B NDINGS Vol. 37 No. 2 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Spring 2018 In Germany, grapples with blessings for marriage

By Tom Heneghan in a lesser-known provincial daily. become legal starting on Oct. 1. and a few only in private. National Catholic Reporter “I’m not for ‘marriage for all,’ but if Cardinal of Munich, The church in Württemberg, the January 24, 2018 two homosexuals enter a same-sex who as chairman of the region around Stuttgart, is the only relationship, if they want to take conference is the country’s top Catholic holdout. Influenced by a conservative Germany's unexpected legalization responsibility for each other, then I can leader, reiterated his opposition to same- Pietist tradition in Lutheranism, its synod of gay marriage last year has created a bless this mutual responsibility,” he said. sex marriage just before Christmas and blocked a resolution to allow blessings pastoral dilemma for the country's “This is valuable and praiseworthy, has not publicly reacted to his deputy’s last November. Reform supporters Roman Catholic bishops, who even if this bond is not in complete comments. vowed to keep up their campaign. campaigned against the "marriage for agreement with the church.” But the issue is not likely to About 60 percent of Germans are all" bill and now have to maintain that disappear and may come up Christians, with slightly more Catholics doctrinal stand while also showing again soon — when the bishops than Protestants. Ecumenical cooperation respect for gay and parishioners. hold their next half-yearly and intermarriage are common, so Roman Catholicism firmly opposes meeting in the spring. developments in one denomination are same-sex marriage as unnatural, so even Legalization of same-sex often debated in the other, even if the Germany's creative theologians have marriage came as a surprise same change is not made. little leeway there. But the theology of because Merkel, the daughter of The Protestant churches changed giving a blessing to a gay couple is less a Lutheran , had long their policies in recent years as public clear, and two bishops have now spoken opposed it. But she allowed a acceptance of homosexuality evolved. out in favor of considering some form of parliamentary vote on it under Germany decided in 2001 to legalize benediction as a way to adjust to the strong pressure from her Social same-sex civil unions, known as “Le- changing times. Democratic coalition partners benspartnerschaften” (life partnerships), The country's Protestant churches and the opposition parties. but pressure for marriage equality grew already offer gay couples at least a In the end, Merkel cast her vote slowly. blessing ceremony, if not a full church against legalization, but it Commonly called “homo marriage” marriage, and even the main association passed with a comfortable because it was not available to hetero- for lay Catholics supports allowing majority. sexual couples, the law on same-sex civil blessings. While has ruled Right after the law was unions expired in October when gay out approving gay marriage, he raised passed, Marx expressed hope marriage was made legal. expectations of some kind of reform that the traditionally Catholic The Central Committee of German early in his papacy by famously asking state of Bavaria, where Munich Catholics, an influential association of "who am I to judge?" about gay people. is the capital, would challenge it lay church activists, came out in favor of “Even though ‘marriage for all’ in Germany’s constitutional blessing same-sex couples in 2015. “We clearly differs from the church’s court. must build bridges between church understanding of marriage, it is now a The staunchly conservative doctrine on marriage and the family and political reality,” Franz-Josef state government, normally keen the world that believers are living in Bode of Osnabrück, the deputy chairman to line up with the Catholic today,” it said. of the German Bishops Conference, said Bishop Franz-Josef Bode Church when it serves its Although most church officials still earlier this month. political purposes, commissioned a long reject it, the idea of blessing gay couples “We have to ask ourselves how we Roman Catholicism, though it legal study but does not seem ready to has been under discussion long before should deal with people who tie this opposes same-sex marriage, preaches file a suit. Bode’s interview in the Neue Osna- knot. Some of them are active in the respect for individual gays and By contrast, all but one of the 20 brücker Zeitung made national headlines. church. So how are we going to . Both bishops made clear that a regional churches of the Evangelical “I know the issue is out there, not accompany them with pastoral care and church blessing would not amount to a Church in Germany (EKD), the only in Osnabrück or in the (episcopal in the liturgy?” Bode asked. “We could church wedding, because