Papal Envoy Breaks Ranks on Gay Couples
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B NDINGSA Publication of New Ways Ministry Volume 25, No. 1 Summer 2004 Papal envoy breaks ranks on gay couples By Ben Sills in Madrid reported in the Spanish press, will cause and Stephen Bates extreme annoyance within a papal circle The Guardian, London desperate to stop the encroachment of what it May 5, 2004 sees as decadent sexual morality. Although he insisted that same-sex unions The Pope’s ambassador to one of Europe’s could not be regarded as marriages, the leading Catholic countries has hinted that envoy implied that they were at least worthy the church should “acknowledge” gay of compassion. partnerships — a significant crack in the “They are not the same as marriage,” he Vatican’s resolute opposition to “evil and said. “We will leave the term marriage for that deviant” gay relationships. which it has always referred to, and other Monsignor Manuel Monteiro de Castro arrangements should be given other names.” told a conference of Spanish bishops at the The nuncio said gay couples should be weekend: “The new political situation in given access to certain civil rights, including which we are living in Spain sets new those within the social security system. He challenges in the spreading of the gospel added: “The church can also help them in and we must meet those challenges in an their spiritual life.” appropriate manner.” The remarks were in sharp contrast to last Departing from his prepared speech, the year’s Vatican guidelines which called on papal nuncio added that although the law in Catholics to campaign against the legalisation Spain, and many other countries, defines of gay relationships, calling them evil, deviant marriage as the union of a man and a woman, and a grave threat to society. “there are other forms of cohabitation and it The document said: “We must refrain from is good that they be recognised.” any formal cooperation with the promulgation Monsignor Manuel Monteiro The uncommonly outspoken remarks, or application of such seriously unjust laws and, as far as is possible, from any material training in the west for the priesthood are cooperation in their application.” gay. It added: “There are absolutely no grounds Although some Catholic bishops in Notre Dame gays reach for considering homosexual unions to be in England might be privately relatively any way similar or even remotely analogous sympathetic to the nuncio’s views, they to God’s plan for marriage and family. have publicly criticised the government’s Marriage is holy while homosexual acts go proposed civil partnerships legislation. out to other schools against the natural moral law. But there has been a growing sense “Legal recognition of homosexual unions or within the Spanish church that it should By Ron Goldwyn tion of Catholic Colleges and Universi- placing them on the same level as marriage acknowledge and accept different Philadelphia Daily News ties will announce its formation in would mean not only the approval of deviant lifestyles. A meeting in the Gerona diocese April 30, 2004 Philadelphia tomorrow. behaviour ... but would also obscure basic last week also defended gay relationships. The coming-out is part of Equality values which belong to the common But the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal They’re the loyal gay sons and Forum, which wraps up a week of gay- inheritance of humanity.” Antonio María Rouco Varela, told the daughters of Notre Dame. They even lesbian-oriented programs with 37 The debate mirrors the crisis in the world- conference: “Marriage, as an institution, have a parking-lot party at Fighting Irish cultural and social events this weekend. wide Anglican communion, threatened with contributes to the growth and stability of football weekends. David Pais, who graduated Notre Dame splits over the church’s attitude to homosexu- society as a structure for bringing up Now the leaders of Notre Dame in 1972, said he expects gay grads from als, particularly those who are ordained. A children. For that, we owe it the recogni- University’s 850-member gay and lesbian 32 schools, including Villanova, St. commission is wrestling with new structures tion and legal support of the state. alumni-alumnae group are taking their Joseph’s and La Salle in the Philadelphia that would enable the Anglican church to “Homosexual cohabitation, which can message to the homosexual graduates of area, to join in launching the group. hold together despite breaches over the never fulfill that role, cannot be credited other Catholic universities and colleges. Successful Catholic graduates who issue. with the same social function as marriage The Gay Lesbian Alumni/ae Associa- have come out as gay will serve as role In November the US Episcopal church and the family.” Continued on page 4 consecrated its first openly gay bishop He added: “This is not about denying and the Anglican church in Canada is anyone their rights, on the contrary it’s INSIDE... poised next month to