B NDINGS Volume 27, No. 3 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Spring 2007 Archbishop Bans Mass at Homosexuality Meeting By Jerry Filteau The Tablet bishop Flynn’s deci- posium “are clearly part of the Catholic main- Brooklyn, NY sion may have been stream – about half of the participants are March 24, 2007 motivated by corre- priests or religious men and women; about spondence from one half are lay members involved in profes- Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul- or more of these indi- sional ministry or are parents of lesbian Minneapolis has barred a National Sympo- viduals,” he said. The daughters or gay sons.” sium on Catholicism and Homosexuality three were Cardinal “Almost all are highly educated people from celebrating the Eucharist during its William J. Levada, pre- who are familiar with the issues being dis- March 16-18 meeting in Minneapolis. fect of the Vatican cussed and have the intellectual ability to In a letter February 23 to New Ways Congregation for the make distinctions,” he added. “Denying Ministry in Mount Rainier, MD, the spon- Doctrine of the Faith; Eucharist to people who have committed sor of the symposium, Archbishop Flynn Archbishop Angelo their lives to the Church causes greater scan- said that upon reviewing the planned pro- Amato, secretary of dal to the Church than does a public dis- gram “I became concerned about some of the congregation; and cussion of homosexuality.” the topics listed, and also about some of Archbishop Pietro Archdiocesan spokesman Dennis Archbishop Hurley & Bishop Sullivan your featured speakers who are known to Sambi, apostolic nun- McGrath told CNS March 15 that local me- have publicly contested church teaching.” New Ways Ministry executive director cio to the United States. dia were playing the story as one about the “As you well know, New Ways Minis- Francis DeBernardo quoted parts of Arch- DeBernardo said New Ways Ministry Church and homosexuals, but “this is not try itself has several times been central in bishop Flynn’s letter in a statement March would replace the planned closing Mass about sexual orientation. This is about the similar disputes,” he added. 13 and, at the request of Catholic News Ser- with a prayer service and would distribute a symposium’s topics and speakers.” He said the plan to conclude the sym- vice, send CNS a copy of the letter the fol- list of nearby parishes, with their Mass He said he did not know which speak- posium with a Mass “makes it seem as lowing day. schedules to the 500-plus participants reg- ers Archbishop Flynn was concerned about, though the symposium is a perfectly fine In his statement DeBernardo said the istered for the symposium. but he said there were speakers on the Catholic event.” archbishop’s decision “will cause great pain He said New Ways Ministry and its agenda who were publicly critical of Church “You do not have permission to cel- to faithful Catholics who are concerned speakers “are very clears about what is pre- teachings at previous symposiums in Mil- ebrate the Eucharist as part of your sympo- about the Church’s pastoral response to sented as official Church teaching, what is waukee and in Louisville, KY. sium. Hopefully, that will at least minimize lesbian/gay people and their families.” presented as theological reflection and what In a written statement the archdiocese potential confusion and scandal,” Arch- “Since the letter was copied to three is the opinion of Catholics in the pews.” said it was not in any way affiliated with the bishop Flynn wrote. Vatican officials… we believe that Arch- He said those registered for the sym- symposium, did not grant permission for it and does not endorse or encourage atten- dance at any of its events. Neither Archbishop Flynn’s letter nor San Francisco Archbishop “very happy” about DeBernardo said which speakers or topics at the symposium were of concern to the plan regarding homosexual adoptions archbishop. New Ways Ministry was founded in 1977 by Salvatorian Father Robert Nugent Catholic News Agency ers by Adoption, the archbishop commented cisco struck an agreement to pay workers and Sister Jeannine Gramick, who was then February 7, 2007 that although Catholic adoption agencies who would labor for California Kids Con- a School Sister of Notre Dame but is now a could not remain open due to state law, “I’m nection, a web-referral service for the pro- Sister of Loretto. The co-directed the min- Speaking to a local radio station on really very happy with the decision made by homosexual-adoption Family Builders. istry until the mid-1980s, when they were Sunday, San Francisco Archbishop George the Catholic Charities CEO,” which, “was to The archbishop said he respected the forced to resign under Vatican orders. Niederauer said he is “really very happy” work with the program on the Internet for opinion of “those within the Church…who In 1999 the Vatican ordered the priest about a compromise plan that makes it pos- finding homes for children, posting their pic- feel that even that is too much of an involve- and nun to end all ministry with homosexu- sible for Catholic Charities adoption work- tures and being able to guide people who ment, but I believe we have examined what als, saying that even after their departure ers in his archdiocese to refer homosexual would be interested in this particular child we’re doing and vetted it very carefully, and from New Ways Ministry, they “continued couples to adopt children. to an adoption agency which could handle what we’re really doing is putting potential to maintain and promote ambiguous posi- Wednesday, the California Catholic the situation.” adoptive parents in touch with adoption tions on homosexuality and explicitly criti- Daily transcribed an on-air interview the Catholic Charities San Francisco made agencies that can help them.” cized documents of the Church’s Archbishop Niederauer gave to San the decision to close its adoption services “The most important person in the magisterium on this issue.” Francisco’s KCBS, in which the archbishop after receiving clarification from the Vatican adoption is the child,” Niederauer also said. New Ways Ministry remains a Catho- lauded a plan which sees Catholic Charities that Catholic organizations should not take “Important as it is for couples to be able to lic-oriented organization, but with no offi- employees working for a subsidiary of Fam- part in the adoption of children to homo- adopt a child if they want to, it’s most im- cial Church recognition or sponsorship. It ily Builders by Adoption, an agency which sexual couples. However, rather than remov- portant of all that the child have a home.” describes itself as “a gay-positive ministry provides adoptions to homosexual couples. ing itself completely from the adoption busi- The archbishop noted that the of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Asked his opinion of the agreement ness, as its counterpart in Boston did a few Church’s teaching is that the child should between Catholic Charities and Family Build- months earlier, Catholic Charities San Fran- have a mother and a father.  see MASS BAN on page 6 Page 2 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 B NDINGS Gen. Peter Pace’s Catholic Spring 2007 Vol. 27, No. 3 Francis DeBernardo, Editor dilemma Board of Directors Mary Byers By Chuck Colbert what more and more Americans, including many Catho- Frank O’Donnell, SM lics, consider to be an immoral and highly unjust war Rev. Paul Thomas Innewsweekly.com March 22, 2007 policy in Iraq. The Bush administration’s shock and awe Board of Advisors over Baghdad, DeBernardo explained, has been from the Mary Ann Coyle, SL Gen. Peter Pace’s recent comments about the immo- get-go “condemned by church leaders all the way from Cornelius Hubbuch, CFX rality of homosexuality has certainly reignited criticism local pastors to the Vatican.” Patricia McDermott, RSM aimed at the U.S. military’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. But Pace seems unable to connect his own profes- Barbara Regan, rc Recently, the general offered a few choice pearls of sional role as a prime instrument of war with its horrific wisdom about gays in the armed effects of death and destruction Staff forces. “I believe homosexual acts all over Iraq. Keep in mind Pace is Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director between two individuals are im- no foot soldier in America’s Matthew Myers moral and that we should not con- Middle East morality play. He is Mary Parker Betty Scholten done immoral acts,” Pace told the the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Chicago Tribune. “I don’t believe of Staff, the president’s top mili- Co-Founders the United States is well-served by tary advisor. Sister Jeannine Gramick a policy that says it is OK to be Maybe Gen. Pace is a cafete- Father Robert Nugent immoral in any way.” ria Catholic, picking and choos- Pace explained, “As an indi- ing which parts of church teach- Bondings is a seasonal publication designed to keep vidual, I would not want [accep- ing suits his military lifestyle. Per- our subscribers informed of issues that pertain to tance of gay behavior] to be our haps he is unaware of numerous lesbian and gay people and the Catholic Church. policy, just like I would not want it Catholic documents on social jus- Founded in 1977, New Ways Ministry is an educational to be our policy that if we were to tice, war and peace, let alone Chris- and bridge-building ministry of reconciliation between find out that so-and-so was sleep- tian sexual ethics. the Catholic gay and lesbian community and institu- ing with somebody’s wife, that we But one thing is sure. Even tional structures in the Roman Catholic Church. would just look the other way, the Vatican makes a distinction which we do not. We prosecute between being gay and doing gay; New Ways Ministry seeks to eradicate prevalent that kind of immoral behavior.” the former is OK, but the latter - myths and stereotypes about homosexuality and That’s quite a mouthful - of ig- homosexual activity - is not. A supports civil rights for lesbian and gay persons in norance? Prejudice? Disgust with society. Gen. Peter Pace Naval Academy graduate, Pace is gay male sexuality? Faith-based smart enough to grasp that key dis- For more information, contact: bigotry? It’s not yet clear from what source Pace’s judg- tinction. New Ways Ministry, 4012 29th St., mental pronouncements spring? Yet, as DeBernardo reminds us, in pastoral settings, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712 Meanwhile, Pace refuses to apologize, although he ministers and priests go light on judgments and heavy (301) 277-5674 expressed regrets for offering his personal opinion. But on compassion. “It’s a very gray area,” he said. E-mail: [email protected] that opinion goes to the heart of the matter. Deeply held Few shades of gray abound, however, when the per- Web: www.newwaysministry.org personal views about homosexuality often have at their nicious policy arm of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ensnares core religious origins. gay and lesbian service members, not for conduct but for Media reports tell us Pace comes to his views on status, their very identity as human persons with a ho- homosexuality based on “upbringing.” We also know that mosexual sexual orientation. he is practicing his faith; therefore, it’s a safe bet to pre- As a fellow Italian-American explained in a Boston sume his Italian-immigrant parents raised him to be a good federal appeals court recently, “Systematically in the mili- TO SUBSCRIBE... Catholic. tary today, gays are being