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* NRG Media…
Last year, the first Gay Pride event came to downtown Dixon and it turned into a much bigger event than anyone imagined. When attendance was tallied, over 2,700 people came to the event.
President of the organization Sauk Valley Pride, Andrew Glasscock said they are expecting 3-5,000 at the event. This meant the area downtown would be too small and the city said no to allowing it on the Peoria Avenue Bridge.
The city then turned to the Park District to see if they could hold it at Page Park. Executive Director Duane Long said the area handled Mumford and Sons, it can handle this.
About 4,000 people showed up, which is far more than last year…
Decked out in a rainbow-colored tulle skirt and wearing a crown while dancing with equally colorful streamers, 5-year-old Winnie Tomman was “living her best life,” her mom said.
Winnie and her family were among the almost 4,000 people who made their way to Page Park to celebrate the second annual Dixon Pride Fest.
“Attendance was overwhelming,” Festival Director Sam Miller said at about 7:15 p.m. Saturday. “So much love is happening.”
Page Park is about a five-minute drive from the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan.
* And now for the one step back…
A newspaper column written by Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki condemning Pride Month and praising a Ugandan law criminalizing homosexual acts has raised the ire of progressive Christians in Springfield.
At issue is a June 8 piece in the Catholic Times in which the bishop wrote, “The Catholic Church teaches that pride is the deadliest of the deadly sins, so it is something to be avoided, along with lust, not celebrated.”
The cleric took issue with the rainbow flag flying over the Illinois Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion as well as President Joe Biden’s condemnation of a law in the African nation of Uganda that creates criminal penalties – including death or life imprisonment – for engaging in homosexual acts.
“Our government is also promoting the LGBTQ+ movement, not only here in the United States, but around the world,” Paprocki wrote. “President Joe Biden recently scolded the President of Uganda for signing legislation that imposes criminal penalties for homosexual acts. President Biden also threatened to withdraw American financial assistance to the east African country unless Uganda repealed the law.
“Such threats are quite ironic coming from the man who has called white supremacy the ‘most dangerous threat to our homeland security.’ Apparently, President Biden does not see that it is inherently racist and arrogant for the white leader of the United States to lecture an African nation on what laws are right for their country.”
* Related…
* Danville breaks tradition and holds its very first LGBTQ pride event: A DJ, crafts, vendors, food, and much more filled Temple Plaza in downtown Danville for the first VC Pride Fest.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 12:54 pm
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==Apparently, President Biden does not see that it is inherently racist and arrogant for the white leader of the United States to lecture an African nation on what laws are right for their country.==
So, if I understand the bishop correctly, if an African nation were to ban the Catholic Church from operating in their country (perhaps based on the Church’s history of colonization), he would not want the President (or any white leader) to object. Why don’t I believe that to be true?
Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:01 pm
Paprocki is one heckuva salesman.
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:05 pm
Paprocki defended the Ugandan law? I don’t believe that’s consistent with the Catholic Church’s position and it’s inhuman.
Comment by ArchPundit Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:05 pm
This paprocki guy is something else. Why didn’t he call out the Cardinal up in Chicago for his mass last week celebrating the LGBTQ+ community?
Instead he cites Ugandan law and white supremacy??
Comment by Henry Francis Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:12 pm
I wish Paprocki would cut to the chase and start advocating for schism already. Come on, Bishop, there’s an army of several dozen retired cops and seminary dropouts over the age of 70 who all still attend masses in Latin, ready to take up your call to arms.
Comment by Roadrager Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:13 pm
Paprocki is teetering dangerously close to those that the old, angry, white, rural folks that see any other country’s religious paradigm as “evil to god” (yep, it’s a small g, it has nothing to do with and deity) while telling women they must have pregnancies go to term “because god”, and who one can love “because god”… a god of the Old Testament, not Jesus.
Maybe Paprocki should read more from Matthew
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:14 pm
Paprocki continues to empty the pews, and soon they will have to close more parishes.
Comment by jimbo26 Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:15 pm
===Ugandan law and white supremacy===
Makes me think directly to “O Brothet Where Art Thou” and asking “is you is, or is you ain’t my constituency”… but it’s Paprocki asking now.
Blase Cardinal Cupich isn’t as much of a liberal cardinal, it’s that it’s apparent Cupich has read Matthew, often.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:18 pm
I’m happy to see these positives in my home state. I attended the local Pride event in opposite land last weekend. Sadly, the hate mongers appear to be winning. The number of vendors was far fewer than last year.
Comment by Norseman Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:18 pm
=“Such threats are quite ironic coming from the man who has called white supremacy the ‘most dangerous threat to our homeland security.’=
I’d like Paprocki to weigh on with his thoughts on White Supremacy and if it’s more dangerous than pride.
Sin 6 - Anger. “The Lord says Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment”
Seems to me the Bishop sure has a lot of anger inside of him.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:23 pm
Catholic bishop supports death penalty. For Peter Thiel, for Anderson Cooper, for former RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, Mary Cheney, and for Elon Musk’s kid. And mine.
Glad to clear that up.
Comment by Phineas Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:25 pm
This guy would be a poster child for why more and more people are leaving religion.
Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:26 pm
Apparently, Bishop Paprocki did not review the comprehensive report filed by AG Kwame Raoul detailing decades of child sex abuse by members of the Catholic clergy.
Obfuscation by the Church. So many victims suffer lifelong trauma because Bishops did nothing to identify and to remove pedophiles lurking in parishes.
Beware of hypocrites wearing capes and cassocks.
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:29 pm
Paprocki is a perfect example why the Joliet diocese now has an advertising/news partnership with the Joliet Herald to run favorable PR pieces.
