New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, one of the country's most powerful anti-gay figures, told George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that gays "deserve friendship," not equal rights.

Pope Benedict's attempt to manipulate his flock into being homophobic during his time on the throne didn't work well in the U.S., it seems, where a new Quinnipiac poll finds support for marriage equality skyrocketing among Catholics. 

Are Dutch Catholics leaving the Catholic church based on Pope Benedict's virulent views against same-sex marriage?

It appears that many are assessing their options. 

Details after the jump!

Groups that have been traditionally against marriage equality are coming around to smell the wedding roses according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University. Catholics and males mark big shifts in attitudes toward same-sex marriage in the poll, which MSNBC's The Cycle discussed on a recent show. Details and video follow. 

The CIMA Awards (jokingly referred to as the Catholic Oscars or the Catholic Emmy Awards) handed out a surprising trophy this week. 

Catholics, Muslims, and Jews all coming together in perfect harmony.

What could possibly unite these religious groups together as one?

According to the Pope's Nuncio in the United Kingdom, the Archbishop Antonio Mennini, it's their shared opposition to same-sex marriage.

How heartwarming.

More after the jump.

Though Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain has launched a Catholic petition drive in an effort to repeal Washington's newly minted marriage equality law, not all parishes are obliging. In fact, a growing coalition of Washington parishes are refusing to support the anti-gay measure. Details follow. 

Priorities, priorities. Catholic bishops from the Archdiocese of Seattle need a brush up on the foundational lessons of Christianity. Catholic heirarchs are turning a blind shoulder to a proposed budget that takes money away from programs assisting the poor & disabled and instead lashing out full throttle against Washington's marriage equality law. Details follow. 

It was not the body of Christ that children preparing for their First Communion were subjected to after a Power Point presentation by an Irish priest, but rather the bodies of gay porn stars. Details follow. 

In yet more evidence that religious hierarchs and evangelical leaders in America are out of touch with everyone except altar boys, a new survey from Public Religion Research Institute finds that the majority of faithful in America do not think that LGBT rights infringe upon their religious liberties. 

Proving once again that Catholic hierarchs couldn't be more out of touch with the people who actually practice the faith is a new poll from the New York Times/CBS. 

Forget that whole feed the poor, help children in need and clothe the homeless stuff. The Catholic Diocese of Portland, Maine would rather focus its time and effort on telling gays to stop having sex.