marriage in country’s main Protestant federation, conference’s) Pastoral Commission, but think about giving them a blessing.” Catholic teaching is a sacrament reserved began offering blessings for same-sex across Germany,” said Holger Dörne- After Bode spoke in an interview for a man and a woman. couples even before the national law mann, the new delegate for relations with with his local newspaper, it emerged that This suggestion comes after the changed. gay people in the Cologne Archdiocese, another , retiring Auxiliary Bishop bishops protested last June when Five of them allow full church the largest and richest in the country. Chancellor Angela Merkel did an abrupt Dieter Geerlings of Münster, had wedding ceremonies and 14 offer (Continued on page 6) essentially said the same a month earlier U-turn that allowed nuptial equality to blessings, some during a public service issues next battle in culture war By Heidi Schlumpf that children are harmed when told they Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, bishops' fall general assembly in The National Catholic Reporter can change their sex, "sowing confusion , chair of the Committee on November in Baltimore, during which January 13, 2018 and self-doubt." Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. ecumenical and interfaith partners "Parents deserve better guidance on Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik told the discussed gender ideology with members In December, while the rest of the these important decisions, and we urge Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he also of the conference's Subcommittee for the country was debating tax reform and net our medical institutions to honor the supported the letter, though he was not a Promotion and Defense of Marriage. neutrality, four Catholic bishops and 16 basic medical principle of 'first, do no signatory. The press release also men- other conservative religious leaders harm,' " the letter said. It was unclear if any transgender tions previous letters on "religious issued an "open letter" about transgender It was signed by Charles people were consulted in the drafting of freedom" and "defense of marriage," issues, firing a shot in what has become Chaput of Philadelphia, chair of the U.S. the document. Repeated requests by with similar groups of ecumenical the next major culture war issue after bishops' Committee on Laity, Marriage, NCR for comment from the United partners. same-sex marriage. Family Life and Youth; Bishop James States Catholic Conference of Catholic The transgender letter was signed by Not surprisingly, progressive Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, chair of Bishops, which released the statement, the Anglican Church in North America, Catholic groups — including New Ways the Subcommittee for the Promotion and were declined. which broke away from the Episcopal Ministry, Call to Action and Dignity Defense of Marriage; Archbishop Joseph However, a U.S. bishops' conference Church in 2009 over LGBT issues, and USA — denounced the document, while Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, chair of press release states that the letter is the by the more conservative Presbyterian traditionalist Catholic websites and the Committee for Religious Liberty; and result of a meeting, held after the U.S. Church in America, North American media supported it. Lost in the battle Lutheran Church, and the Lutheran were transgender people themselves. Church - Missouri Synod. "It's like we're collateral damage in It was not signed by those the culture war," said Hilary Howes, a denominations' more liberal counterparts: Washington D.C.-area Catholic and the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian founder of TransCatholic, a ministry to Church (U.S.A.), and the Evangelical transgendered people. "It's painful to Lutheran Church in America, which have have people think of us in this way." taken stances in favor of LGBT rights. The open letter, titled "Created Male The open letter also follows and Female," affirms the "inherent a February 2017 statement from Chaput dignity" of all people, but warns that and Bishop George Murry of Youngs- transgenderism is a "false idea" and town, Ohio, praising the Trump admin- "deeply troubling," and calls upon istration's repeal of a previous instruct- government to support "policies that ion from the U.S Departments of Justice uphold the scientific fact of human and Education that prohibited discrimin- biology." ation of students based on gender iden- Transgenderism "compels people to tity, including transgender status. either go against reason — that is, to "I think this is the new front in the agree with something that is not true — gender culture wars," said Mark Silk, or face ridicule, marginalization, and professor of religion in public life at other forms of retaliation," said the Dec. Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, 15 document. (Continued on page 8) The bishops and other signers warn Archbishop Joseph Kurtz Hilary Howes Page 2 BONDINGS Vol. 37, No. 2 B NDINGS A Humble Church of Acolytes Spring 2018 Vol. 37, No. 2 By Lizzie Sextro LGBTQ community. The humble church can learn from The National Catholic Reporter its mistakes. April 3, 2018 In a theology class last year, I remember voicing a particular frustration about the church during a unit on Francis DeBernardo, Editor My favorite liturgical ministry is serving as an ecclesiology, the study of church structures and acolyte. For those familiar with this role, an acolyte in the governance. I said to my professor, "How can this church Board of Directors Catholic church assists the priest with liturgical tasks be the so-called 'sacrament of salvation' when it constantly Jeannine Gramick, SL, Chair during the celebration of the Mass. You can usually find hurts people?" My professor replied, "If you are looking Ryan Sattler us wearing long, white robes called albs. for a perfect church in this lifetime, I guarantee you won't Ever since I was trained as an acolyte in the 6th find it." Board of Advisors grade, I have felt humbled by A humble church makes Dr. Jerry Fath my experiences in serving mistakes and recognizes those Cornelius Hubbuch, CFX alongside the priest. I can mistakes and apologizes for Rev. James Kiesel recall numerous times when those mistakes. Pope Francis has Anna Koop, SL my face has burnt red with suggested that the church Anne Marie Miller, RSM embarrassment because I apologize to LGBT people Claire Pluecker forgot to place a chalice on (among others), but so far hardly Cristina Traina the altar or to bring up the any leaders have followed his book for the closing prayers. directive. Nevertheless, I have Second, as an acolyte, one is Staff learned many things in my forced to pay full attention Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director journey as an acolyte, and I during the Mass and to listen Matthew Myers, Associate Director have found it to be an and watch every move that Robert Shine, Associate Director incredibly life-giving and happens. If something goes continuously humbling wrong, an acolyte identifies it Co-Founders ministry. and does her best to trouble- Sr. Jeannine Gramick, SL I am reminded lately of shoot. The role of a humble Rev. Robert Nugent, SDS the humility I learned from church as a listening church my acolyte ministry because could be a way to learn and Bondings is a seasonal publication designed I have been reflecting on the know more about same-sex to keep our subscribers informed of issues role of church leaders in the marriages and LGBTQ families. that pertain to LGBT people lives of LGBTQ people. We need to start recognizing and the Catholic Church. I often find myself being the same-sex couple as a privi- incredibly disappointed and leged site of God's revelation. If saddened by how priests and Founded in 1977, New Ways Ministry we start there, new convers- ministers do not take time to ations can abound through more is an educational and bridge-building listen to LGBTQ folk. My attention to the consciences of ministry of reconciliation between the LGBTQ friends have told me LGBTQ couples and their lived Catholic LGBT community about "bad confession" experiences as Catholics. and the institutional structures experiences with insensitive A humble church listens to in the Roman Catholic Church. priests, or how they are afraid its members and trusts their to come out in certain spaces, experiences. New Ways Ministry seeks to eradicate or that they are frustrated by Finally, an acolyte guides the prevalent myths and stereotypes the heteronormative language processions at the beginning and about homosexuality and gender identity used in homilies. Many of the end of Mass. She gets and supports civil rights for LGBT persons my friends are increasingly everyone down the aisle to in society. nervous about finding or ' body and blood at the keeping a job in the Catholic altar, and she gets everyone to church in the wake of the the exits where we are called to New Ways Ministry firing of so many LGBTQ Lizzie Sextro "go and proclaim the Gospel." Catholics for getting married Similarly, a humble church 4012 29th Street to their partners. can still be a guiding church, as long as its guidance main- Mount Rainier, Maryland 20712 Despite these injustices, I stand firm in the fact that tains an openness to dialogue with those it is guiding. This (301) 277-5674 our church is simply called to be better than this. I stand is an absolute necessity, so that the church, which is meant [email protected] hopeful that we can enact change. to guide us to our ultimate concern of Jesus Christ, does NewWaysMinistry.org My suggestion is that we ought to strive for a church not turn into a church whose leaders seek power-hungry that acts more like an acolyte: a humble