Because when you actually hear the teachings and beliefs directly out of their own mouths, it’s repulsive.
Give this guy a bigger microphone. Let everyone hear what he has to say, and where he stands.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:30 pm
A newspaper column written by Catholic Bishop Thomas Paprocki condemning Pride Month and praising a Ugandan law criminalizing homosexual acts has raised the ire of progressive Christians in Springfield.=
So a guy that is part of an organization that is a haven for pedophiles is speaking out against an event that supports people?
Not sure I recall any commentary on the recent AG report about the church from paprocki.
Interesting and sickening.
Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:35 pm
I attended a north central IL small town pride. There were several police offices working, actively walking around and saying a friendly good morning as they went. It made people feel safer. There was good representation from unions, chamber, local officials, human service agencies. It seemed like most of the crowd were parents and children. I felt slightly out of place as a single gay man, though very welcome, and the drag queen appearance had been cancelled out of caution. I’m glad to live in Illinois, though it could all be undone at the national level depending on how things go in 2024.
Comment by Earnest Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:43 pm
Gee whiz, wait until Paprocki learns that the US president lectures the Muslim world about allowing girls to go to school and scolds the Chinese for putting Uyghurs in concentration camps.
It’s almost as if he’s never read about Jesus.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Comment by 47th Ward Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:49 pm
the holy goalie seems to be getting more bitter the older he gets.
I agree with TheInvisibleMan, give him a bigger microphone so everyone can hear.
Comment by cermak_rd Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 1:58 pm
How much longer must the Catholics in Sangamon County have put up with Thomas Paprocki? The man is a vile extremist that twists the words of Jesus into hate. He is well, well outside the mainstream of most of his parishioners. He should have been removed by the diocese a long time ago.
Comment by High Socks Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 2:04 pm
= Paprocki is teetering dangerously close to those that the old, angry, white, rural folks =
Sounds like what’s left of the Springfield Diocese that stands to applaud whenever they fire a teacher or staff at SHG.
Echo Phineas @ 1:25 p.m.
Comment by Dirty Red Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 2:15 pm
I actually volunteered and attended the first Dixon Pride Fest and I must say I got really emotional seeing how many people attended the festival, especially at the end of night all the young kids being themselves, something I would’ve been too scared to of at their age. That first one exceeded every expectation, with noticeably no counter protestors. I’m honestly sad I couldn’t make it out this year.
Comment by PoorUniStudent Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 2:38 pm
= He is well, well outside the mainstream of most of his parishioners.=
Are you so sure?
If he is then the parishioners should be speaking out in mass (no pun intended) and make it clear he needs to go.
Comment by Cool Papa Bell Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 2:51 pm
=== should be speaking out in mass ===
Do you mean in mass or en masse?
Comment by Hannibal Lecter Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:03 pm
@Cool Papa: are you familiar with how bishops and priests are chosen? It ain’t by a vote of the congregants.
Comment by Socially DIstant watcher Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:04 pm
==How much longer must the Catholics in Sangamon County have put up with Thomas Paprocki?== Unfortunately, a really long time. Diocese of Springfield is very low on the diocesan pecking order, which means under this pope, he will not get promoted to a better position, and is unlikely to be removed unless he does something really crazy. We are stuck with him. And to Cool Papa Bell, the church does not care whether the parishioners like him or not (and many do not).
Comment by Near West Side Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:06 pm
Bishop Paprocki was more many years Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago. He would have had plenty of opportunity to address sex abuse of children by the clergy, but he did not do so. So before he casts stones about actions by others he should examine his own conscience.
Comment by Banish Misfortune Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:07 pm
What could be the reason Paprocki was sidelined to the Springfield diocese?
Perhaps, while Paprocki was assigned to the Archdiocese of Chicago, he refused to recognize and remove the notorious pedophile Dan McCormack.
So many students at St. Agatha and St. Malachy suffered abuse and trauma because the pedophile McCormack and the suits in the Archdiocese did nothing.
Did Paprocki wear a blindfold the entire time he served in the Archdiocese of Chicago?
Comment by Rudy’s teeth Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:37 pm
=== Such threats are quite ironic coming from the man who has called white supremacy the ‘most dangerous threat to our homeland security. ===
No, indeed it is wholly consistent with condemning white supremacy to also condemn homophobia. What the pastor doesn’t get is that both acts are wholly consistent with the gospels too. How does this much hate, rise to the level of Bishop?
Comment by H-W Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:42 pm
I’m sure the Bishop is pleased with this:
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/22/us/politics/anti-lgbtq-report-adl-glaad.html
Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:52 pm
Time for another exorcism, Bish? Buffoonery. Weapons grade plum, this guy in the hat.
Comment by Kippax Blue Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 3:59 pm
Just something else to remember when Paprocki and the private schools push for their tax break during veto session. Is this kind of hate rhetoric what lawmakers believe we should “Invest” public tax dollars in?
Comment by separation Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 4:36 pm
So if a leader someplace made it illegal to be a Priest and had serious punishment the Bishop would ask that a President or US Government say and do nothing.
Good to know
Comment by OneMan Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 4:49 pm
This Bishop is so out of touch with caring and understanding and loving all of God’s children it’s scary. His silence on the Attorney General’s report speaks volumes about his ability to understand and respect people who have been harmed by the abuse of Priests in the past.
Comment by Dave Thursday, Jun 22, 23 @ 8:52 pm
The Bishop has been an attention seeker his entire time in Springfield, from his mean spirted letters to the editor of the SJR to his exorcism. I am glad I no longer live in Diocese.
Hopefully the Pope accepts his resignation on his 75 birthday.
Comment by Annon3 Friday, Jun 23, 23 @ 11:16 am