure but i knew i was attracted to women and men... and within two years of that i felt i had found my "one true love" who happened to be a girl. She was my BEST friend i had ever had... never moved or ditched me like all my other friends. we stayed together and i believed it to be the best thing in my life... but that very same year... being with her... after a while things went down hill... not between her and i ...but with myself. i became depressed and numb to everything. i felt something i had never before. like i was lost and not sure where to go. I felt guilty for unapparent reasons, i felt i had lost something... and everytime i went to her house and spent the night, and yes we did SOME things, i cried... everytime. and after i while i started praying to God... i needed HIS help, i prayed for him to give me the right answer... and then one day i woke up and decided it was time to end things between her and me. I struggled for about 4 months to end things with her. We did at least 4 times and yet i still found myself crawling back to her... i'm not sure if it was lust, greed, infatuation, true love, or just because i didnt' want to break her heart. i KNEW she loved me. but i HAD to get out... and so finally we ended things, and that very night we did... i asked her to hold my hand as tears fell down my face and i prayed outloud to God. Only once did i ever screw up and go back to her and that one time i still regret and asked God to forgive. and to this day her and i are still best friends.. just moved on.
Within a few months later... i really DID meet the man of my life. We clicked instantly and it IS a long distance relationship and so it is hard but God has kept me strong. he has done so much for me and i'm so thankful the lord had put him in my path. i REALLY DO love this man. We have been together for about a year and 4 months or so, which isn't long but its been so worth it. i have a few more years waiting til i can completely be with him but i can wait for him. we've struggled but we know in our hearts its meant to be. and true, he is not a follower of God or a believer... and that's on my part, sure i'm unsure of it and hate to think my lover will burn in hell someday for not believing in Jesus, but that is my choice but he does not waver my belief in God. He doesnt oppose against me but he is happy i can have someone to look upon in time of need and that God gives me strength. and i am happy with him... if my loving him is a sin as he is not a believer, that is my error not anyone else's. but i wouldn't know if it was.
My last point is... deliberately going against God's word knowingly as such... IS A SIN! ... doing it everyday all the time... without once admitting its wrong or saying "hey Father i know it's wrong, sorry" that's just a sin... but God does forgive, and if its not too late you should always ask to be forgiven. I know i sin all the time, and i know what i can and can not change as sins. But i however, do not abuse his forgiving... i do not ask to be forgiven and then turn around and do the sin again for days on end. i would only ever ask if i TRULY was ready to commit it full heartedly and change my ways.
In the end GOD IS THE JUDGE! and he shall come... soon. the world IS falling apart, and there are too many ways to interpret things, too much interfering with God and worldy things, too much confusion and loss... God will come and he will judge, and he will take who HE chooses. alll you can do is at least have faith, and do what you know you can do and what you can commit to. let the rest lay in Gods hands, even if it seems a sin or not.
"<-<"
π: 0 β©: 2
It's a sin to you; many don't believe in God, or not in the way that you do. Your belief is simply that, a belief. There is just as much, if not more, reason NOT to believe in God as there is to believe in him. Therefore, while you blabber about the final judgement and forgiveness, others are trying to live their lives, and some people, like those who opposed Prop 8, are making that very, very hard.
So I must ask: you said "God kept me strong." Why is it so hard to say "I kept myself strong"? It disgusts me that you can have such little faith in yourself β that you must put the beauty in your own life to the glory of someone else. It is you who made the decisions, it is you who found what was right for you, and it was you who kept yourself strong. Take a little credit, or you will live in the shadows of others, God or man, until the day you die.
π: 0 β©: 1
it is a sin to me as i believe. if you don't, that's fine 
you are no different from me. just reverse. you believe in strength in onse self , in opinions, and your voice. We have difference but in the like are the same. just incorporate them differently.
and i may blabber on while others live their life, but i am breathing and doing the same... not much room to talk if you're gonna pause your life to read what i blabbed about
and in my belief he did. i will have people agree with me as they believe and i will have people who disagree like you. all the same we have our supporters and not. but we all have a choice and a voice. so why not use them. i could care less about someone's orientation. i'm just simply stating what i believe. just as you are.
and i never said i didn't help myself. i did but i needed someone else to give me the final push to help through what i was going through. in a state of such depression, i didnt' have the right mind to make too many right decisions. is that so hard for you to just accept. you werent in my shoes. and sometimes it takes someone outside the box to tip it over.
π: 0 β©: 1
That is a reply to be proud of.
We are very different people, and I will leave you to be who you are.