church. Catholics control. The church is called to be a pastor, not a have such a rich understanding that the church is a guiding scorekeeper. and transforming force in people's lives through the Holy A humble church should guide with a willingness to Spirit's movement in the world. My question is: How can be guided by the faithful. TO SUBSCRIBE the church continue its work while also taking on a stance It is a common trope in the Catholic church that the COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORM of humility? church acts as the "bride of Christ." This is a tired Now, even if you think the metaphor of the church-as metaphor, and a heteronormative one at that. If the church BELOW -acolyte is a bit of a stretch, stick with me. I think we can is to take seriously the pain and concerns of its LGBTQ find three valuable connections here. members, perhaps it should become more like an "acolyte Enclosed is: First, I mentioned that my own experience as an of Christ" in an attempt to transform into a humble acolyte makes me feel humbled. To this day, I still make church.  _____ $25.00 in the US or Canada mistakes on the altar — even after more than a decade. Making mistakes is okay because we learn from them. This blog is reprinted with permission from Bondings _____ $35.00 outside US or Canada Similarly, we ought to recognize the fallibility of the 2.0, the daily blog of New Ways Ministry, where Lizzie church. A humble church needs to recognize its own Sextro is a regular contributor. Sextro is a theology _____ I wish to receive Bondings, mistakes, especially in the way it hurts people in the graduate student at Boston College School of Theology but cannot donate at this time. ‘God made gay people. And God made gay people gay.’ Name ______

Address ______By Francis DeBernardo to get elected.” Bondings 2.0 Longley further points out that not only was Farron’s City ______NewWaysMinistry.org/blog waffling problematic, but so is his belief in the sinfulness January 16, 2018 of lesbian and gay sexual relationships: State ______“Tim – there is only one answer to the question ‘Is gay A flip-flop by a British politician about his stance on sex a sin?’ and it was given by Pope Francis. It is the five DayPhone ______the morality of gay sex has given rise to a leading simple words: ‘Who am I to judge?’ “ international Catholic journal publishing an eminent The journalist points to the human goodness that such Night Phone ______defense of the sacredness of lesbian and gay relationships. reflects: Tim Farron, the former leader of the Liberal Democrat “If one wished to elaborate, one could refer to a Cell Phone ______party in the United Kingdom, recently reversed his statement by Cardinal Basil Hume some 20 years ago, position from an acceptance of same-sex relationships to a who declared: ‘Love is never wrong, including love Email ______condemnatory position. Farron, a devout Evangelical between two people of the same sex.’ Christian, said he didn’t mean it when in April 2016 he “It is a human instinct to want and need loving said that gay sex was not a sin. In a new interview, he intimacy with another human being, and we literally die Please make check payable to “New Ways said his true belief is that it is sinful. inside without it. It is a human instinct to want to express Ministry”. Outside the US, please use only In The Tablet, a leading international Catholic that intimacy physically, including sexually.” checks drawn on a US bank in US dollars or publication out of London, Farron’s waffling was He continued in a more theological vein, echoing go to www.newwaysministry.org. criticized by Clifford Longley, a British journalist who many of the ideas that Sister Margaret Farley has has been an adviser to the Bishops Conference of elaborated on in her landmark theological work, Just Mail to: New Ways Ministry and Wales. Longley points out the damage that such Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics. 4012 29th Street waffling can do: “That does not make it [sexual activity] right on all Mount Rainier, MD 20712 “. . . [H]e will have confirmed many people’s belief that occasions, regardless. There are plenty of occasions when Christians in general are homophobic bigots, even if they pretend they’re not. And that politicians will say anything (Continued on page 4) Spring 2018 BONDINGS Page 3 Austrian Parishes Bless Same-Gender Couples’ Love By Robert Shine assistant in Wels-St. Francis. In Lehner’s in Amoris Laetitia to respect people On the other side, Bishop Felix Bondings 2.0 parish, there have been blessings for regardless of sexual orientation, the Genn of Münster barred a gay Cath- NewWaysMinistry.org/blog Valentine’s Day for many years, the last priest said, “[t]he blessing that exists olic who was married under Germany’s February 15, 2018 one took place last Sunday. Dozens of everywhere is awarded. We have nothing new marriage equality law