approve blessing about defending the rights of the family in services for same-sex couples. In Britain a coherent fashion, and that is an issue of the gay cleric Canon Jeffrey John, denied vital importance for the present and future Ban on Gays 2,3 promotion to a bishopric last year, has of Spanish society.” Support for Gays 2,5,6,7 been appointed cathedral dean of St The cardinal said acceptance of homo- Gay Friendly Parishes 7 Albans. sexuality as equivalent to marriage was a The Catholic church is far from such “sad truth” about the declining impor- European Hierarchies 1,8 considerations — though studies have tance of religious values in Spanish suggested a high proportion of priests in society. Page 2 BONDINGS Volume 25, No. 1 Gay Catholics Denied Communion at Chicago B NDINGS Mass; Others Blocked at the Altar in Minnesota Summer 2004 Vol. 25, No. 1 By Mike Colias members wearing the sashes should be seen no Francis DeBernardo, Editor Associated Press differently than a uniformed police officer or Boy Scout Jennifer Morgan, Production Manager and Design May 31, 2004 seeking communion. “What we saw today in the cathedral is discrimination Board of Directors at the Eucharistic table, and that shouldn’t be happen- Mary Byers CHICAGO — Parishioners who wore rainbow-colored ing,” Murray said. Those denied communion returned to Frank O’Donnell, SM sashes to Mass in support of gays and lesbians were their pews, but stood while the rest of the congregation Rev. Paul Thomas denied communion in Chicago, while laymen in Minnesota tried to prevent gay Roman Catholics from getting the knelt. The movement, which started about five years ago in Board of Advisors sacrament. Priests at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago England, also has members in Dallas, New Orleans, New Mary Ann Coyle, SL refused to give the Eucharist to about 10 people wearing York and Rochester, N.Y. William Hunt, SFO the sashes at Sunday Mass. One priest shook each In St. Paul, Minn., people wearing the rainbow-colored Patricia McDermott, RSM person’s hand; another made the sign of the cross on their sashes were given communion Sunday despite protests Barbara Regan, rc foreheads. “The priest told me you cannot receive communion if from some parishioners who kneeled in front of the altar blocking their way. Staff you’re wearing a sash, as per the Cardinal’s direction,” said The Rev. Michael Skluzacek said in a written statement Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director James Luxton, a Chicago member of the Rainbow Sash that both sides were “mistakenly using the Mass and Terence Cant, Program Specialist Movement, an organization of Catholic gay-rights the Eucharist to make their own personal statements.” Jennifer Morgan, Staff Associate supporters with chapters around the country. An internal memo from Chicago Cardinal Francis George Brian McNeill, organizer of the Rainbow Sash Alliance of the Twin Cities, said the local group has worn the Co-Founders that became public last week instructed priests not to give sashes every Pentecost at St. Paul Cathedral since 2001, Sister Jeannine Gramick communion to people wearing the sashes, which the but the group had never experienced such a confronta- Father Robert Nugent group’s members wear every year for Pentecost. The memo says the sashes are a symbol of opposition to the church’s tion. A Vatican doctrinal decree last year directed at Bondings is a seasonal publication designed to keep doctrine on homosexuality and exploit the communion Catholic politicians said a well-formed conscience our subscribers informed of issues that pertain to lesbian ritual. forbids support for any law that contradicts “funda- and gay people and the Catholic Church. “The Rainbow Sash movement wants its members to be fully accepted by the Church not on the same conditions mental” morality, with abortion listed first among relevant issues. A second Vatican statement said it is Founded in 1977, New Ways Ministry is an educational as any Catholic but precisely as gay,” George wrote. “With “gravely immoral” not to oppose legalization of same- and bridge-building ministry of reconciliation between this comes the requirement that the Church change her sex unions. the Catholic gay and lesbian community and institutional moral teaching.” Associated Press Writer Elizabeth Dunbar in St. structures in the Roman Catholic Church. Rainbow Sash Movement spokesman Joe Murray was among those denied communion in Chicago. He said Paul, Minn., contributed to this report. New Ways Ministry seeks to eradicate prevalent myths and stereotypes about homosexuality and supports civil Priest refuses order to Psychologists rights for lesbian and gay persons in society. remove name from Back Gay Marriage For more information, contact: New Ways Ministry, 4012 29th St., letter supporting gays Associated Press Mt. Rainier, MD 20712 Associated Press July 29, 2004 (301) 277-5674 May 20, 2004 E-mail: [email protected] HONOLULU — The nation’s largest association of MESA, Ariz.