harassed, hounded, harmed, COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORM BELOW What a shame the general did not attend New Ways their privacy invaded,” said former Army Captain in the Ministry’s 6th national symposium, held in the Twin Cit- Judge Advocate General Corps James Pietrangelo II. Please add my name to your mailing list. Enclosed is: ies this past weekend. Everyone from priests and nuns, to Despite Pace’s misguided analogy about adultery, ___ $15.00 in the U.S. lesbian and gay Catholics, to their parents and straight Pietrangelo pointed to something far more troublesome - ___ $20.00 outside the U.S. allies - even two retired bishops - turned out for a smor- rampant straight sex. “I’ve been in two war zones, and ___ I would like to receive Bondings, but cannot donate at this time. gasbord presentation of fresh insights and critical think- everyone was having sex but gays,” Pietrangelo said. ___ An extra contribution for those unable to donate ing about gay life in a sacramental church. In a word, it “Sexual tension is not a problem when straight people was a good-Pope-John manifestation of aggiornamínto, are having sex all over the place in the war zone and they Name ______or bringing up to date, on many things Catholic concern- are not excluded.” Address ______City ______ing sacraments and human sexuality. Ironically, the general’s surname - Pace, pronounced State/Province ______Zip______There’s still time for Pace to catch up. Surely Frank PAH-chay - means peace in his parents’ native Italian. Home Phone______DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry’s executive director and Shouldn’t the general’s birthright command him to make Work Phone______the symposium organizer, would be happy to send the peace on earth and work for justice for gays serving in E-mail______general invaluable Catholic faith-based information for the armed forces? What a wonderful way for Peter Pace Pace’s reading and reflection. to practice Catholicism. Please make check payable to “New Ways Ministry.” “It’s very difficult to claim someone else’s behavior Outside the U.S., please use only checks drawn on a U.S. is immoral,” DeBernardo said during a telephone inter- bank in U.S. dollars; no postal money orders. For more information about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Mail to: New Ways Ministry, view, “without considering one’s own immoral profes- policy and for ways to get involved, visit the 4012 29th Street, Mt. Rainier, MD 20712. sional behavior.” Servicemembers Legal Defense Network at www.sldn.org. In offering that observation, DeBernardo refers to Spring 2007 BONDINGS Page 3 Monsignor reaches out to victims By Mary Ellen Lowney to go out there and be my voice,” Farland ocesan message for the holy day that cel- The Republican Farland said he is not the only priest in said. ebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Spokes- Springfield, MA the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield Among his greatest Christmas Day re- man Mark E. Dupont said Farland is a popu- December 29, 2006 – which spans all four counties of Western Massachusetts - to reach out to victims of wards was greeting the entire family of a lar pastor who speaks from the heart. A newly appointed Monsignor George clergy sexual or physical abuse. Nor was support group member, including the gay “Father Farland is pastorally sensitive. A. Farland issued a personal apology to vic- his Christmas message his first, as far as adult child, at the Mass, he said. He realizes that at Christmas we have a tims of clergy abuse in a Christmas Day ser- abuse victims go. “I looked up on Christmas morning and unique opportunity to reach out to people mon that included an appeal to gays and But his appeal to gays and lesbians is the whole family was there. It brings tears to who might not always be at Mass. He’s lesbians. new and is connected to a parent support your eyes when you think about it,” Farland known for being welcoming,” Dupont said. Farland, who is pastor at Sacred Heart group that has been meeting at the church said. The Roman Catholic Church’s official Church on Chestnut Street, won a standing twice a month since September. Farland was among nine diocesan position on gays and lesbians is now one ovation at one Mass for his words, which A dozen mothers and fathers attend priests who were named monsignors by of welcome, Dupont said, even if the lifestyle he said are aimed at healing wounds and regularly, and it was through working with Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Timothy A. is not sanctioned. welcoming those who may feel disenfran- them that he felt a call to reach out. He asked McDonnell made the announcement last The Springfield diocese has been es- chised within the Roman Catholic Church. them how to welcome gays and lesbians to week. As monsignors, the priests receive the pecially hit in recent years with clergy abuse “If we’re going to be a strong church his church, and they advised him to make a honorary rank as “chaplains to his holiness,” scandals, with court cases and settlements and a healthy church again, I think we have public statement at Mass. although their duties will remain the same at bringing many details to light. Former Bishop to say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and, ‘You are welcome “I told them fine, but I am welcoming present. Thomas L. Dupre resigned in 2004 amidst here.’ That’s what I’m trying to do,” he said. people who are not here. I challenged them Farland’s sermon was not part of a di- accusations by two men that he had sexu- ally abused them as children. Criminal charges were brought against him, but the case later was dropped because the time limit Wyoming church denies Communion to for prosecutions had passed. Farland said he and other priests have been personally hurt by the ordeal. “When lesbian couple you’re in a position of respect and a posi- By Kathleen Miller tion where you can affect people’s lives and Associated Press to have some misusing that respect, it hurts April 6, 2007 gayness to Catholics,” Vader said, “and the “Someone’s forced to deal with it now, aren’t all of us,” Farland said. other half of your time defending your Ca- they?” “For awhile there, it seemed we were Leah Vader and Lynne Huskinson, a les- tholicism to gays.” The parish priest said that after the branded as being different people and very bian couple who got married in Canada in The couple, who regularly attended couple put their engagement and marriage odd,” he said. Farland said he believes that August, sent a letter recently to their state Mass and took Communion, have not been announcements in the local paper, he ran healing has begun, aided by apologies such legislator decrying a Wyoming bill that reminders of the church’s teachings in the as the one he delivered on Monday. would deny recognition of same-sex mar- parish bulletin as a warning. “I feel it’s getting better. People are see- riages. The lawmaker read the letter on the After the Ash Wednesday story, the ing that it’s not all priests, and right now, floor of the Legislature. priest sent this letter: “It is with a heavy I’m not afraid to keep my head up high.”  Soon after, the local newspaper inter- heart, in obedience to the instruction of viewed the couple on Ash Wednesday and Bishop David Ricken, that I must inform you ran a story and pictures of them with ash on that, because of your union and your public munion, so there is no record of how many their foreheads, a mark of their Roman Catho- advocacy of same-sex unions, that you are have been barred from receiving the sacra- lic faith. unable to receive Communion.” ment. Not long after the couple received a The bishop said the couple’s sex life Walsh said most of the cases she has notice from their parish church telling them constitutes a grave sin, “and the fact that it heard of involved public figures. During the they have been barred from receiving Com- became so public, that was their choice.” 2004 presidential campaign, the St. Louis’s munion. Last fall, the US Conference of Catholic Bish- archbishop, Raymond Burke, said he would “If all this stuff hadn’t hit the newspa- ops overwhelmingly approved new guide- deny Communion to Senator John F. Kerry, per, it wouldn’t have been any different than lines that say parishes should welcome gays a Catholic who supports abortion rights. before — nobody would have known about while telling them to be celibate because the Vader said the couple never made any it,” said the couple’s parish priest at St. church considers their sexuality “disor- secret of their relationship. She pointed to Matthew’s, the Rev. Cliff Jacobson. “The dered.” statuettes of two kissing Dutch girls in front sin is one thing. It’s a very different thing to Leah Vader & Lynne Huskinson The bishops said anyone who know- of their trailer home. She also said that the go public with that sin.” ingly persists in sinful behavior, such as gay couple posed for a family photo with Vader’s Catholics deemed sinners in the eyes back to St. Matthew’s since they received sex or using artificial contraception, should children from a previous marriage for the of the church are sometimes taken aside and the letter a month and a half ago. Vader said refrain from taking Communion. church directory and that the church has privately advised not to take Communion. they did not want to make a scene. Professor Carl Raschke, chairman of re- sent mail to both of them at the same ad- But Cheyenne’s bishop, David Ricken; gay The 46-year-old newlyweds — Vader is ligious studies at the University of Denver, dress for years. Catholic organizations; and a national a supervisor at a recycling center, Huskinson said of the Cheyenne bishop’s decision, “It’s Huskinson questioned why Catholics church spokeswoman said they could not a coal miner — ran afoul of a sort of don’t- no more surprising that the Catholic Church having premarital sex and using birth con- recall any previous instance of a US bishop ask-don’t-tell policy on the church’s part. would deny Communion to an openly gay trol are not barred from receiving Commun- denying the sacrament to a gay couple in “I told my wife in good conscience that couple than a Muslim mosque would deny ion, too. But the parish priest said the differ- writing. if I had known those ladies, and we’d have access to somebody who ate pork.” ence is this: The other Catholics are “not Now Huskinson and Vader say they are been having a beer, I’d have just told them Sister Mary Ann Walsh, spokeswoman going around broadcasting, ‘Hey I’m hav- struggling to reconcile their devotion to the to keep everything to themselves,” parish for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, ing sex outside of marriage’ or ‘I’m using church with their devotion to each other. music director John Chick said. Once news said the church allows local bishops to birth control.’”  ”You spend half your time defending your like this hits the papers, he added, handle decisions on who may receive Com- Page 4 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 Gay-friendly Mass on way out Critics say the service downplays the ‘disorder’ of homosexuality and distorts the church teachings

