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U.S. NEWS Monday 3 June 2019

Bishop faces backlash after

tweet about Pride Month

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — “I regret that my comments community in Rhode Is-
Rhode Island’s Roman yesterday about Pride land,” he wrote.
Catholic bishop on Sunday Month have turned out to Tobin is a conservative
defended a tweet urging be so controversial in our bishop who has said that
Catholics to not support or community, and offensive he was aware of incidents
attend LGBTQ Pride Month to some, especially the gay of sexual abuse reported to
events, saying it was his ob- community,” Tobin said. church officials while work-
ligation to teach the faith “That certainly was not my ing in Pennsylvania, but
“clearly and compassion- intention, but I understand that it wasn’t his job to deal
ately, even on very difficult why a good number of with them. He was auxiliary
and sensitive issues.” individuals have taken of- bishop of Pittsburgh from
Diocese of Providence Bish- fense. I also acknowledge 1992 until 1996. A Penn-
op Thomas Tobin sparked and appreciate the wide- sylvania grand jury report
a backlash beginning Sat- spread support I have re- last year detailed decades In this Nov. 22, 2009 file photo, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas
urday when he tweeted, ceived on this matter.” of abuse and cover-up in Tobin speaks to a reporter in Riverside, R.I. In this Nov. 22, 2009
“A reminder that Catholics Tobin added that he and six dioceses, including the file photo, Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin speaks to a
should not support or at- the Catholic Church have Pittsburgh diocese.q reporter in Riverside, R.I.
tend LGBTQ ‘Pride Month’ “respect and love for Associated Press
events held in June. They members of the gay com-
promote a culture and en- munity.”
courage activities that are “As a Catholic Bishop, how-
contrary to Catholic faith ever, my obligation before
and morals. They are espe- God is to lead the faithful
cially harmful for children.” entrusted to my care and
The posting spurred re- to teach the faith, clear-
bukes by thousands of peo- ly and compassionately,
ple who replied on Twitter, even on very difficult and
including actresses Mia Far- sensitive issues,” he said.
row and Patricia Arquette. As of Sunday afternoon,
Many invoked the scan- 69,000 people had replied
dals of clergy sexual abuse to the tweet, about 15,800
of children in the church. liked it and nearly 4,700
“This is pure ignorance & retweeted it. Many of those
bigotry,” Farrow wrote. “Ig- who replied supported the
nore this hate-filled hypo- bishop. “Jesus never said a
crite. His mind set leads word about homosexuality,
only to suffering. He brings about Pride, or the Queer
to mind those priests who community,” the group’s
molested my brothers. Of president, Joe Lazzerini,
COURSE we should em- said in a statement. “Rhode
brace our LGBTQ brothers Island Pride respectfully
and sisters and children. calls on Bishop Tobin to do
Jesus spoke of love.” some self-reflection as the
Arquette tweeted, “Shame majority of Catholic Rhode
on you. LGBT kids are Islanders in this state reject
thrown out on the streets the idea that to be Catho-
and abandoned because lic is to be complicit to intol-
of poisonous thinking like erance, bigotry, and fear.
yours.” “Bishop Tobin doesn’t
The diocese on Sunday re- represent the majority of
leased a statement by To- Rhode Island Catholics
bin. who support the LGBTQIA+