Republican Gov. Donald Carcieri has come under fire for his decision to speak at the annual banquet of the Massachusetts Family Institute., a non-partisan public policy organization dedicated to strengthening families in Massachusetts.
It describes its mission as “strengthening the family and affirming the Judeo-Christian values upon which it is based” and has long been an advocate in support of marriage as a union between one man and one woman and the protection of all human life.
In announcing Gov. Carcieri as its keynote speaker, the MFI stated that: “Carcieri has been an outspoken champion of life and traditional marriage.” Typically, some same-sex marriage proponents such as Queer Action in Rhode Island harshly attacked the governor over his acceptance of the invitation to speak and called upon him to cancel his appearance suggesting it offers a “harmful message.” Unfortunately, these radical same-sex marriage proponents were quickly joined in their negative attacks by William Lynch, the chairman of the R.I. Democratic Party. In joining the chorus of attacks, Mr. Lynch described Governor Carcieri as “a sectarian extremist, who, now, in the waning days of his administration, seeks to fan the flames of intolerance.”
The reaction of groups like Queer Action of Rhode Island is typical. Even Mr. Lynch’s remarks might easily be dismissed as the ranting of a partisan demagogue if they were not so extreme. However, it is clear that Mr. Lynch overstepped the bounds of decency and rational thinking in suggesting that those who oppose same-sex marriage are “sectarian extremists.” His shameful claim is highly insulting to the many people of faith and good will who do not support the redefinition of marriage by the radical same-sex movement.
Lynch’s comments are as derogatory as they are demagogic and deserve to be severely criticized by members of the Democratic Party. His intolerance seems aimed at people of faith; especially those in public office who take their faith seriously and use it as a guide for their public policy decisions. Even the de-facto head of the Democratic Party, President Barack Obama, who routinely states his dependence on his Christian faith for public policy, has expressed opposition to same-sex marriage. We wonder if the president is to be counted among the “sectarian extremists” that Mr. Lynch so cavalierly attacks in his comments.
We support the decision by Governor Carcieri to exercise his right to free speech to speak before the MFI, a group that has over the years worked with the Catholic Church in opposing same-sex marriage and abortion. Governor Carcieri’s courageous public stance on behalf of the protection of the innocent unborn and his stalwart defense of marriage are to be applauded by Catholics and all people of good will. As for Chairman Lynch, we await a retraction of his outrageous comments that insult all pro-life and pro-marriage Rhode Islanders. In the meantime, we call upon the many members of the state’s Democratic Party who support traditional marriage and the protection of innocent human life to call the party chairman to task for his demagogic comments and remind him that they too stand tall in defense of marriage and the unborn.