By Peggy Fletcher Stack The Salt Lake Tribune the weeks and share their stories of a gay their children and don’t want to have to marriage, civil unions and adoptions by gay March 5, 2007 daughter, son, uncle or neighbor. choose. But [the church] has to earn their couples, according to a 2005 statement is- “It was a tremendously affirming expe respect. They will not tolerate any more sued by the U.S. Catholic bishops. Father Bob, as everyone calls him, rhetoric that attacks their children.” Catholic teachings distinguish homo- knew the Catholic Church had little cred- What Bussen didn’t expect was the sexual attractions and actions - the former is ibility with gays, given its opposition to immediate opposition within his own parish not sinful, the latter is. Homosexuals living a same-sex marriage and the tendency of some and the state - or the pulsing controversy celibate life should be encouraged to par- to blame the priest sex-abuse scandals on his actions created across the country as ticipate fully in the church, but, the state- homosexuality. the news spread via the Internet. He found ment says, “the church has a right to deny But Monsignor Robert Bussen lives himself in the midst of a firestorm of criti- roles of service to those whose behavior in Park City, a community known for its di- cism. violates her teaching.” versity and openness. So when U.S. Catho- Now, after only three months, the ex- Those ministering to gays within the lic bishops called on their own to start min- periment is about to end. The March 17 Mass church should not “use their position of lead- istering to persons with “homosexual incli- will be the last. ership to advocate positions or behaviors nations,” Bussen saw a chance to do some- And Father Bob is left to wonder how not in keeping with the teachings of the thing bold. his good intentions could have gone so ter- church,” the statement says, nor should they He designed a special monthly Mass ribly wrong. “belong to groups that oppose churh teach- for gays, lesbians and their families at St. “St. Mary’s is a good and holy place ing.” Mary of the Assumption in hopes of mak- with few divisions or factions,” he says. And that’s where criticism of Bussen ing them feel welcome. “This was like shining a bright light on a comes in. St. Mary’s parishioner Joseph The first such Mass was held in Janu- magnificent statue and then the tiny cracks Ozog says Bussen failed to fully explain the ary, and a second followed in February. Al- Monsignor Robert Bussen become visible.” church’s position on homosexuality in the though both were sparsely attended by rience,” Bussen said this week. “The Mass The Catholic Church believes in treat- Mass, seeming to celebrate it rather that help same-sex couples, the Masses prompted was more symbolic than anything, reaching ing gay and lesbian members with kindness people resist its temptations. many others to thank Bussen throughout out to families who love their church and and friendship, but it condemns same-sex see GAY MASS on page 11

Jesuits say they’ll close Boston urban center South End church faces financial woes

By Michael Paulson Boston Globe been reaching out to gay Catholics, the The decision to close the Jesuit Urban week in collections. April 16, 2007 Paulist Center on Beacon Hill and St. An- Center comes nearly seven years after the The Italian Renaissance Revival -style thony Shrine, operated by the Franciscans, Jesuits fired a nun and a priest from the Ur- church, dedicated in 1861, was designed by The Jesuit Urban Center, a predomi- near Downtown Crossing. ban Center because the nun, Sister Jeannette Patrick Charles Keely, the same architect nantly gay Catholic congregation in Regan also said members of the con- T. Normandin , was allowed to help perform who designed the cathedral. Both Boston Boston’s South End, will close at the end of gregation may choose to worship at the two baptismal rites for adopted sons of gay College and Boston College High School July, and the landmark church in which ser- nearby Cathedral of the Holy Cross, also in male couples. were founded on the site, which also served vices are held will be put up for sale, the the South End, but many gay Catholics are The Jesuits at the time said that the vio- as a regional Jesuit seminary in the 19th cen- Jesuit religious order announced yesterday. likely to balk at that option because the ca- lation had nothing to do with the sexuality tury. The Rev. Thomas J. Regan , the supe- thedral is the seat of Cardinal Sean P. of the children’s parents, but that baptismal In 1991, after a lengthy and bitter battle rior of the New England Jesuits, said in an O’Malley , who has been an outspoken op- rites, except in emergencies, are to be per- with preservationists, the Jesuits won a pre- interview that the rationale for the closing is ponent of same-sex marriage. formed by priests. cedent-setting ruling on religious freedom purely financial. He said that the order, long Regan described himself as “incredibly Two years ago, the Jesuit order, under from the state Supreme Judicial Court allow- associated with education, has become fi- disappointed” but said he had no choice. pressure from the Vatican official who is now ing the order to gut the church’s interior nancially reliant on the salaries paid to priests “A lot of people are still in the church Pope Benedict XVI , forced the resignation despite the city’s attempt to protect the de- who teach at Boston College, the College of because of the Jesuits,” he said. “We do of the Rev. Thomas J. Reese , the editor of sign by declaring it a historic landmark. the Holy Cross, and Fairfield University — not want to abandon these people. But America magazine, after Reese was criticized The New England Jesuits continue to all Jesuit schools — but that as many of there’s a spirit among this group, and I think for publishing articles that questioned the operate a number of ministries. In addition those priests retire or die, the order is being that’s going to be lost, and that’s very sad.” Vatican’s writings on issues including same- to the three Jesuit universities, the Jesuits forced to cut back on its activities. Worshipers were informed of the planned sex marriage. operate two Nativity middle schools, in Bos- Regan said that he had received no pres- closing after Mass yesterday. Some reacted Regan said that the Urban Center now ton and Worcester, and are affiliated with sure from the Vatican, the Jesuit headquar- with disappointment and others with anger. costs the order $350,000 a year to support, five high schools, including Boston College ters in Rome, or the Archdiocese of Boston, “I, and my friends, while not surprised, and that its only significant remaining activ- High School. The Jesuits also run a retreat to close the church, and that the sexual ori- were saddened,” said Dr. Juan Jaime de ity is one weekly Mass attended by 150 to center in Gloucester. entation of the worshipers played no role in Zengotita , who has worshiped at the Jesuit 200 people. Of the 342 Jesuit priests in New En- his decision. Urban Center for four years. “This comes Furthermore, he said the building in gland today, about 110 are retired; at Bos- He said that the Jesuits would continue after a few years of rough times for gay which congregants at the Urban Center wor- ton College, 44 percent of the Jesuits in resi- to welcome gays and lesbians to worship at Catholics, with Vatican and local Episcopal ship , the Church of the Immaculate Con- dence are age 70 and older. The Jesuits St. Ignatius of Loyola , the parish they over- declarations that have not been so friendly. ception, needs $4 million to $8 million in work. spend $10 million a year on the Campion see in Chestnut Hill, and that there are two I don’t know what will be the future of gay The congregation that worships at the Je- Center, a home for retired priests in other downtown congregations that have ministry.” suit Urban Center generates about $2,400 a Weston. Spring 2007 BONDINGS Page 5 Lesbian Religious: Gay-Friendly Parishes Community, Below is a partial list of known “gay-friendly” Catholic parishes and faith communi- Conversations, ties. Thank you for helping us add to this growing list! If you are aware of such a parish that is known as welcoming to lesbian and gay Catholics as members and and Coming Out active parishioners, please let us know. Tell us if this welcome is because of a support program, spirituality group, mission statement, participation in gay commu- A weekend conference for nity events, involvement with parents, or simply the friendliness of pastoral staff. women religious who are lesbian, congregational leaders, and formation- vocation ministers Massachusetts Alabama Colorado Springs: Our Lady of North Carolina Montgomery: St. Bede Guadalupe Boston: Paulist Center, St. Charlotte: St. Peter December 14-16, 2007 Denver: Cathedral of the Anthony’s Shrine Durham: Immaculate Conception Newton: Our Lady Help of Arizona Immaculate Conception, St. Fayetteville: St. Patrick Dominic Christians Hosted in Racine, WI Mesa: Christ the King Raleigh: St. Francis of Assisi Scottsdale: Franciscan Renewal Highlands Ranch: Pax Christi Sharon: Our Lady of Sorrows Worcester: Holy Cross College (outside of Milwaukee) Center Littleton: St. Francis Cabrini Ohio Tuscon: St. Cyril of Alexandria, SS. Michigan Akron: St. Bernard Peter and Paul, St. Pius X, Our Connecticut Detroit: St. Leo Cleveland: Ascension of Our Lord, For more information, Kalamazoo: Lambda Catholics Mother of Sorrows, St. Odilia Hartford: St. Patrick-St. Anthony St. Malachi, St. Martha call (301) 864-3604 or St. Ignace: St. Ignatius Loyola Mentor: St. John Vianney email [email protected]. California District of Columbia University Heights: Church of the Minnesota Berkeley: Holy Spirit Parish Holy Trinity, St. Aloysius, St. Gesu Burney: St Francis of Assisi Matthew Cathedral Minneapolis: St. Frances Cabrini, St. Westlake: St. Ladislas Carlesbad: St. Patrick Joan of Arc, St. Stephen Wooster: St. Mary of the Immaculate Claremont: Our Lady of the Florida Conception Assumption Ft. Lauderdale: St. Anthony, St. Missouri El Cajon: St. Luke Maurice Kansas City: Cathedral of the Oregon Immaculate Conception, Guardian Escondido: St. Timothy Melbourne: Ascension Parish Portland: Journey and Koinonia Fremont: St. Joseph-Mission San Naples: St. John the Evangelist Angels, St. Francis Xavier, St. James Catholic Community, St. Andrew, Jose St. Petersburg: Holy Cross St. Louis: St. Cronan, St. Margaret of St. Phillip Neri, St. Vincent dePaul Scotland, St. Pius V Hawthorne: St. Joseph (Spanish) Winter Haven: St. Matthew LaPuente: St. Martha Pennsylvania Lemon Grove: St. John of the Georgia Nebraska Philadelphia: Old St. Joseph, Old Omaha: Holy Family, Sacred Heart Cross Atlanta: Shrine of the Immaculate St. Mary, St. John the Evangelist, Long Beach: St. Matthew Conception St. Vincent dePaul Los Angeles: Blessed Sacrament, Nevada York: St. Joseph Las Vegas: Christ the King, Guardian Christ the King, Mother of Good Illinois Angel Cathedral Counsel, St. Camillus Center-LA Berwyn: St. Mary of the Celle Rhode Island USC Medical Center (Spanish), Chicago: Immaculate Conception, Providence: St. Francis Chapel New Hampshire St. Paul the Apostle St. Clement, St. Gertrude, St. Wickford: St. Bernard Merrimack: St. John Neumann North Hollywood: Blessed Gregory, St. Peter, St. Sylvester, Sacrament, St. Jane Frances de St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thomas Pelham: St. Patrick Tennessee Chantal, St. Patrick the Apostle Memphis: Cathedral of the New Jersey Oakland: Our Lady of Lourdes Country Club Hills: St. Emeric Immaculate Conception Notable Quote from Oceanside: St. Thomas More Evanston: St. Nicholas Clifton: St. Brendan Lawrenceville: St. Ann Orange: Holy Family Cathedral, Morton Grove: St. Martha Texas Trenton Falls: St. Anselm His Own Pope Yet? Koinoia Oak Park: Ascension, St. Colleyville: Good Shepherd Pleasanton: Catholic Community of Catherine of Sienna-St. Lucy Dallas: Holy Trinity New Mexico Pleasanton Schaumburg: St. Marcelline Plano: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton By David Gibson