Tulsa Bishop Edward Slattery said the OCCJ’s involvement in the Tulsa Pride parade left him and the diocese little choice. “Unless a clear statement can be made by OCCJ that its participation does not imply support for same-sex marriage or be seen to condone sexual acts outside of marriage, we have no option but to withdraw from membership.” Patrick Gaalaas of the diocese wrote to the organization June 6. “To march in such a parade seems to us to be a deliberate and full-throttled expression of support for the so-called gay agenda, a central component of which is same-sex marriage,” Msgr. The diocese resigned its membership in the OCCJ because of the organization’s involvement the Tulsa Pride parade, which Tulsa World billed as the “longest-running gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival in Oklahoma.” The Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice says it strives to “eliminate bias, bigotry and racism in our state by promoting respect and understanding among all races, religions and cultures.”įor the Diocese of Tulsa, Oklahoma, that mission has gone too far. Tulsa bishop emphasizes Church's respect for persons but opposition to redefining marriage
