This will set the cat among the pigeons. Cardinal Dolan (was one of the potential contenders for the papacy) said over Easter that gay couples are entitled to friendship, while as sex is only for married couples:
‘When asked what he would tell a gay couple who said they loved Jesus, loved the church and loved each other, he replied: “Well, the first thing I’d say to them is, ‘I love you, too. And God loves you. And you are made in God’s image and likeness. And we want your happiness. And you’re entitled to friendship.’ “But we also know that God has told us that the way to happiness, especially when it comes to sexual love — that is intended only for a man and woman in marriage, where children can come about naturally.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan defended Catholic opposition to gay marriage during an Easter Sunday interview with ABC, stating that the church needs to remain disconnected from popular consensus in some occasions and that gays are ‘entitled to friendship.’
‘Sometimes by nature, the Church has gotta be out of touch with concerns, because we’re always supposed to be thinking of the beyond, the eternal, the changeless,’ Dolan told George Stephanopoulos on ABC News’s ‘This Week.’
‘Our major challenge is to continue in a credible way to present the eternal concerns to people in a timeless attractive way,’ he said. ‘And sometimes there is a disconnect — between what they’re going through and what Jesus and his Church is teaching. And that’s a challenge for us.’
It certainly is a challenge. The sexual drive in man is very strong and many don't take kindly to being told that they are not entitled to sex if it's not with their wife. Especially if they don't want a wife, are not attracted to women and think of sex as self-gratification rather than self-giving love that leads to happiness.
Related link: Cardinal Dolan defends Catholic opposition to same-sex marriage and says gays are 'entitled to friendship' ~ Daily Mail