Defending the Truth: Why Local Bishop’s Stance on the Staten Island St. Patrick's Day Parade Is Justified

“Salus animarum suprema lex esto” — “the salvation of souls

… must be the supreme law in the Church.” (Code of Canon Law 1752)

In recent weeks, a debate has erupted over the inclusion of LGBTQ+ groups in Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, with Bishop Peter Byrne of Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, making it clear that his parish will not participate in the event now that the Pride Center is allowed to march under its own banner. Although the decision faced sharp disapproval from certain circles, including some Catholics who are not properly catechized, and do not understand that the truth, although perhaps difficult to accept, is grounded in love.

It is a stance that Bishop Byrne took with the salvation of souls in mind. The Church's primary mission is to save souls. The days of the “Church of Nice” are no more, and we need priests and bishops to stand up for the truth despite the "cancel culture" that we are a part of today. We are called to speak the truth even if some find it offensive. The fact of the matter is that the truth is not meant to make us feel warm and fuzzy inside, but to challenge us to make the decision to strive towards entering through the narrow gate and constricted road that leads to heaven, the path that many never find. (See Mt. 7:13-14) This is the harsh reality of the Gospels.

As Catholics we should not be surprised when we are attacked for speaking the truth because Jesus, the Son of God, was killed for it. Did Jesus not say in John 15:18-19:

If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.

Bishop Byrne's choice to oppose the march in its current form does not stem from hostility or bias against the LGBTQ+ community. Rather, it illustrates his dedication to being faithful to the Church's teachings, which remain firm and steadfast on the matters of chastity and human sexuality. According to doctrine of the Church, sexual relations between either heterosexual or same-sex couples is a mortal sin if they occur outside the context of marriage, which is defined according to Divine Revelation as a union between a man and a woman:

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. . . Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh (Gen. 1:27, 2:24)

Therefore, Bishop Byrne's response to the Pride Center's participation in the parade marching under their banner is a logical one since he is a bishop, the shepherd of the flock, and it is not outlandish that his decision aligns with beliefs and actions that support Catholic doctrine. What a conundrum and outrage that a Catholic bishop would defend Catholic teachings!

Some critics have argued that the inclusion of LGBTQ+ groups is simply about celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion. However, it is essential to point out that inclusion for the sake of inclusion, at the expense of truth, is not a true form of unity. The Church’s role is to lead its faithful toward the truth of the Gospel, not to condone and celebrate behavior that led to God’s destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the Old Testament. This is not a matter of exclusion but of adherence to Divine and natural law. The teachings of the Catholic Church state:

Basing itself on sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2357).

It is of utmost importance to understand that the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is not simply a cultural event—it has deep religious roots. Saint Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland, is revered for his missionary work and his significant role in spreading Christianity throughout the country of Ireland. The parade, therefore, should center on honoring his faith and legacy, not pride of the self, and in this case human sexuality. Why does one need to advertise his or her sexuality at a St. Patrick’s Day Parade? It is irrelevant to St. Patrick.

When a group that openly promotes views directly opposed to Church teachings is permitted to march under its banner it risks undermining the spiritual significance of the event itself. To hold a parade under the name of St. Patrick that conflicts with doctrine of the Church is absurd. St. Patrick, unlike some Catholics today, remained true to the faith through thick and thin.

In his autobiography St. Patrick writes about the journey back to his native country after six years of captivity. As he was sailing back to Britain he refused to adhere to the requests of those on board, “I refused to suck their breasts for fear of God, but rather hoped they would come to the faith of Jesus Christ, because they were pagans” (Confessio 18). St. Patrick would not bow down to pagan practices because he revered the Lord, so as Catholics we should look to this great Saint as a model for upholding the truth, and remain faithful in this post-Christian world.

While some might argue that the parade should reflect the diversity of modern-day society, it is important to recognize that true inclusion does not mean compromising on principles. The Catholic Church, throughout its history, has always sought to evangelize the truth, even when that truth is unpopular or difficult to accept. Bishop Byrne in his letter to the members of Blessed Sacrament Parish stands firm in his convictions—upholding the truth of the Church’s teachings, even in the face of public pressure.

Additionally, we cannot ignore the role of the Church in shaping the moral conscience of society. The role of faith leaders is to guide their flock in accordance with God’s will, not to bend to societal trends or popular opinion. The inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in the parade, while well-intentioned, risks promoting a message that is inconsistent with Catholic doctrine and Christian moral teaching. Bishop Byrne’s decision to distance Blessed Sacrament Parish from the parade is an act of moral clarity—an attempt to ensure that the parade remains a true reflection of the religious nature of the feast day.

It is absolutely necessary to consider the deep hurt that many Catholics may feel when leaders of the Church take a stance that appears to soften the Church’s position on moral issues in the name of inclusivity. Parishioners in various parishes across Staten Island have expressed their disappointment and frustration at the direction the parade is taking. It has everything to do with hating the sin, yet loving the sinner. We are all sinners who have been created in the image and likeness of God, and we have the obligation to help build up the Mystical Body of Christ by leading one another to freely accept the gift of salvation and persevere in the journey heavenward.

Sin wounds the whole Body, and it is unfortunate that in these times too many individuals love their sin more than God, and have no desire for repentance. The decision to live the truth is a crucial act of conscience, ensuring that the core values of Catholicism are not watered down or ignored in the name of political correctness. Ephesians 4:15-16 reads:

Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head,l Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body’s growth and builds itself up in love.

The harsh critics who argue against the bishop’s decision should not confuse compassion with compromise. Yes, it is true that the message of Christianity is one of love, but it is a love that calls all people—LGBTQ+ included—to live in accordance with the truth. Jesus did not sit at the table to dine with sinners and celebrate their sin, but instead He called them to repentance, inviting them to accept the gift of authentic and eternal love with God the Father in heaven. The definition of love is not affirming every single choice people make; it means guiding them toward what is in the best interest of their souls, ultimately that which will lead them to Paradise. By standing firm in the truth, Bishop Byrne is not rejecting the LGBTQ+ community, but rather offering a message of loving correction, inviting all to live in accordance with God’s design for human life.

Bishop Byrne’s decision to not support the Pride Center marching under their banner in the Staten Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade is not one of condemnation but of faithfulness to the truth. He is reminding, especially his own parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Parish, that the Church must remain steadfast in her teachings, especially when those teachings challenge the norms of the present day society. This is a significant time in history for Catholics to stand together in solidarity, not with the shifting tides of popular opinion, but with the enduring truths that have guided the Church for centuries. Christ has said “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18)

We are called by God as Catholics to be counter-cultural because we live in the world, but should not be of the world. St. Paul writes “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2) The St. Patrick’s Day Parade can still be a celebration of Irish heritage, but it must also remain a celebration of faith—one that honors the legacy of Saint Patrick and upholds the teachings of Christ. Christ and the Church are one, and we cannot have Christ without the Church.