Mariage Equality

And what do you know about marriage, Fathers?  Well for one thing Father Larry and I are married according to the rules and regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Over 38 years we have been living in a loving relationship, and that includes the time we have been legally married .  We declared out love before God and for the past 38 years he has continually blessed us.  How do you like them apples.   There is a clergyman I know who now refuses to marry in his church unless all can marry and that means same and opposite genders. 

I marry opposite gender couples here in Florida, they appear with their license issued by the state and declare their love before God and all their family members and friends.  I bless their love and sign their legal papers.   Same gender couples also ask me to bless their love and legally we call it a Holy Union.  Of course this does not give them all the many many rights that opposite couples receive when they marry.  That is in the State of Florida.  Now if they were married in many other states these same gender couples would receive all that the state offers.

I say to those religious groups who are on the opposite side of gay marraiges, then dont marry them.  And dont worry you wont be getting many gay couples coming asking for it.  After all you have chased them
away from God's love because of your naming them evil and bad people. There are more and more religious organizations now willing to marry same gender couples and they are reaching out to help them see God loves them as he made them, gay.   And we will take in all those that you kick out.   Bring them on. 

So Father Larry and I can talk about love in a long term loving relationship.  We cant share with you the joys of giving birth but we sure can tell you about love, the love that God has for us and for others and the mandate he gave to us to love everyone (and that includes those religious groups who put down gay people).   So if you dont want to see love in action, dont come to us.  If you want to see loving people, both straight and gay, then come to Divine Mercy Chapel, 2749 NE 10 Ave., Wilton Manors, 954-567-1930  http://www.newdivingmercy.org/

Lights, Camera, Action

Friday, August 21, 2010 we received a visit from the producers of One Square Mile, a documentary which has been covering various cities and small town through out the United States and Hawaii. The producers were interested in our mission of being inclusive to the residents of Wilton Manors, which now it seems is openly split between same gender and opposite gender residents.

During the interview and filming , Father Larry and myself both shared that we had gone to Boston to get married after having been together almost 39 years. You see we believe in married priests. Both of us can share our experience, hope and strength in a committed loving relationship and all that couples have to work through to keep that love on the front burner.

For a long time we kinda kept our marriage quiet although other married priests used the experience to help struggling couples deal with their relationships. Of course now, we will be openly sharing ,that is maybe, if they choose to use our interview, as a part of the fabric that makes up Wilton Manors. And then again I dont know who reads this blog, but its now out there .

So the next time someone says what do you priests know about marriage and its ups and downs,
we will indeed have the makings of a a good discussion. I will keep you informed when the documentary is up and running,

God loves you and so do I. Father John Joseph Reid

newdivinemercy.org.