OXFORD, Ohio (WKRC) - Community members in Oxford held a silent demonstration Sunday morning to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.
It was in response to a letter that the new priest, Father David Doseck, sent to the Catholic community in Preble County.
In the bulletin, the letter condemns Pride Month celebrations, and refers to them as "diabolic" and "unnatural".
"Let your child know that romantic love, like the kind mommies and daddies show each other, is only supposed to be between boys and girls," the letter says, in part. "If someone is 'romantic' with someone of the same sex, there is a problem, and we can never say that it’s good or be happy about it."
Several community members, including Mark Radlinski, saw the letter. He has lived in Oxford for 30 years and organized the demonstration.
"Oxford is an inclusive community, and we all have to work together, regardless of differences we may have, to try and make this a better town," said Radlinski. "For a faith leader to come in with these divisive comments, it's just not in the character of Oxford."
Local 12 reached out to the Archdiocese of Cincinnati for comment. We received the following statement from Archbishop Dennis Schnurr:
"Clearly proclaiming the teachings of Christ and His Church is a primary responsibility of all priests. The constant teaching of the Catholic faith includes love and respect for all our brothers and sisters because they and we are each made in the image and likeness of God. The inherent dignity of every human being does not mean, however, that all behavior is to be condoned. Father David Doseck’s pastoral statement is in conformity with Church teaching.”
The church also noted that the letter was not intended to be written to the Oxford community or congregation. It was written for the Preble County Catholic community where Father Doseck has been a pastor of the Preble County Catholic Parishes for three years.
The church says he did not intend it to be further shared as a means of his introduction to the St. Mary Parish.