The priests at Hamtramck's three Catholic churches are urging voters to reject an antidiscrimination ordinance that includes legal protection for gays."We have to keep the morals and have the regular families and bring up children according to God's law," the Rev. Miroshaw Frankowski, pastor of St. Florian Catholic Church, said Wednesday. "Keep it the way it was from the beginning."
In a joint written statement, the priests said "the proposed ordinance does not provide new protection for anyone in Hamtramck, except that it gives new rights that would protect homosexual and lesbian behavior, expression and attire."
Supporters have said the ordinance simply ensures all residents are protected under the law and demonstrates compassionate governance.
The Hamtramck City Council passed the ordinance in June, but opponents gathered enough signatures to place it on the Nov. 4 ballot in hopes of appealing it. The ordinance prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and city contracting for several groups, but its inclusion of gays and transgendered people has stirred up controversy.
"We feel that this proposal goes against the rights of straight people," the Rev. Andrew Wesley, pastor of St. Ladislaus Catholic Church, said Wednesday.
The Rev. Bogdan Milosz, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, also said he opposes the ordinance but declined to say more because he was ill.
Wesley said he has written about the issue in the parish bulletin and spoken with members after mass. "Nobody's under any obligation to vote one way or another," Wesley said.
A group Wesley cofounded called Hamtramck Citizens Voting No to "Special Rights" Discrimination will host a rally from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 9632 Conant St.
Akm Rahman, one of group's founders, said the ordinance poses what he calls a "dangerous threat" to the city.
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(Source: Freep.com )