NYC Catholic School Rejects $50 Donation From Dem Politician Who Voted For Gay Marriage Law

With the dust just beginning to settle on New York State's gay marriage law, emotions are still running rampant. Last week, New York's Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan wrote publicly about his fear that the government will now begin to substantiate other forms of marriage (multiple-partner unions, for example).

In a move that is anecdotal, but that may also be indicative of greater problems to come, a Catholic school has rejected a $50 donation from Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn), a politician who voted to support the state's same-sex marriage law.

LifeSiteNews.com has more:

The school, Queen of the Rosary Catholic Academy, decided to return the money after Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio issued a statement, asking each school and church in his diocese to “refuse any distinction or honors bestowed upon them this year by the governor or any member of the legislature who voted to support this [same-sex marriage] legislation.”

In his statement, published on the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn web site, DiMarzio writes that New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature "demonized people of faith" and that Democrats and Republicans, alike, "share responsibility for this ruinous legislation." He also writes:

I have asked all Catholic schools to refuse any distinction or honors bestowed upon them this year by the governor or any member of the legislature who voted to support this legislation. Furthermore, I have asked all pastors and principals to not invite any state legislator to speak or be present at any parish or school celebration.

The school's rejection and return of the donation falls in compliance with this request. Lentol, who is a Catholic, says that he is "surprised and a little disappointed" by the school's decision to return the contribution. According to the NY Daily News:

Lentol said he's been giving small donations around graduation time at the church's Queen of the Rosary Academy for the last 20 years...

"This was a civil issue involving equality for all people," Lentol said.

Watch Lentol explain his faith, below:

While this is only one example, it could be indicative of greater and move divisive issues to follow, as the Catholic Church continues to respond to legislation that it believes contradicts its very creed.