from receiv- lovers had their hands put on and make a to forbid” [also a computerized ing a church blessing. Amid debates in the German- sign of the cross on their foreheads. translation]. The Central Committee of German speaking world over whether the Church Whether couples in love or long-married The debate over whether same- Catholics, a lay-organized group, called should bless same-gender couples, two couples, whether people in happy or gender couples should receive blessings for such blessings back in 2015. They parishes in Austria have already begun momentarily troubled relationships. in the Church has intensified among desired, in the words of President doing so alongside blessing heterosexual Everyone is welcome. German-speaking in recent Thomas Sternberg, “a signal of eccles- couples on Valentine’s Day. “The offer can be used by lovers in weeks. It was reported this month that iastical appreciation for same-sex coup- Two parishes in the Diocese of Linz all circumstances – including lesbian and Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and les.” (Wels-St. Francis and the Ursuline gay couples. At least in Wels, however, Freising had endorsed such blessings, Church ministers offer blessings for Church) offered the blessings for all few people have so far come in news many observers claimed was all types of people, objects, and occas- couples this week, as they have done for homosexual relationships to blessing. mistaken. The cardinal’s silence on the ions. It is simple discrimination that several years. Diocesan newspaper Kir- Irmgard Lehner believes that ‘it is still matter has only added to the confusion. LGBT people’s love could not be chenZeitung reported (the following is a taboo to make an official appearance. . In January, Bishop Dieter Geerlings, blessed, too. But thankfully, while the computerized translation, so it is “rough” .Every person should feel welcome with an auxiliary bishop in Münster, said he debate continues in German-speaking in a few places): us as he or she is,’ says the theologian.” would bless same-gender couples who contexts and elsewhere, at least two “I am glad that we can access the Fr. Franz Harant, who leads the were civilly married. Bishop Franz-Josef Austrian parishes are not waiting to do symbolic treasure chest of the church. Diocesan Working Group on Pastoral Bode of Osnabrück, deputy chair of the what is right. They are leading the rest of The ritual has a tremendous power. We Care for Homosexuals, also viewed a German Bishops Conference, said a the Church forward.  underline the importance of relation- welcoming approach to blessings as a blessing for the civilly married would ships,” says Irmgard Lehner, parish positive step. Citing Pope Francis’ call allow for better pastoral accompaniment. ‘Why does the church hate gay people?’ Boston bishop seeks to listen to young people

By Michael O’Loughlin the “many who feel the church doesn’t Many students tell him they see the the search for acceptable language is America want them.” He said part of that ministry church as “unkind” on L.G.B.T. issues, ongoing, noting that even in the L.G.B.T. January 23, 2018 includes listening, including to “the which he thinks is driven in part by community, language continues to many young adults who have nothing but media reports that tell them “we’re a evolve. “We need to work on language When an auxiliary bishop in the skepticism and doubt when they think of bigoted church” and that Catholics are that we can all agree on,” he said. Archdiocese of Boston asked the nearly the Catholic Church.” “bullies.” The dizzying pace of progress for 200 students in a high school “By naming our own weaknesses, “As a generation,” he said of today’s L.G.B.T. people has also presented the confirmation class what questions they we can develop new language, new ways high school students, “they’re kind- church with new challenges, he said. had for him earlier this month, two to explain the soundness of our teaching, hearted, and they don’t like people being “These are not old issues,” he said, themes quickly emerged. First, they new ways to show the beauty and put down, bullied.” pointing specifically to the challenges wrote him, why did you want to become He over rights for transgender issues. “Jesus a bishop? Second, why does the church did not say, ‘In 2018, when we speak hate gay people? about transgender people, this is the The first one was easy, Bishop Mark answer.’” O’Connell told them, since very few Bishops, he said, are “struggling” priests set out to become bishops. with the issue and are considering, “How But the second question, which he do we really be kind?” when formulating said comes up frequently when he meets policies about bathrooms and locker with young people, was more difficult rooms in church-affiliated institutions. for him to answer, not because church Young people see the church as a teaching is unclear to