Albuquerque: Holy Family New York Times Sacramento: St. Francis of Assisi San Carlos: St. Charles Indiana Espanola: Sacred Heart of Jesus Virginia April 23, 2007 San Diego: Ascension, Christ the Evansville: St. Mary Arlington: Our Lady Queen of Peace New York King, San Rafael, St. Jude Shrine Indianapolis: St. Thomas Aquinas Richmond: Cathedral of the Sacred San Francisco: Most Holy Baldwinsville: St. Augustine Heart, Sacred Heart Parish “In one of Pope Benedict’s first moves, Bellmore: St. Barnabas the Apostle Redeemer, Old St. Mary’s Iowa Roanoke: St. Gerard Brooklyn: St. Andrew the Apostle, St. he issued a long-awaited policy stating that Cathedral, St. Agnes, St. Dominic Iowa City: St. Thomas More Virginia Beach: St. Nicholas homosexual men cannot be ordained priests, San Jose: St. Julie Billiart, St. Boniface Deer Park: Ss. Cyril and Methodius Martin of Tours (Emmaus Kentucky Washington even if they are able to live a chaste life. East Islip: St. Mary Community) Louisville: Epiphany, Cathedral of Seattle: St. Benedict The action was cast as a response to the San Luis Obispo: Old Mission of the Assumption, St. William Elmira: St. Mary Tacoma: St. Leo Fairport: Church of the Assumption clergy sexual abuse crisis, based on the ar- San Luis Obispo Henrietta: Good Shepherd gument that the abuse was largely inflicted San Rafael: Church of San Rafael Maine West Virginia & Mission San Rafael Archangel Portland: Sacred Heart-St. Long Island: Sacred Heart Shepherdstown: St. Agnes by a growing number of gay men in the Manhattan: Holy Name of Jesus, St. Santa Clara: GALA Dominic Francis Xavier, St. Paul the Apostle priesthood. That was an empty rationale, Santa Cruz: Holy Cross Saco: Most Holy Trinity Wisconsin most obviously because the number of Santa Monica: St. Monica Melville: St. Elizabeth Madison: St. Benedict Center Merrick: Sacred Heart Spring Valley: Santa Sophia Maryland Sunday Assembly abuse cases was dropping sharply in re- Rochester: Blessed Sacrament, St. Walnut Creek: St. John Vianney Baltimore: Corpus Christi, St. Menomonee Falls: Good Shepherd cent decades even as the percentage of gay West Hollywood: St. Ambrose, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Matthew, John the Evangelist (Humboldt St.), Milwaukee: Prince of Peace, Trinity- St. Mary, St. Monica priests was rising. Above all, the decision Victor St. Philip and James, St. Vincent Guadalupe Syracuse: St. Andrew the Apostle unjustly denigrated a group of people sim- Whittier: St. Mary of the dePaul Columbia: St. John the Evangelist Utica: St. Francis DeSales ply for who they are. And it was akin to Assumption Canada Gaithersburg: St. Rose of Lima Wantaugh: St. Frances de Chantal Toronto: Our Lady of Lourdes Westbury: St. Brigid hoisting the ladder after one is safely Colorado Hagerstown: St. Ann aboard ship given that there are already Arvada: Spirit of Christ Severn: St. Bernadette plenty of gay priests and bishops serving Boulder: St. Thomas Aquinas the church faithfully, many in the Vatican itself.” Page 6 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 Gay, Catholic and parents of three

By Chuck Colbert But a political battle to roll back civil- of the Christian message.” commitments — also helps, Maguire ex- National Catholic Reporter marriage rights for gays looms. Massachu- Locally, many gay Catholics, as well as plained. “We are able to say to our children March 23, 2007 setts state lawmakers have voted to send a supportive clergy, hope for dialogue. A group honorably that we are married.” Among all proposed constitutional same-sex marriage of more than 700 interfaith clergy, the Reli- the differences they embody, “being brown- The challenges of raising three children ban to voters. If the legislature approves gious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry, skinned, adopted and from foreign countries, in the Maguire-Newman home are much the the measure again, this year or next, voters has asked for a meeting to discuss a civil at least they don’t have to deal with that same as those faced in suburban America marriage with O’Malley. difference. Their parents are as married as across the country. The Catholic household, The clergy wish to explain any others.” two parents with three school-age children, more fully a key distinction Nonetheless, remaining in the church, springs to life at 7 a.m. on most days. While between civil and religious Maguire acknowledges, is a struggle. “I run one parent makes breakfast and packs marriage and how a gay- the great risk of being misunderstood or dis- lunches, the other makes beds and moni- marriage ban will discrimi- missed,” he said. A declaration from the tors homework assignments. nate against the religious Vatican in 2003 that gay parents do “vio- “My observation is that children are a liberties of gay people. But lence” by raising children caused us “grave lot more receptive to work and instruction so far the chancery has not distress,” Maguire added. in the first 90 minutes before they have responded to the request. But he explained, to “leave the church enough energy to be resistant,” says Gre- “The hope is that the over what it’s saying, I would have to pluck gory Maguire, a celebrated author of conversation occurs out my eyes because I don’t like what I am children’s literature. He is best known for among the people in the seeing.” For Maguire, that action would be the widely popular novel Wicked: The Life pews,” Maguire said. “If we tantamount to spiritual suicide, he said. “I and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, a can’t get the message to would far rather be brave and sit in the pew” the clergy that discrimina- and “with a fair amount of respect, be the bestseller written for adults that has been Gregory Maguire adapted into a Tony Award-winning hit tion will not be tolerated, the Rosa Parks of the situation. I am not mov- musical. would have the final say in November 2008. people will go around” the leadership, and ing. I didn’t move before, and I’m not mov- Maguire is quick to explain, “It’s not The local church has been an active the “clergy will play catch-up.” ing now. I am going to be buried from this because we want them to be superstars” player, with the Boston Cardinal Sean A recent poll from Decision Research church.”  nor do they have “serious learning prob- O’Malley and other local bishops lobbying shows that a majority of Catholics in Mas- lems.” Rather, he said, it’s a matter of “keep- lawmakers to restore a traditional definition sachusetts — 53 percent — favor same-sex ing up in a highly functioning school sys- of marriage. civil marriage. Raised in an orphanage by MASS BAN continued from tem in which we find ourselves.” Maguire and Newman are doing their priests and nuns, as well as by a Catholic page 1... All three children — two boys and a part to prevent that from happening. Last family, Maguire attended parochial schools girl, ages 5, 6 and 9 — were adopted from year they testified at legislative hearings in upstate New York. “The fact that I grew Catholics and reconciliation within the larger countries in Latin America and Southeast against the ban. This year they will host a up as a Catholic, part of my system of think- Christian and civil communities.” Asia. They are by Maguire’s account “noisy, fundraiser for MassE quality.org, a statewide ing — the grammar of how I frame the moral DeBernardo said three retired bishops smart and obedient within a range,” having organization dedicated to protecting same- questions is Catholic grammar,” Maguire who were scheduled to appear on a sympo- settled comfortably into an all-American way sex marriage. The couple has joined thou- said. “I have the great blessing and good sium panel, “Healing our wounds and build- of life, with interests varying from ballet and sands of others across the state who have fortune of finding myself during formative ing an inclusive community,” had asked piano to soccer and computer games. They signed an online statement for Roman years in a very progressive church that was Archbishop Flynn to reverse his decision, are well-liked by their friends, Catholics supporting always eager to ask the next question rather without success. Maguire said, adding, “We the civil marriage than provide the next answer.” And Maguire DeBernardo told CNS March 15 that one have yet to hear or face in “We’re teaching by rights of same-sex explained, “A parent’s first obligation is to of the three, retired Bishop Leroy T. nine years living in Concord example how we couples. speak to his children with the most authen- Matthiesen of Amarillo, Texas, left him a any resistance to us as a gay Despite pro- tic language he has. For me, that is Catholi- phone message two days earlier saying he couple with a family.” must take care of nouncements from cism.” had been told not to come. Since the bishop Maguire and his part- each other, love Rome and Boston, His “intellectual and spiritual training” called it “a directive,” DeBernardo said he ner, artist Andy Newman, are Maguire, a cradle to “question, but not necessarily conclude,” assumed it came from the Vatican, but he not only a gay couple rais- each other. That is Catholic, remains de- he considers a “birthright” and “inherit- had not been able to reach the bishop to ing children, but they are le- the heart of the vout. Newman is a ance.” confirm that. CNS was also unable to reach gally married under a new Christian message.” convert. Together, “So I don’t feel as much of a disjunc- Bishop Matthiesen. law in Massachusetts, the they are instilling in ture as many people do,” he said, “because The other two bishops slated to appear only state with equal mar- their children the ba- when I sit in the pew and hear a letter from a on the panel were retired Archbishop Francis riage rights for lesbians and gay men. sics of Catholicism. All three have been chris- bishop, or an injunction even from the pope T. Hurley of Anchorage, Alaska, and retired Maguire was scheduled speak about tened. The oldest has received first Com- about gay parents doing damage to children, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan of his story as a gay parent and a sacramental munion. The family begins every meal by I just say: Well, he has not asked the right Brooklyn, NY. DeBernardo said they were church at New Ways Ministry’s Sixth Na- saying grace. The children know the Our question — hasn’t asked Andy and me, planning to attend. tional Symposium on Catholicism and Ho- Father, Hail Mary and the rosary. A cross ‘Why are you making so many sacrifices to Other featured speakers on the agenda mosexuality March 16-18 in Minneapolis. hangs by the front door. “We are a Catholic take care of these orphans?’ “ were Father Richard P. McBrien, a professor New Ways Ministry describes itself as “a family,” Maguire said. “We go to church on At New Ways Ministry’s national sym- of theology at the University of Notre Dame; gay-positive ministry of advocacy and jus- a regular basis, are respected in our parish, posium, Maguire plans to tell his story, lead- Mercy Sister Margaret Farley, a professor tice for lesbian and gay Catholics.” and are healthy contributors financially and ing a focused discussion on gay parenting of ethics at Yale University Divinity School; The Maguire and Newman clan is part morally.” in a sacramental church. “It means far less Sister Helen Prejean, a Sister of St. Joseph of a changing landscape of contemporary In an interview with NCR, Maguire ex- to them [his children] that they have two of Medaille and author of “Dead Man Walk- American family life. More than 8,500 same- tended an invitation for Pope Benedict XVI dads than two parents who are there when ing”; and Brian McNaught, a Catholic gay sex couples have married in Massachusetts to share a meal and meet the family. He would they go off to school and when they return,” activist who in 1974 lost his job at The Michi- since May 2004, including many with chil- like the pope to see “we’re teaching by ex- he said. gan Catholic, Detroit archdiocesan newspa- dren. Nationwide, estimates of lesbian and ample how we must take care of each other, The tangible benefits and social status per, after he announced that he was gay.  gay parents range from 2 million to 8 million. love each other,” he said. “That is the heart of marriage — its legal, public and moral Spring 2007 BONDINGS Page 7 Conferees discuss being gay, Catholic Small protests don’t dampen positive mood By Matt Peiken being a visible presence, but one that is in Pioneer Press describes himself as a longtime gay/lesbian “Gay Men in the Priesthood and Religious dialogue with his community.” Minneapolis, MN community activist. “But we’re here because Life.” Hurley criticized the National Confer- March 18, 2007 there’s still so much to do, so many minds to Most symposium attendees appeared educate.” to be in their 50s and 60s. One was Mary ence of Catholic Bishops for producing proc- They wore green sweatshirts and green Controversy follows any event that Brennan Miller, of Bloomington, Ind., whose lamations “by bishops for bishops” with- beaded strings to honor the day, and rain- clashes with Catholic doctrine, and this sym- husband is a former priest who left the church out regard for the broad community they bow pins and shirts with phrases such as posium was no different. Some in attendance to become a Unitarian. Rather than leave Ca- affect. “Catholic. Liberal. Faithful.” to honor their reported seeing small bands of protesters tholicism, Miller said, she’s been committed “The document speaks about disorder. lives. Friday night and Saturday morning, and to church reform for almost 40 years. Can an inclination be intrinsically disor- About 550 Catholic priests, nuns, par- Archbishop Harry Flynn, of the Archdio- “I can no more leave my church than I dered?” Hurley said of one common state- ents, grandparents and theologians — all cese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, barred can leave my ethnicity,” she said. “I was ment of Catholic doctrine. “The terminology homosexual or close to people who are — symposium participants from celebrating once told I can do more to change things carries too much baggage and should be came from all over the country and beyond Holy Eucharist. One scheduled speaker, a from the inside than I ever could from the dropped. And in no place in the document is for the weekend to sympathize, strategize bishop from Amarillo, Texas, bowed out of outside.” there a mention of freedom of conscience. and celebrate their faith and community. the conference, apparently because of pres- Two featured speakers — retired Arch- That’s the kind of thing we have to deal with “Outward Signs: Lesbian/ Gay Catho- sure from Catholic officials. bishop Francis Hurley, of Anchorage, in context with homosexuality.” lics in a Sacramental Church,” the sixth such But positivity reigned inside the hotel. Alaska, and Bishop Joseph Sullivan, of Jaco came away with guarded optimism. national symposium from New Ways Minis- Catholic progressives spent the better part Brooklyn, N.Y. — urged all Catholics to heed “The Catholic Church moves very try, closes today at the Sheraton Bloomington of St. Patrick’s Day dissecting and discuss- the call of community in their faith. slowly, and I don’t expect acceptance to Hotel. ing the church’s stances on homosexuality “It’s not about being orthodox or not happen in my lifetime,” Jaco said. “But I “Twenty or 30 years ago, you couldn’t through workshops such as “Lesbian Nuns: being orthodox, it’s about being sensitively never expected it to get this far in my life- be out in your church, and now you can,” Steps, Stumbles and Strides,” “Breaking aware,” Sullivan said of his role as a bishop, time, either.”  said Dick Jaco, of Sacramento, Calif., who Bread: Lesbian-Gay Parish Ministry” and to resounding applause. “It’s not just about Editorial Calming the frenzy National Catholic Reporter ladder, and the reality that the church has orientation, of what makes one homosexual April 6, 2007 The archbishop also sent letters to deemed gays and lesbians “disordered” and or heterosexual. And it will not be surprising three retired bishops — Francis Hurley of deserving of special treatment that further should we end up with enormous regrets “Very few issues trigger a frenzy like Anchorage, Alaska; Leroy Matthiesen of alienates and separates them is hammered over the discrimination, the hate and the this one,” said Jesuit Fr. Richard Leonard, Amarillo, Texas; and Joseph Sullivan of home. gross misunderstanding directed at homo- director of the Australian Catholic Film Of- Brooklyn, N.Y. Only one of them, The frenzy is on. sexuals. fice, during a lecture last month at the Reli- Matthiesen, decided not to go, “reluctantly” So what was the upshot of it all? The Until then, we can only encourage — gious Education Congress sponsored by honoring a request from “Catholic authori- people who attended the conference — par- and thank — groups like New Ways Minis- the Los Angeles archdiocese. ties” whom he refused to identify. ents, their gay and lesbian children, try. They persist where others, in disgust or The issue he referred to is homosexu- discouragement, simply leave. ality. It can’t be easy to persevere in a church The subject of homosexuality surfaced that so deeply disparages the core of one’s during a talk in which he made reference to identity. In all of this making sure that people the movie “Brokeback Mountain,” the story don’t say certain things, the church poses of two cowboys struggling with their at- an absolute understanding of what God traction to each other. thinks of it all, of how the Creator has sorted Leonard was making the point that the it all out. movie hardly advocates “the gay lifestyle” In his talk, Leonard answered that cer- since by the end of the film “one man is titude with an insight that ought to be part dead and the other is a shell of a human of the ongoing discussion of and about gays being.” and lesbians in the church. Symposium liturgists: Susan Hames, CSJ, Marilaurice Hemlock, Kathleen Olsen He revealed that someone at the U.S. Leonard, according to John Allen’s re- Conference of Catholic Bishops “almost got It was also reported that copies of straights, priests, nuns — knew how to do port, urged development of Catholic moral fired” for writing a similar review, and sub- Flynn’s letter were sent to three Vatican of- liturgy, presumably of an inoffensive but life- reflection on homosexuality. As it stands, sequently received “hate mail” in “thou- ficials, including Cardinal William Levada, giving sort. The conference went on and he said, the church does not distinguish sands of letters.” head of the Congregation for the Doctrine the two bishops — Sullivan and Hurley — between promiscuous behavior and a life- A few weeks later, New Ways Minis- of the Faith, the church’s chief doctrine of- who showed up heard a great deal of the long committed relationship. The church’s try, an outreach to homosexuals within the fice, and Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic experience of real people from the real church. blanket indictment of homosexuality means Catholic church, held a conference in Min- nuncio to the United States. And so the people of God did what they there is no “moral moment” toward which to neapolis. As we reported March 23, Arch- Anyone passingly familiar with eccle- had to do. This was not defiance for the build with regard to gay relationships. bishop Harry Flynn of the St. Paul and Min- siastical protocol and politics sees what’s sake of it, but persistence in service of their “We lump it all together,” Leonard said, neapolis archdiocese denied permission for going on here. Everyone, essentially, is cov- faith and their experience. “but I’m not sure God does.” the group to have Mass during the event, ered. The fear of ecclesiastical reprisal Someday we will likely have a much Nor are we.  held at a local hotel. chases itself up and down the hierarchical greater understanding of gender and sexual Page 8 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 International News Gay is “natural” for most Italians Poll comes amid row over rights for same- sex couples

By Michele von Buren March 6, 2007 Catholic organisation Opus Dei and one of Gay rights’ organisation Arcigay, of which whose party is part of the governing coali- the so-called Teodems (theological demo- Grillini is honorary chairman, urged Catho- tion, said that “rights for cohabiting couples The majority of Italians appear to dis- crats) in Prodi’s coalition. lics to mark their distance from Binetti by are standard in the rest of Europe... A mod- agree with the Church’s views on homo- While her comments sparked outrage joining a pro-DICO march in Rome on Sat- ern, European-style law is needed which sexuality, according to a poll out Tuesday. among gay rights’ urday. gives rights to those who currently do not The survey, released in the midst of a groups, who said she “The time of si- have them”. Vatican offensive against government plans was “racist”, they lence is over. Those Italy is one of the few countries in the to give rights to gay couples, showed that barely caused a ripple who do not contest European Union which does not recognise 64% of Italians regard homosexuality as a among other MPs. such stances are ac- unwed couples or same-sex unions. “natural condition”. Her party chief, complices in a hate Under the terms of the DICO bill, they Just under 30% said they felt it was Culture Minister and campaign unseen would be able to register their union, ob- “unnatural”. The poll, carried out by the Deputy Premier since the tragic times taining certain financial and inheritance monthly magazine Focus, found that 76% Francesco Rutelli, said of Nazism,” Arcigay rights and ‘next of kin’ rights if their loved of respondents were in favour of gays be- the senator had to said. one is physically or mentally incapacitated ing open about their homosexuality and 95% “learn to measure her Arcigay has fre- or in hospital. were open to friendships with homosexuals words” while praising quently condemned Prodi must have the full support of his and lesbians. her as a “woman of the Italian parliament coalition if the DICO bill is to pass the Sen- The survey was released just as a Sen- great intelligence and as “homophobic”, ate without opposition help. ate committee began its examination of a honesty”. most notably during The premier has already said he will not draft bill which would give certain rights to Rutelli, whose the international row put the measure to a confidence vote, which cohabiting couples, including same-sex Daisy party is centrist sparked in 2004 by would allow rebel Catholic allies to vote ones. and Catholic, went on opposition centrist against it without putting the government to anger DICO sup- Catholic Rocco at risk. The bill, dubbed the DICO, was ap- Romano Prodi proved by Premier Romano Prodi’s cabinet porters by saying the bill Buttiglione, who was Prodi’s fragile nine-month-old govern- last month in line with its election programme should be placed on the back burner be- rejected as a candidate for the European ment has just emerged from a crisis caused but has nonetheless created deep divisions cause “the government has other priorities Commission after describing homosexual- by coalition feuding over foreign policy. in the nine-party, Communists-to-Catholics at the moment”. ity as a “sin”. Although Prodi subsequently passed governing coalition. Left-wing MP Franco Grillini, a veteran A host of politicians and celebrities are confidence votes in the House and Senate While leftists and secular-minded coa- gay rights’ campaigner, attacked Rutelli’s taking part in the Rome demo, including which reconfirmed him as premier, his hold lition lawmakers have championed the reaction, asking: “Does this mean Rutelli’s Nobel literature prize winner Dario Fo and on power remains weak due to his razor-thin DICO, Catholics and pro-Vatican centrists party accepts behaviour which discrimi- his actress wife and senator, Franca Rame. Senate majority and continual disagreements including Justice Minister Clemente nates against and slanders homosexuals?” Green house Whip Angelo Bonelli, among his nine allies.  