Small group protests Archdiocese's same-sex marriage DVD

Protest
Outside the Cathedral of St. Paul on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010, about two dozen Catholics protested the Archdiocese's mailing of DVDs that urge parishioners to oppose same-sex marriage.
MPR Photo/Rupa Shenoy

A group of Catholics who oppose the church's mailing of DVDs opposing same-sex marriage protested outside the Cathedral of St. Paul on Sunday.

About two dozen demonstrators held signs with messages supporting same-sex marriage.

The Catholic Church in Minnesota mailed the "Preserving Marriage in Minnesota" DVD to 400,000 parishioners late last month. The DVD reiterates the Catholic Church's position that marriage should be between one man and one woman.

Church member and protester Deb Bittner said she wants people to know there are Catholics who disagree.

"I think we're all a bunch of Catholics who are very liberal [but] still feel Catholic," Bittner said. "People will say to me 'Why don't you just leave,' but you know this is my church and lay people should have a voice in the church."

Bittner said the demonstrators haven't tried to talk to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the archdiocese hasn't contacted them. A spokesman for the archdiocese said they stand behind the DVD, and also support gay people, just not same-sex marriage.

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