If gay rights and feminist groups get their way, a Spanish cardinal may get prosecuted for hate speech over comments he recently made – while giving a homily.
Cardinal Antonio Cañizares, the Archbishop of Valencia, gave a homily on May 13 in which he said:
“The family is being stalked today, in our culture, by endlessly grave difficulties, while it suffers serious attacks, which are hidden from no one.”
He continued: “We have legislation contrary to the family, the acts of political and social forces, to which are added movements and acts by the gay empire, by ideologies such as radical feminism, or the most insidious of all, gender ideology.
“When the family is attacked or is diminished, the most sacred forms of human relationship are perverted.”
Nevermind that he was speaking exclusively within his capacity as a Catholic prelate. Nevermind that he was preaching from his own pulpit. Nevermind that his words on gender ideology and the family echo none other than Pope Francis.
According to the groups targeting Cardinal Cañizares, this is hate speech. And it must be punished.
Hopefully the Spanish authorities will have the sense to reject the crazed demands of the extremists who want the cardinal prosecuted.
But what about here in America? Could it happen here? Could we soon see the day when an American prelate who proclaims the teaching of his Church is prosecuted for “hate speech”?
Oh come on, no way. That’s just being alarmist. It can’t happen here. Look, we know it’s bad, but it’s not going to get that bad. This is still America. No way, no how. We Americans have the First Amendment. We protect free speech like nobody else. It’s. Not. Going. To. Happen.
Ah yes, free speech. Just like freedom of religion. That’s in the First Amendment too. How’s that working out for you?
The truth is that the enemies of the Church in America are succeeding in their effort to relegate freedom of religion to the status of an antiquated, somewhat embarrassing, national sentiment whose prominence in the Constitution, while demanding their lip service, no longer commands any actual allegiance as a foundational tenet of the Republic. Oh sure, says the Left, we’ll keep speaking in hushed and reverent tones about freedom of religion, but here’s the reality: if it’s ever a contest between your freedom of religion and someone else’s desire not to be offended or even slightly inconvenienced by your religious beliefs, well sorry, but you’ll just have to be a good little citizen and play by the new rules.
Oh, and if you’re a doctor or hospital who operates according to religious beliefs, those new rules might also require you to perform abortions. But you still can believe whatever you want.
So go ahead, say I’m being alarmist, or simplistic, or hot-headed when I say there’s only one Supreme Court vacancy between the pulpit and the prison cell. Say it won’t happen here in America. Go ahead, laugh.
Because you’re probably the same guy who laughed at me five years ago when I said gay marriage would be legal in all fifty states by 2020.
You were right. I was way off.