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Bishop John Stowe Leads Prayer at LGBT Catholic Gathering

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Bishop John Stowe Leads Prayer at LGBT Catholic Gathering B NDINGS Vol. 36 No. 3 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Spring-Summer 2017 Bishop John Stowe leads prayer at LGBT Catholic gathering By Patricia Lefevere who have pursued "a life of faith in a Kentucky Catholics and others farther "Our usual way of thinking is that The National Catholic Reporter church that has not always welcomed or afield. justice and mercy are incompatible," May 4, 2017 valued" them or their worth. As a "The flack has been enormous and Stowe said. But Pope Francis has asked shepherd, he needs to hear their voices continues on the blogosphere" and from Catholics to find new ways to work Chicago — Clad in traditional and take seriously their experience, he "self-righteous strangers online and those together, to open up new possibilities and brown Franciscan robes, Bishop John said, adding that both the presence and who subscribe to these feeds," Stowe to try to be nonjudgmental of one Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, seemed said, calling some of the another, he added. "We all still require at home among the rainbow of colors posts and e-mails [mercy]; it's about the need for a conver- at New Ways Ministry’s eighth annual "vicious." sion of attitudes for both the institutional symposium here April 28-30. This was The uproar quieted church and for all its members," Stowe the first time that the bishop had spoken somewhat after the bishop said. in front of the advocacy group, which addressed the issue on a When Stowe was asked how he felt supports lesbian, gay, bisexual and local Catholic radio show the church should respond to cases of transgender Catholics. in December 2016, "but it LGBT employees — many of whom had "New Ways Ministry made me want never completely died been fired from long-held church posi- to come here," the bishop told NCR down. I expect it will re- tions when their same-sex marriages during a 40-minute interview at the surface after the sym- were publicized or outed — he stressed gathering. He has been observing and posium," he said. that the church must be consistent and admiring the group's outreach to LGBT Among objectors, Stowe non-discriminatory in dealing with all its Catholics over several years, he added. believes there are many employees. New Ways Ministry director Frank who are sincere Catholics “We must preserve our tradition and DeBernardo invited Stowe, 51, after he'd and are "really struggling" our integrity as a church," he said. "We heard the bishop give scriptural reflec- with all the issues around risk contradicting ourselves if we want tions at the 2016 annual meeting of the homosexuality. He said he our employees to live by the church's Conference of Major Superiors of Men. hopes and prays "for a teaching and if we ourselves as an "I couldn't believe what I was culture of encounter" to institution don't live by our teaching, hearing," DeBernardo said, comparing ensue so "we can become which has always opposed discrim- Stowe's words to those of Pope Francis fully engaged with those ination of any sort." and to St. Francis of Assisi. All three who want to live the men seemed to be saying that "it was the Catholic life and who love For more stories about New church's job to take the Gospel to the the Catholic Church. ... Ways Ministry’s Eighth National margins," DeBernardo said. Bishop John Stowe, OFM, Conv., addresses New Why would we want to Stowe said he was honored to be Ways Ministry’s Eighth National Symposium. turn our backs on them?" Symposium, as well as how to asked "to break open God's Word" with he asked. order audio recordings from the 300 weekend participants. The persistence of LGBT Catholics inspired Stowe harkened back to St. Francis' the event, see pages 6 and 7. Franciscan offered homiletic reflections him. encounter with the beggar 800 years ago. on two Gospel texts read at the April 28 They've shown "a valuable At first, the leper with his open sores Stowe thought the church could find opening prayer service (Matthew 12:1- expression of mercy" in calling the repelled him, but later St. Francis was a way to "defend our religious liberty 14) and at the April 29 morning service church "to be more inclusive and more able to kiss the leper. "He was trans- without violating any one's human (Luke 6:37-45). Retired Auxiliary Christ-like despite being given so many formed by his encounter," the bishop rights." Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit, reasons to walk away," he said. said. The reaction was fitting for a sym- He pointed to its century-long also on the program, had to decline due But his acceptance of the invitation posium with the theme "Justice and championing of working people, of their to a viral infection. to address the New Ways Ministry Mercy Shall Kiss: LGBT Catholics in the rights to a living wage, to humane gathering did not sit well with many Stowe said he is humbled by those Age of Pope Francis." (Continued on page 6) As Church Shifts, a Cardinal Welcomes Gays; They Embrace a ‘Miracle’ By Sharon Otterman “The word I use is ‘welcome,’” sensitivity.” They can follow the “It’s the beginning of a dialogue,” The New York Times Cardinal Tobin said in an interview just principle of accompaniment, meaning said Francis DeBernardo, the executive June 13, 2017 before the Mass last month. “These are they can meet people where they are director of New Ways Ministry, a group people that have not felt welcome in spiritually and build relationships that that ministers to and is an advocate for NEWARK — The word other places. My prayer for them is that help them deepen their faith. gay Catholics. “The church leadership, “pilgrimage” usually evokes visions of they do. Today in the Catholic Church, for the past 40 years, has far-off, exotic places, but for some 100 we read a passage that says you have to just been so silent, and gay and lesbian Catholics and their be able to give a reason for your hope. unwilling to dialogue, families, a pilgrimage to the Cathedral And I’m praying that this pilgrimage for and unwilling to pray Basilica of the Sacred Heart here on a them, and really for the whole church, is with L.G.B.T. Catholics recent Sunday was more like a a reason for hope.” that, even though this homecoming. Four years ago, Pope Francis shook isn’t the ultimate step, The doors to the cathedral were the Catholic world with his comment it’s a first step,” he said opened to them, and they were welcomed about gay priests seeking the Lord: of Cardinal Tobin’s personally by the leader of the “Who am I to judge?” But it was unclear welcome. Archdiocese of Newark, Cardinal Joseph how his words would affect Catholics Some church conserv- W. Tobin. They were seated on folding seeking acceptance in the pews. atives were wary, how- chairs at the cathedral’s center, in front After all, the church teaches in its ever. The problem, they of the altar in the towering sanctuary, catechism that homosexual acts are said, was not the idea of under the blue-tinted glow of stained “intrinsically disordered.” Men who welcoming — after all, glass. “present deep-seated homosexual Jesus welcomed all — “I am Joseph, your brother,” tendencies or support the so-called gay but that the public em- Cardinal Tobin told the group, which culture” are not to become priests, brace of such a group included lesbian, gay, bisexual and according to Vatican instruc- could be interpreted as transgender Catholics from around New tions renewed in 2016. Catholic bishops the church’s acceptance York and the five dioceses in New in America have strongly opposed same- of a homosexual lifestyle, Jersey. “I am your brother, as a disciple sex marriage. More than 100 employees which church teaching of Jesus. I am your brother, as a sinner of Catholic institutions across the nation bans. who finds mercy with the Lord.” have lost their posts in the past three “Everyone is welcome The welcoming of a group of openly years for being gay or for marrying a in the church, but no one gay people to Mass by a leader of same-sex spouse, according to Marianne is accepted as they are,” Cardinal Tobin’s standing in the Roman Duddy-Burke, executive director said the Rev. Robert Catholic Church in this country would of DignityUSA, an organization of Gahl, a professor of have been unthinkable even five years Catholics that advocates equality for ethics at Opus Dei’s ago. But Cardinal Tobin, whom Pope lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pontifical University of Francis appointed to Newark last year, is people. the Holy Cross in Rome. among a small but growing group of But gestures like Cardinal Tobin’s “While I am delighted bishops changing how the American are evidence that Pope Francis’ words that they went to Mass in church relates to its gay members. They are having an impact. Bishops now have the cathedral, I hope that are seeking to be more inclusive and latitude to focus on the more inclusive Cardinal Tobin chal- signaling to subordinate priests that they parts of the church’s catechism on lenged them, as all good should do the same. homosexuals, such as the call to accept Cardinal Joseph Tobin greets a visitor to the shepherds should, to live them with “respect, compassion and cathedral. (Continued on page 8) Page 2 BONDINGS Vol.
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