Mastella are firmly against it. The Silvio Berlusconi-led opposition has also attacked the bill, taking the Church’s line that it un- dermines the institution of marriage and tra- Genoa cathedral defaced; gay activists suspected ditional family values. Msgr. Elio Sgreccia, head of the Pon- Catholic World News declared “solidarity with Bagnasco in the paper La Stampa published an article in tifical Council for Life, said on Monday that April 3, 2007 it was the “duty of Italian Catholics” to de- case of the graffiti, but which three priests feat the DICO and any other such laws. Vandals have defaced the cathedral even more so with the said that they were op- He added that giving rights to same- of Genoa, Italy, in an apparent retaliation af- victims of the posed to the Church sex couples would “go against natural law”. ter Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco spoke out archbishop’s most of- position on the civil- The extent of parliamentary hostility to the forcefully against same-sex unions. fensive words on pedo- union legislation. The DICO will make it difficult for the bill to pass The words “Bagnasco shame” philia and homosexual dissent of Fathers the Senate, where Prodi holds only one more were spray-painted across the main entrance civil unions.” Vittorio Cristelli, Aldo seat than the opposition. to the cathedral of St. Lawrence in Genoa. In related Antonelli of Aquila The debate has also exposed the The words appeared shortly after Arch- news, a vehicle owned and Beppe Scapino of amount of anti-gay prejudice still lingering bishop Bagnasco, the president of the Ital- by Tele Liguria Sud, a Ivrea was highlighted in the Italian parliament. ian bishops’ conference, issued a statement local diocesan-run tele- in an article that the At the weekend, Senator Paola Binetti, opposing the legal recognition of civil vision station in La anti-clerical daily en- a member of the second biggest party in unions, and saying that the government’s Spezia, was also marred titled “We are Catho- government, the Daisy, branded homosexu- failure to enforce moral norms by graffiti. The words lics and in favor of ho- ality a “deviation of the personality” during regarding marriage could open the way to all “No Vatican” and an mosexual civil a television talk show. kinds of perverse relationships. anarchist symbol were unions.” Father “In my opinion, it represents ‘different’ Police in Genoa told reporters that spray-painted on the Antonelli, in a particu- behaviour - very different from the norm as Archbishop Bagnasco was being accompa- vehicle, which had been larly acrimonious Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco written in our morphological, genetic, en- nied by an armed guard because of concerns parked in front of the statement, said that the docrinological and character code,” she about his security raised by the incident. city’s Cathedral of Christ the King. position taken by the Italian hierarchy dem- said. The president of the homosexual In a clear indication of dissent onstrates “the Talibanization of the Binetti is a member of the conservative activist group Arcigay, Sergio Lo Guidice, within the Italian Church, the Turin news- Church.”  Spring 2007 BONDINGS Page 9 Vatican Enraged by Magazine’s Confessional Expose Reuters February 1, 2007 cretly to detach a respirator. The father had loved was “a very personal matter of con- gusting, unworthy, disrespectful and par- for years been paralyzed, confined to a bed science.” ticularly offensive,” the newspaper said. An Italian magazine report which and unable to breathe autonomously. The Church teaches officially that ab- Bocca said it was not his intention to sought to prove that what some priests tell Although euthanasia is officially con- stinence and monogamy—not condoms— show disrespect for the Catholic church or Catholics in the confessional is not always demned by the Church, the priest told him are the best way to stop the spread of AIDS. its sacraments. what the Church preaches in public has en- not to worry too much because God would The author said the article was a piece “What I wanted to show was the diffi- raged the Vatican. be the ultimate arbiter. of investigative reporting, but the Vatican culties facing these priests as they try to To write the cover story in this week’s “If I had a wife, a father or a son who for reacted with scathing vehemence. carry out their duties in good conscience,’’ L’Espresso, reporter Riccardo Bocca visited years was alive only because of artificial life An editorial in the Vatican’s newspa- he told Reuters. “The differences I found 24 churches in five large Italian cities and support, I would pull the plug too,” said the per, l’Osservatore Romano, said the report were shocking even to me.” confessed sins he never committed or in- priest, who then gave him absolution. had “profaned” the sacrament of Penance, On homosexuality, one priest told him: vented ethical dilemmas for the priest. In another confessional box he faked also known as Reconciliation, in the name “Well, homosexuality is a tendency which is In one confessional in Naples he told being HIV positive and was told by a priest of “an ignoble scoop.” a valid human expression. There are even the priest he felt guilty over his father’s that whether or not he used a condom in “Shame—there is no other word to ex- homosexual priests and lesbian nuns.’’ death after the family allowed a doctor se- order not to pass the virus to the woman he press our shock over something that is dis- Asked if he should openly declare his homosexuality, the priest told him: “Gener- ally the best thing to do is to be yourself. Come clean. Do what the English call ‘com- Pope Reaffirms View Opposing Gay Marriage ing out’.’’ The Church teaches that homosexual- and Abortion ity is not a sin but homosexual acts are. Apart from abortion—which all 24 priests unanimously condemned—he re- By Ian Fisher ceived conflicting advice on moral issues The New York Times one major block to a visit to Russia by John where the Vatican remains influential even such as divorce, stem-cell research and March 14, 2007 Paul II, a Pole who often expressed his de- as church attendance drops. prostitution. sire to travel there. Over the last few weeks, Vatican lead- Pope Benedict XVI strongly reasserted Despite invitations from Russian lead- ers, including the pope himself, have spo- on Tuesday the church’s opposition to abor- ers, the Orthodox hierarchy has opposed any ken out against a law proposed by the gov- tion, euthanasia and gay marriage, saying papal visit, and on Tuesday, an aide to Mr. ernment of Prime Minister Romano Prodi, that Roman Catholic politicians were “espe- Putin said he would not negotiate church which would expand rights to nonmarried cially” obligated to defend the church’s be- issues. couples, including same-sex couples. The Catholic Parents Network liefs in their public duties. “There are no middlemen in the dialogue proposal has been a major source of ten- presents “These values are non-negotiable,” the between the churches,” the aide, Sergei sion in Mr. Prodi’s fragile coalition, as top pope wrote in a 130-page church officials asserted that “apostolic exhortation,” a Catholic politicians were obli- Becoming a distillation of opinion from gated to oppose it. Mature Christian a worldwide meeting of The document suggested bishops at the Vatican in that the church would continue 2005. to speak out strongly on politi- “Consequently, cal issues it saw as fundamen- A Workshop/Retreat for Catholic politicians and tal, even at risk of accusations, Lesbian/Gay Catholics, legislators, conscious of as has been the case in Italy, that Parents, Pastoral Ministers, their grave responsibility it is interfering in politics. before society, must feel Those issues, Benedict and other interested persons particularly bound, on the wrote, include “respect for hu- basis of a properly formed man life, its defense from con- conscience, to introduce ception to natural death, the Facilitated by laws inspired by values family built on marriage between grounded in human na- a man and a woman, the free- James Keenan, SJ ture.” Prikhodko, told reporters in Moscow, accord- dom to educate one’s children and the pro- In the meantime on Tuesday, the pope ing to Reuters. motion of the common good in all its forms.” met at the Vatican with President Vladimir V. Mr. Putin met with John Paul twice, in In the document, the pope also repeated September 21-23, 2007 Putin of Russia, in their first encounter since 2000 and 2003. that celibacy remained “obligatory” for Xavier Center Benedict became pope in April 2005. The document released Tuesday con- priests. In the 2005 meeting, numerous bish- A Vatican statement said the men dis- tained no surprises, repeating in a more com- ops lamented the shortage of priests in Convent Station, NJ cussed improving relations between Catho- prehensive form positions that the church many parts of the world, opening a rare public lics and Orthodox — an issue that Benedict has long held and that Benedict frequently debate about possible limited changes, such has put near the center of his papacy. They addresses. An apostolic exhortation is the as allowing married deacons to ascend to For more information, spoke in the papal residence, mostly in Ger- second highest form of papal teaching after the priesthood. contact New Ways Ministry man, the pope’s native language. the encyclical. But Benedict ruled out any such Relations have been tense over the Still, the document’s timing resonated changes. “I reaffirm the beauty and impor- at 301-277-5674 1,000 years since the two churches divided, in Europe, where an increasing number of tance of a priestly life lived in celibacy as a or [email protected] in recent years most hotly over Orthodox countries permit forms of both euthanasia sign expressing total and exclusive devo- allegations that Catholics actively seek con- and same-sex marriage. Debate on these is- tion to Christ, to the Church and to the King- verts among the Orthodox. The issue was sues has been especially potent in Italy, dom of God,” he wrote. Page 10 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 Gay-Friendly Catholic Colleges Below is a partial list of known “gay-friendly” Catholic colleges and universities, that is, those Catholic colleges that have some type of gay and lesbian student group, support group, ally group, etc. Thank you for helping us add to this growing list! If you are aware of such a college that is known as welcoming to gay and lesbian people, please let us know. Tell us if this welcome is because of a club, support services, participation in gay community events, or simply the friendliness of faculty and staff.