him, but because scold, the bishop said, and urged the language the church often uses fails to act like good parents when confronted to resonate with a generation with parishioners who are unsure about that increasingly sees kindness as the their gender or sexuality. If a child told a highest virtue. An experience he had mom or dad that she or he is struggling with a student following the listening with sexual identity, “a good parent session earlier this month led him to post would take that as a real cry for a a message on Twitter to encourage other conversation and not just say, ‘Stop it,’” bishops to listen to the concerns young authenticity of our faith to the world,” he said that after reflecting on their he said. Catholics have about fraught issues of said. “If we cannot find the new questions he told them, “We’re not In some of the other listening gender and sexuality (see box at right). language, at least we can listen.” against gay people, we have lots of gay sessions Bishop O’Connell has hosted, he “I feel inspired by Pope Francis to In the interview with America, he members in our church.” He noted that said there are usually two types of find new language to express the beauty made clear several times that he does not there are priests who are gay and who participants: “people confused because of our truth,” Bishop O’Connell question church teaching on issues of live chastely. He tries to impress upon the church has too many rules” and told America in a recent interview. And gender and sexuality—he is simply young people that the church is “not “people confused because the church to that end, the bishop, who also serves searching for better ways to articulate prejudiced” against gay people but does ‘took away’ all of our rules.” as pastor of a parish with 2,800 families, those teachings during a particularly not shy away from the church’s teaching While many people have thanked the has held 22 listening sessions. “critical moment” in the lives of young on marriage. bishop for holding the listening sessions, A canon lawyer by training, Bishop people. Attitudes about L.G.B.T. issues he says not everyone agrees with the O’Connell said during an address at his “Giving them a bad explanation of among Catholics in the United States premise. One person told him that ordination as bishop last August that the truth could cause them to lose their have changed in recent years. Catholics bishops should teach, not listen. But he church leaders are called to reach out to faith forever,” he said. as a cohort are accepting of same-sex says he takes seriously the goal of marriage and believe that businesses listening to the faithful, adding, “We’re should not be allowed to discrim- not a church that should be afraid of inate against L.G.B.T. people in the questions, but I think a lot of people are marketplace. But officially, the church afraid of these questions.” still bans gay men from entering When asked how church leaders New Ways Ministry’s seminaries, though how that rule is might better address questions from enforced varies from diocese to diocese, young people about L.G.B.T. people, he and sexual relations between people of said that first, “We have to stop avoiding Bondings 2.0 the same gender are considered sinful. it.” He said it is “rare” for bishops to Since gay marriage was legalized listen to the concerns of young people nationwide in 2015, there has been a rash about these issues, adding, “every bishop of firings of church workers because of should be able to answer these questions The best way to keep up on the latest issues related to sexuality. adequately.” Then there is the issue of language But what if the young people are Catholic LGBT news, opinion, itself, which has caused turmoil between unimpressed with the answers they hear? some L.G.B.T. Catholics and church Well, Bishop O’Connell said, they need and spirituality! leaders. to use their voice. “When I was first James Martin, S.J., an editor ordained 27 years ago, our high school at America, published a book last year in students were upset that there weren’t girl which he calls church leaders to use the altar servers,” he said. Today, it is An online resource updated daily terms “gay” and “lesbian” when talking common to see young girls serving in about L.G.B.T. people, rather than the that role. Share your ideas with others! more clinical sounding “same-sex “We are losing three generations of attracted people” preferred by many people, and we need to hear why,” he church leaders. Many high-profile church said. “So I would encourage my brother NewWaysMinistry.org/blog leaders have backed Father Martin on bishops to listen, listen to what they’re this, though others continue to resist the saying.”  