A NYC Catholic School Rejects Assemblyman's Donation 'Cause Gay Marriage

Bryan Smith for News

Joe 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 - and was 'disappointed' to have it sent back last week.

BY ERIN DURKIN
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Officials at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Williamsburg sent back a $50 gift from Assemblyman Joe Lentol (D-Brooklyn) - following Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio's edict to refuse any honors from pols who backed same-sex marriage.A Brooklyn Catholic school rejected a local assemblyman's donation - saying they couldn't take the cash because he voted to legalize gay marriage.

DiMarzio also told pastors and principals not to invite any state lawmakers to speak - whether or not they voted for the bill - because the diocese objects to the bill's dead-of-night approval.

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 - and was "disappointed" to have it sent back last week.

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

Pastor Joseph Calise said he solicited an extra contribution from a parish society to make sure two graduates would still get awards. "I wouldn't have allowed this to hurt the children," he said.

Diocese spokesman Monsignor Kieran Harrington said the pastor did the right thing. "I appreciate that Assemblyman Lentol may be upset that his check was returned, but it's kind of preposterous to say that we should be giving a platform to people whose views we fundamentally disagree with." Erin Durkin