Arizona Illinois Minnesota Columbus: Ohio State University Tempe: All Saints Catholic Newman Center Chicago: DePaul University, Loyola Univer- Collegeville: Saint John’s University Dayton: University of Dayton sity, Saint Xavier College Saint Joseph: College of Saint Benedict California St. Paul: St Thomas Univeristy Pennsylvania Belmont: Notre Dame de Namur Indiana Winona: Saint Mary’s University of Cresson: Mount Aloysius University Notre Dame: Holy Cross College, Saint Minnesota Erie: Mercyhurst College Goleta: St. Mark’s University Mary’s College, University of Notre Dame Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill College, LaSalle Los Angeles: Loyola Marymount Montana University, Saint Joseph’s University University Iowa Helena: Carroll College Villanova: Villanova University Moraga: Saint Mary’s College Dubuque: Loras College Ranchos Palos Verde: Marymount Nebraska Rhode Island College Kentucky Omaha: Creighton University Newport: Salve Regina University San Diego: University of San Diego Louisville: Spalding University San Francisco: University of San Louisiana New Hampshire Texas Francisco New Orleans: Loyola University Nashua: Rivier College Austin: Saint Edward’s University, Santa Clara: Santa Clara University University of Texas Maryland New Jersey San Antonio: University of the Incarnate Colorado Baltimore: College of Notre Dame of Mary- South Orange: Seton Hall Word Denver: Regis University land, Loyola College of Maryland New York Vermont Connecticut Massachusetts Albany: College of Saint Rose Colchester: Saint Michael’s College Fairfield: Fairfield University, Sacred Boston: Emmanuel College, Boston College Bronx: Fordham University, Manhattan Heart Univ.ersity Chestnut Hill: Boston College College Washington New Haven: Albertus Magnus College Easton: Stonehill College Buffalo: Canisius College Lacey: Saint Martin’s College West Hartford: Saint Joseph College North Andover: Merrimack College New Rochelle: College of New Rochelle, Seattle: Seattle University Weston: Regis College Iona College Spokane: Gonzaga University District of Columbia Worcester: Assumption College, Holy Cross Poughkeepsie: Marist College Georgetown University College Riverdale: College of Mount Saint Vincent Wisconsin Rochester: Nazareth College of Rochester De Pere: Saint Norbert College Florida Michigan Syracuse: LeMoyne College Madison: Edgewood College Miami Gardens: Saint Thomas University Ann Arbor: St. Mary Student Parish Tarrytown: Marymount College Milwaukee: Alverno College, Cardinal Miami Shores: Barry University Stritch University, Marquette University Missouri Ohio St. Louis: Saint Louis University Cincinnati: Xavier University, University of Cincinnati

Recommended Reading Unholy Union “Creating Safe Environments for LGBT Students: A Catholic Schools WINS Radio Commentary Perspective.” Edited by Michael J. Bayly, MA, Executive Coordinator, By Sister Camille D’Arienzo Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities, Minneapolis, Minnesota February 25, 2007 “Creating Safe Environments for LGBT Students” is a comprehensive training Reports of a possible union between segments of the Anglican Church and Rome guidebook for educators who are commit- brought a howl of dismay from a woman writing in The New York Times. ted to diversity and the full Libby Purves says some Anglican archbishops, who are seeking to avoid ‘schism’ inclusion of LGBT students in every as- over the issue of ordaining gay and lesbian Christians, want to draw strength from pect of the Catholic high school Rome’s opposition to same sex unions experience. Based on five years of pilot test- For as long as I can remember, I’ve hoped and prayed for ecumenical cohesion ing in Catholic schools, this based on the beauty and spiritual power of Christianity and on mutual acceptance of unique book emphasizes safe-staff train- Jesus’ teachings. These include gentleness, justice, forgiveness, generosity and mu- ing in integrating the Church’s tual respect. If Jesus had ever condemned homosexuality, surely one of the four pastoral, social, and moral dimensions with evangelists would have recorded it in the Gospels. the special needs of LGBT Sexual relationships – either gay or straight – ought to be based on positive students. The book presents strategies values, not on those that exploit or exclude anyone. and resources for building safer Shouldn’t ecumenical unions adhere to the same standards? schools, helpful materials for communicat- ing with parents, and general guidelines for developing and maintaining professional helping relationships with LGBT students. www.newwaysministry.org Spring 2007 BONDINGS Page 11 Bishops Denounce Writings of a Catholic Theologian

By Laurie Goodstein The New York Times and that Catholic theologians through his- ops knew, they were very widely distrib- sent that one to members of Congress and March 23, 2007 tory had taken a variety of acceptable uted.” state legislators in Wisconsin. stances on these issues. Father Weinandy said it was “quite un- “They’re simply uninformed,” Mr. In a rare step, Roman Catholic bishops The bishops’ Com- usual” for American bish- Maguire said of the bishops. “There is no in the United States have declared as “false mittee on Doctrine de- ops to formally de- one Catholic view on contraception, abor- teaching” two pamphlets by a Catholic theo- nounced the pamphlets nounce Catholic theolo- tion or same-sex marriage. There’s a diver- logian who argues that abortion, contracep- as “irresponsible.” The gians, especially when sity of views. And it’s not just Dan Maguire tion and same-sex marriage are morally per- bishops said that it was the Vatican had not is- versus the bishops. There’s a large school missible under Catholic doctrine. a “serious error” to claim sued something first. of thought that agrees with everything I’ve The theologian, Daniel C. Maguire, “that the teaching of Last week, the said in these pamphlets.” teaches religious ethics at Marquette Uni- the pope and the bish- Vatican rebuked a Jesuit Marquette University, responding to versity, a Jesuit institution in Milwaukee. He ops represents merely priest in El Salvador who questions from a reporter, issued a state- is a 75-year-old former priest and a prolific one voice among many is a leading scholar of lib- ment saying that the university “agrees with writer, educated at the prestigious Gregorian legitimate voices within eration theology, which the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops University in Rome, who has been challeng- the Catholic Church.” emphasizes religious ad- Committee on Doctrine that the views out- ing Catholic teaching on sexuality for years. The Rev. Thomas vocacy for the poor. lined by Daniel Maguire in pamphlets he Last summer, Mr. Maguire mailed two G. Weinandy, executive Mr. Maguire said in circulated to the hierarchy earlier this year of his pamphlets, “The Moderate Roman director for the bishops’ an interview that there do not represent the teachings of the Catho- Catholic Position on Contraception and doctrine committee, were only a few thou- lic Church.” Abortion” and “A Catholic Defense of said in an interview, sand printed copies of Mr. Maguire is a tenured professor and Daniel Maguire Same-Sex Marriage” to 270 Catholic bish- “The big concern was the pamphlets in circula- “has rights related to his academic disci- ops. In them, he argued that the Catholic that the pamphlets are written in a very popu- tion, though the one on same-sex marriage pline,” it also said.  position on these issues was “pluralistic,” lar and lively style, and from what the bish- was accessible on a Web site. He said he

GAY MASS continued from page 4...

