Tulsa diocese leaves organization after gay pride parade

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – The Catholic Diocese of Tulsa has left the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice over the organization’s involvement in the Tulsa Pride parade.

Saturday’s parade was the first since same-sex marriage became legal in Oklahoma. It’s billed as the longest-running gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival in Oklahoma.

Tulsa Bishop Edward Slattery tells the Tulsa World (http://bit.ly/1HkM62t ) that the organization’s involvement in the parade left him and the diocese little choice. He said the Catholic Church "has made a very strong statement on the definition of marriage" and that the organization "knew the possible reverberations" of participating in the parade.

Organization board chairman Russ Florence said it has no position on same-sex marriage, but endorses "respect and understanding for all people."