Connecticut priest rebuked for role in cousin's same-sex wedding

6 hours ago
By Bob Connors, NBCConnecticut.com

A Catholic priest has been rebuked after performing a reading in his cousin's same-sex wedding.

Rev. Michael DeVito, of Sacred Heart Church in Suffield, Conn., was called into his archbishop's office after a wedding announcement in The New York Times mentioned that DeVito assisted in the August ceremony.

Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell "formally rebuked" DeVito for his participation in the New York wedding, a citation that will be part of his permanent record.

The archdiocese released a statement on the matter Thursday:

"Archbishop Henry J. Mansell has met with Father Michael DeVito regarding the priest's participation in a same-sex marriage ceremony involving a cousin in New York City on August 19th. According to Father DeVito, his participation in the ceremony was limited to doing a reading. He wore no vestments, but had worn his Roman collar. Archbishop Mansell informed Father DeVito that his participation in this ceremony was understandably perceived by many Catholics as an implicit endorsement of same-sex marriage, which is contrary to Church teaching. As a consequence, and in accordance with canon law, the Archbishop formally rebuked Father DeVito and informed him that the rebuke would be a permanent part of his record. Fr. DeVito said that he would not participate in any way in same-sex marriages in the future."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13726271-connecticut-priest-rebuked-for-role-in-cousins-same-sex-wedding?lite