“You’re not supposed to be ambigu- that comes with that. [Such people] make embracing and cherishing this dimension of small percentage of priests said they were ous as far as church teachings are con- that attraction the center of their lives.” my life. . . . This holy fire is sacred, not se- straight and an equally small number said cerned,” he said. According to Catholic teaching, cret. It must not be trashed by anyone.” they were gay, but the vast majority said Ozog, who has a tape of the sermon, Richtsteig says, “homosexuality is not some- After Bussen began celebrating the they didn’t know. They all take vows of celi- says it leaves the impression that “it’s OK thing they have to feel guilty about. They Mass for gays and lesbians, some people bacy, after all. to be a practicing homosexual.” did not ask for it and are not morally cul- concluded that he was the author of the blog Eliminating healthy talk of sexuality is The Masses could create a gay subcul- pable for it. But it’s still a disorder, some- and circulated it. dangerous, even for celibate priests, he says. ture within the parish, another thing the bish- thing they have to watch, not something to Some members of his parish confronted “Celibacy does not mean you’re not a ops oppose, he says. be proud of.” him and, Ozog sexual being. If you suppress He also objected to the fact that Bussen That Mass affected more than Park City, says, he acknowl- your sexuality, it’s going to attended a meeting of Dignity, a organiza- he says. It affected the whole Utah church, edged he was the “I have never told my pa- come out somewhere else. It will tion of Catholics whose stated mission is to implying approval of Bussen’s methods. author. rishioners that I am do violence to you or the change the church’s doctrine on gay mar- In fact, diocesan leaders support him. They felt it straight or gay. I simply people you serve - alcoholism, riage. And he joined other religious leaders “He’s not doing anything unorthodox,” indicated a kind power-seeking, pornography, at an interfaith service during the Fitzgerald says. “We have special Masses of moral ambiva- try to be their pastor.” workaholism and abuse.” Winterpride Festival in February. for youths, teens, elderly and Hispanic. Our lence about Though Bussen’s critics Ozog and several others met with the bottom line is to care for the people, and church teachings believe he is not upholding the Park City priest to register their objections that’s what he’s doing.” and have sent a complete copy of the blog, church’s teachings on this, no one has sug- but said he was unresponsive to them. So Even with the support of his superiors, now closed to the public, to the Vatican. gested he has broken his vows. they wrote letters to Bishop-elect John Bussen thought it best to discontinue the In an interview, Bussen declined to So the conversation about the blog, he Wester; Monsignor Terrence Fitzgerald, in- Mass. He believes the opposition is more confirm or deny the authorship or talk about feels, is a distraction from the work he was terim administrator the Catholic Diocese of about him than about the service. his sexual orientation. trying to do. Salt Lake; and to the Vatican. For the past few years, an anonymous “In the Catholic Church, the emphasis The ensuing controversy about the “This is not about Father Bob. He’s a Catholic priest has been publishing a Web should not be on the personality of the special Mass has divided his parish, thrust wonderful, caring man,” says Ozog, who log about his struggles with his homosexu- priest. It asks us not to make public declara- the gays and lesbians who attended into moved to Park City last year. “We just want ality. tions. There should not be the gay priest the public spotlight, and put too much em- to be sure that he’s representing the views The writer describes being in the semi- and the straight priest,” he says. “I have phasis on him, Bussen says with a mixture of the church.” nary in the 1970s when nearly 20 percent of never told my parishioners that I am straight of sorrow and resignation. “If it’s to be about The Rev. Erik Richtsteig of St. James the priests left to get married. He explored a or gay. I simply try to be their pastor.” me, it can’t continue.” Catholic Church in Ogden is also critical of slow awakening to his own sexuality, ram- Bussen is hardly alone in not wanting Still, the effort hasn’t been all bad for Bussen’s form of outreach. pant homophobia in the church and the need to discuss his orientation. the community. “We have to be open to people who to help other priests confront these issues. Priests rarely discuss sex at all. Though On Thursday, he plans to moderate an have homosexual attractions,” he says, “but Eventually, the blogger writes that he some researchers have put the number of open-ended discussion about homosexual- that is different from a ministry to people is at peace with himself. gay priests as high as 40 percent, no one ity at St. Mary’s for the entire parish. who identify themselves as gay and lesbian. “My bishop gave me the supportive knows for sure. “We are not as open as I thought,” There’s a whole bunch of culture baggage counsel,” he writes. “I was right in claiming, He points to a recent survey in which a Bussen says. “We have some growing up to do.”  Page 12 BONDINGS Vol. 27, No. 3 Opinion A Dangerous Closet ways have been attracted to the priesthood gay man faces painful conflicts between his By Mary Gail Frawley-O’Dea in numbers disproportionate to their pres- identity and his attachment relationships. The Boston Globe of enacted homosexuality. Mixed messages, ence in the wider Entering the priesthood was March 11, 2007 sexual secrets, and denied realities abound society. Until a move that, until quite re- in a clerical Wonderland in which the insti- very recently, cently, evoked family pride, The Catholic Church’s position on ho- tutional church appears to play the Queen and in some with the seminarian or priest mosexuality eventually might take its place of Hearts. Secrecy about and coverup of the cases still, being held in great esteem among the other aspects of Catholic sexual sexual abuse of minors becomes an almost Catholic boys by his community. theology generally discounted by the laity inevitable component of such a crazy and who recognized It is also logical to hy- and many priests. Nonetheless, the hypoc- crazy-making realm. their homosexu- pothesize that homosexual risy of a church condemning homosexual- Contemporary researchers suggest that ality faced the men would be attracted to ity while depending on a significantly gay between 28 percent and 56 percent of the scorn of family, the all-male environment of priesthood to run it and to administer its American priesthood is homosexual. Most friends, and the priesthood. Further, sacraments is, among several other factors, psychologically healthy gay men are at- church. Taught when boys entered the semi- directly implicated in the sexual abuse scan- tracted to the priesthood for the same rea- that acting on his nary as young teens, the ex- dal. The unspoken known that the priest- sons that it attracts mature heterosexual men. sexual love and plosion of pubescent sexual hood is more homosexual than the wider They love God, desire to pursue a life of strivings is in- strivings had only one direc- culture is countered by an edict to priests deepened spirituality, and are committed to trinsically evil tion in which to travel. Sur- not to speak openly about their sexual ori- living out gospel values within a commu- and mortally sin- rounded by men and boys entation but rather to preach about the evil nity of faith. It is probable that gay men al- ful, the Catholic in an environment that ren- dered women dangerous, ex- cept for idealized mothers and the Virgin Mary, an adolescent seminarian was left with The argument’s origin turns out not to be in theology, few choices. He pretty much could lust af- ter his mother or he could lust after those but in popular prejudice around him, many of them gay men. And so we encounter the paradox of an organiza- tion teaching that homosexuality is disor- By Clifford Longley this teaching, “finality” is not relevant to opposition to homosexuality, for condemn- dered and then constructing an environment The Tablet sexual acts between women—the female ing contraceptives. But then later on, in 1975 that maximally elicits homosexual yearnings. London, England orgasm has no procreative function—and and 1986, the concept of “finality” was in Many gay men growing up in what has January 20, 2007 they should, logically, have been excluded turn used to condemn homosexuality. It is been until recently a pervasively homopho- Next year sees the fortieth anniversary from condemnation. an astonishingly circular argument, whose bic society have lived in closets in which of the papal encyclical against artificial birth Yet “finality” is the language of natural origin turns out to be not in theology at all, they sometimes deny who they are even to control, Humanae Vitae. Last year was the law, and in resorting to it in 1968 Paul VI was but in popular prejudice. themselves. The antihomosexual theology twentieth anniversary of the last compre- contradicting the advice of his own expert It also proves too much. It proves, for of the Catholic Church, conveyed in hensive Vatican statement on homosexual- commission that the immorality of contra- instance, that intercourse with a pregnant homosocial seminary environments likely to ity, its Letter to Catholic Bishops on the ception could not be proved from natural or postmenopausal woman or even a woman stimulate forbidden and derided sexual de- Pastoral Care of Homosexuals. Both events law. But there is a more explicit connection whose menstrual cycle renders her infertile sires, often constructed for the young gay in the recent history of the Church’s sexual between the condemnation of these sexual at the time, is in the same category as a ho- priest a particularly suffocating closet. Here, teaching are relevant to the current contro- acts even than this. When Paul VI received mosexual act. Yet for the reason already the self-hatred plaguing many gay men versy over anti-homosexual discrimination. the report mentioned above he sought an- noted, the “finality” argument would seem could be magnified for gay priests, some of The Government wants to make that unlaw- other opinion, from four conservative theo- to permit lesbian acts. For such reasons, the whom tried to cope by strenuously deny- ful, but also wants a form of words that will logians. Their shock argument was that if word “finality” has tended to be avoided in ing their sexual orientation, even turning minimize religious resistance to such a mea- the ban on contraceptives was lifted, the more recent Catholic discussions of hetero- hatred outward toward other gay men. De- sure, not least opposition from the Catholic Church would logically have to change its sexuality, which it is still there in the treat- nial and dissociation on this scale encour- Church. teaching not only on oral sex and masturba- ment of homosexuality. ages the denial of other sexual secrets like Although the Catholic Church often tion, but on homosexuality as well. What Strictly speaking, nevertheless, if the the sexual abuse of children. says that it is against discrimination—it first they were saying was a visceral appeal to Catholic Church were being consistent it Nothing psychologically sound or, I said so as long ago as 1986—in fact it can- the universally acknowledged assumption would insist that homosexuals were treated suspect, spiritually enriching can emanate not treat homosexuals and heterosexuals the that homosexuality was a wicked perversion. like heterosexual couples who use contra- from such hypocrisy. Surely, the pope, car- same. This is because, as it also said then, it Anything that seemed to call that into ceptives, and discriminate against them both dinal, bishop, or priest who cannot look in regards homosexuality as “objective disor- question was manifestly absurd—end of as “intrinsically disordered” (the phrase the mirror and acknowledge his reflection dered.” argument. It was an entirely rhetorical used of contraception in 1968 and of male as a homosexual man will have difficulty The basis of this teaching, stated in the point—the Church’s teaching on homosexu- homosexuality in 1975). But not lesbians. looking into the face of a sexually abusive 1975 Vatican statement Persona Humana, ality was not seriously under review. We Catholic teaching, in short, is in a mess. brother and naming what he sees. Rather, is that “homosexual relations are acts which may conclude, however, that Paul VI con- Natural law, as the experts predicted 40 years he is likely to close his eyes to true evil, lack an essential and indispensable finality”. demned contraception because not to do ago, isn’t up to the job. because his own humanity has been That last word is the heart of the matter. In so would put the Church in collision with Is it too much to hope after 40 years, mislabeled as inclining toward evil. He may other words, contraceptive sexual acts and the almost universal abhorrence of homo- that the Catholic Church might at last sort also blame or ignore the victims of sex abuse, homosexual acts are equally morally defec- sexuality, which he shared. out the damage Humanae Vitae has done unconsciously turning away from his own tive for the same reason: they lack the es- For his encyclical, the Pope went back to its sexual ethics, and come up with some- victimization by his Church and the wider sential “finality” of an act capable of pro- into the discredited natural law theory to thing clear, coherent and close to the Gos- society. Closets, then, are built within clos- creation. Oddly, although lesbianism is usu- salvage the concept of “finality” so he could pels that has a ring of truth? If ever there ets and lies pile up until it is hard to find the ally lumped in with male homosexuality in say he had theological grounds, other that was a need for anything, it was this.  truth, much less speak the truth. 