Geoffrey Farrow, the former Fresno diocesan priest suspended from his parish for defying his bishop over Proposition 8, has gone into the marriage business – including providing “union ceremonies” for same-sex couples.
On his wedding website, the suspended priest is still pictured wearing a Roman collar. “As a Catholic Priest of 25 years, I also served as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force providing services for people of many different beliefs,” says Farrow in a message to prospective customers. “I enjoy providing weddings, blessings and civil unions for all couples, regardless of their beliefs. I want you to feel at ease and fully enjoy your special day.”
Farrow’s marriage business operates under the name “A Journey of Two Hearts” from 3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Studio City. He offers a Catholic Nuptial Mass for $750, and a simple Catholic marriage rite or a secular wedding service for $500.
When marriage can be described as a "business" you know it ceases to be a Sacrament, Father.
Look, this is not a rant against gay marriage. Truth be told, I don't really care, because I will continue to teach my children that marriage is only within the Sacrament of Matrimony in their Catholic faith, and that just like you can "play doctor", it doesn't bestow a medical degree on you.
No, my issue here is the Catholic priest - and for non-Catholics, please understand that when a priest has his faculties to operate as a priest in the Church, it does not "defrock" him and his ordination to the priesthood remains valid - who opts, knowingly and voluntarily, to take oaths of celibacy and obedience after some 7 years of seminary formation, thus schooled in the tenets of faith including the prohibition of gay marriage . . . and then throws it all away like yesterday's garbage because the Church won't conform to his standards, like some petulant child.
If you went to a university of note, you should be proud of your accomplishment. If you find out that there was widespread cheating, you should be angry with the ones who did that because they just degraded your degree as well. It has been tarnished through no fault of your own. It has lost value.
Likewise, when a priest goes bad, he drags down with him the honor of the priesthood. I have friends who are priests and who serve their vocation humbly. But because of bad priests, they have to live with suspicion and hatred that is undeserved. And this guy's ego serves to aggravate that situation.
Hence why I call him a dumb fuck, so if you don't like that language, sorry. But I will pray for him because more than the reputation of the Catholic priesthood is in danger here.
Sir Thomas More: Why Richard, it profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world... but for Wales?
-- A Man For All Seasons
Or $750?
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