π: 0 β©: 1
thank you... i do believe in equality and what a person wants and need is to their desires and no one else's 
">->" but thank you for making things clearer
π: 0 β©: 1
If there were more Christians like you, the world would be a better place.
π: 0 β©: 1
well i'm not so sure about that 
">->"
π: 0 β©: 0
That's lovely n' all, but you can't choose or switch your orientation.
π: 0 β©: 1
well true you can't... no one's really born straight or gay or bi.... you just decide as you grow. just scientifically, which probably isn't the best word, it's not natural... i meant more as male and female to reproduce 
">->"
π: 0 β©: 2
xD
Well, I guess you could say you're not born with a preference since you don't develop real attractions until puberty... But it is natural to be gay just as it's natural to be straight, in the matter of love, yes.
However women are not just for having babies. :]
Just bear that in mind when you think it's not natural just because we need to reproduce. Also, you can reproduce without sex. And there are a lot of gay people who have life partners to have children with, know what I mean?
But my point is you can't decide your orientation, even as you grow. A six year old male child who has a crush on his best guy friend is gay or bi, no questions asked, just as a twenty year old male with a boyfriend is gay or bi, no questions asked.
I myself have experience in that area.
π: 0 β©: 1
cute 
"O-o"
π: 0 β©: 1
Welll some people know and some people, y'know, find out. 
But yeah, it's not so much that people "decide", it's that they find out at different times.
On another note, you don't know how refreshing this conversation is. I'm so used to bigots and outright morons; to have an actual, intelligent conversation with someone actually willing to try out different viewpoints is great. Thank you so much. TT-TT
π: 0 β©: 1
and i've always been one for view points. sure i wish that i could save more people but if people simply dont' want to, that's fine. so long as they are happy in their life and world, then i'm happy. Sure maybe i should be a better Christian, i'm definitely not your Ideal one
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah, we're all human, we all make mistakes. No biggie. And don't worry about being 'an ideal Christian'; I always thought of ideal people as generally accepting and tolerant, which you seem to be. So yeah, as long as you're happy and they're happy and no one is dying or getting their feelings hurt, everyone is good.
> 3 > Exploring religions is always fun. I'm somewhere between Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism.
π: 0 β©: 1
yeps we do
and well jeez, aren't you just indecisive
π: 0 β©: 1
Iiinteresting! I think it's Feng Shui, but I haven't seen/read the word in years.
Yeah, I'm totally indecisive. It's one of the bigger faults of my personality; can't decide what book/DVD/game to buy, can't decide what to save for... I'm such a fun person.
π: 0 β©: 1
i'm indecisive toooooo
"<-<"
π: 0 β©: 0
Not really, there're homosexual animals as well, there's nothing more natural than animals.
And that's scientific too.
One thing is the need to reproduce, the other thing is the instinct of "pleasure" and, let's say, love, and that doesn't understand of genres.
π: 0 β©: 1
true... as i said scientific wasn't the best word. but i do realize reproducing isn't the only thing there is to laugh 
">.<"
π: 0 β©: 2
Nah, don't worry, at least you're not one of those religious hypocrites who don't want to hear every single thing they don't believe of.
π: 0 β©: 1
hehe well i never thought that Christians like that were the nicest of people... its one thing to get someone to take a moment and listen to what you have to say and if they are interested continute... and another to just FORCE everything onto a person. People are free.. in my religion God gave people a choice... and they WILL use it no matter what you say. sure i'll preach or try to spread the word.. but why waste your breathe on those who willingly choose so to be deaf
π: 0 β©: 1
not laugh... life* i must have had the giggles XD
π: 0 β©: 0
I personally don't care if these men are homosexual, but if they're saying that love and marriage is sacred, then I also agree. (I can't believe that Prop. 8 didn't passed in California. That's just sad.)
π: 0 β©: 1
It was the opposite, unfortunately; Prop. 8 did pass, and the proposition changed the state's constitution so that marriage in California may only be between a man and a woman.
π: 0 β©: 1
Sorry, I typed too fast. I meant that it did passed so yeah, I'm disappointed, too. But I'm kinda working on a class group project of mine that's trying to create a new prop. that will satisfy both sides. I called it: Prop. 8 1/2. Yeah, I know, the name is silly. It's due tomorrow so wish me luck on my presentation.
π: 0 β©: 1
That sounds like a daunting assignment. Good luck.
π: 0 β©: 1
I just finished it this morning and presented it. I hate politics.
π: 0 β©: 0
<= Prev | | Next =>