Louisville Gay Couple Denied A Cemetery Headstone By Archdiocese Of Louisville

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A local couple says the Archdiocese of Louisville is practicing discrimination after their cemetery headstone was denied.

 

Greg Bourke and Michael De Leon were among the Kentucky couples whose case was part of the Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal nationwide.

 

Both are Catholic and purchased a joint burial plot in St. Michael Cemetery in Louisville.

 

They submitted their headstone design for approval, which included an image of the Supreme Court and interlocking wedding bans.

 

But the cemetery run by the Archdiocese denied it, saying the headstone conflicted with the teachings of the church.

 

The couple plans to hold a "freedom to bury" press conference Wednesday morning.

A picture of the Supreme Court building on the headstone? Come on, man...

It's a Catholic cemetery ? Ran by the Diocese correct ? There is simply no way a court could force a church to change their mind.

Are people offended?

And this is what I worried about. It wasn't just enough for these 2 that they are now married, they want to throw it in everyone's faces.

 

I am more convinced then ever that the militant arm of the LGBT community will not be satisfied until churches are required to perform same sex marriages or lose their tax exempt status.

It's a Catholic cemetery ? Ran by the Diocese correct ? There is simply no way a court could force a church to change their mind.

 

Agreed.

 

Personal opinion is they should allow people to have whatever they want on their headstone as long as it's not vulgar, but the Church absolutely has every right to deny whatever design they see fit to.

This is a couple trying to push the envelope. The church has the right to deny them.

I doubt if many people will have a problem with the Diocese on this one. Even if you don't agree with them they have the right to deny the headstone.

I guess religious beliefs are a complex thing, but I don't understand why you would want to be a member of a church whose official doctrine is so contradictory to your own.

 

I also didn't see anything indicating there was a lawsuit or court challenge forthcoming or any suggestion of a legal pretense one would come from.

 

At the end of the day I can't bring myself to be concerned about this issue one way or another.

It's a Catholic cemetery ? Ran by the Diocese correct ? There is simply no way a court could force a church to change their mind.

 

That's where I am on this.

I guess religious beliefs are a complex thing, but I don't understand why you would want to be a member of a church whose official doctrine is so contradictory to your own.

 

I also didn't see anything indicating there was a lawsuit or court challenge forthcoming or any suggestion of a legal pretense one would come from.

 

At the end of the day I can't bring myself to be concerned about this issue one way or another.

 

I agreed with the Supreme Court ruling. But I also believe in religious freedom. It should worry every American that a very large part of our fundamental freedom is based on being able to practice religion freely.

 

If there ever came a day where the government tried to force a religious organzation on this issue I would hope a majority Americans would agree it would be wrong.

 

I agreed with the Supreme Court ruling. But I also believe in religious freedom. It should worry every American that a very large part of our fundamental freedom is based on being able to practice religion freely.

 

If there ever came a day where the government tried to force a religious organzation on this issue I would hope a majority Americans would agree it would be wrong.

 

I agree with this once again.

Agreed.

 

Personal opinion is they should allow people to have whatever they want on their headstone as long as it's not vulgar, but the Church absolutely has every right to deny whatever design they see fit to.

 

Agreed, I don't see the issue here. I'm not sure why they would even want to be there knowing the church condemns them.

And this is what I worried about. It wasn't just enough for these 2 that they are now married, they want to throw it in everyone's faces.

 

I am more convinced then ever that the militant arm of the LGBT community will not be satisfied until churches are required to perform same sex marriages or lose their tax exempt status.

 

I'm all for the Archdiocese and the Church being able to enforce its own teachings and rules within its properties...but I honestly can't say that I see this as "throwing it in everyone's faces".

 

If I wanted to throw something in someone's face, I can tell you, assuredly, that the last thing to cross my mind would be, "Ahhhh, I know how to throw this in their face! I'll put it on my headstone!"