labels. For his part, Bishop O’Connell said Page 4 BONDINGS Vol. 37, No. 2 bishops banter with young people on LGBT issues By Rowena Orejana the New Zealand bishops work really experience of couples with same-sex and walk with them and make sure they NZ Catholic well together. attraction,” he said. know Church teachings so they can make Auckland, New Zealand Cardinal Dew said the hardest part of Bishop Dunn said he wrote an wise and discerned decisions them- December 21, 2017 his job is when people get upset because editorial in NZ Catholic a few months selves,” said Cardinal Dew. of the parish priest and he has to talk to ago about this topic. “We need to make Cardinal Dew said Pope Francis has Can transgender persons who said priest. “We are supposed to the LGBT people feel welcome. They are not changed the Church’s teachings on became men be priests? Are there accompany them (parishioners) and not beautiful people but they feel rejected by these matters. rivalries among bishops? What is the cause injury,” he said. the Church,” he said. “But he does say if people are in a hardest thing about The prelates were The bishops stressed the teaching of difficult situation or in a situation that being a cardinal? asked about same sex the Church is that Christian marriages are isn’t in accord with Church teaching, you These are a few marriage and homosex- always between a man and a woman. listen to them, you accompany them, you of the questions uality, ecumenism, why When asked how Catholics can try and get them to understand. And even young Kiwi women can’t become engage with people who believe in same- if they don’t fully understand, you don’t Catholics put to priests as well as about sex marriages or abortion, Cardinal Dew dismiss them,” the cardinal added. Wellington Cardinal the sex abuse scandal in advised them to look at Pope Francis and Bishop Dunn, towards the end of his John Dew, Auckland the Church. see what he (Pope Francis) is doing. workshop, called on young people to talk Bishop Bishop Lowe said he “He (Pope Francis) does say that to their priests or bishop. and Hamilton Bishop thinks young people are when people are caught up in a situation “Don’t be shy to ask your priests and Stephen Lowe. leading the way in terms like that, we don’t condemn them. We try bishop your questions,” he said.  The bishops and of relating with the LGBT the cardinal each community. held a workshop “I think young people ‘God made gay people gay.’ called “Bishop’s are prophets of the Chur- (Continued from page 2) strand in Christianity that picked on the Banter” at the ch. They always have sex is automatically wrong, and criminal as Jews, so there was a strand that picked on Aotearoa Catholic Bishop Patrick Dunn something to say to the well as sinful. Incest, sex with children, gay people. One could select quotes from Youth Festival held at Church. And that’s what sex without full consent, sex as manipu- the Bible to justify both forms of bigotry St Mary’s College in Ponsonby on has come up. Young people want the lation or exploitation, sex you pay for… and persecution. December 2-3, 2017. Church to be more engaging with them And it is never right to break one’s prom- “But they are entirely contrary to the Bishop Lowe responded with an (LGBT peo-ple),” he said. ises and commitments. But consen-sual sex fundamental spirit of the Christian (and unequivocal “no” to the first question. “It He said the issue of homosexuality between adults of the same gender is not Jewish) principle of loving one’s neigh- certainly is a different world today from may be a “Galileo moment” for the on that list. God made gay people. And bour as oneself, the second Great Com- the one I grew up,” he remarked. Church. Galileo Galilei was convicted of God made gay people gay. That is all we mandment. ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged,’ Bishop Dunn was asked the second heresy by the Church in 1633 for need to know.” said Jesus, as reported in Matthew chapter question to which he humorously replied, teaching that the earth is not the centre of Longley concludes by noting the need 7.” “not that I’d admit to”. the universe but actually revolved around for churches to take a new approach to Longley’s essay reminds us of how Then, he explained that unlike other the sun. lesbian and gay people, one that is basic to important it is for church leaders, and bishops conferences in the world, the “The psychology is still up for the gospel: indeed all of us, to just get back to basics! New Zealand Catholic Bishops debate but the Church has got to engage “Just as down the ages there has been a  Conference is a very small one and that with the science and engage with the Gay-friendly Catholic Parishes & Communities Below is a list of known gay-friendly Catholic parishes and intentional Eucharistic communities. Thank you for helping us add to this growing list. If you are aware of a parish or community that welcomes LGBT Catholics, please let us know. Tell us if this welcome is because of a support program, spirituality group, mis- sion statement, participation in LGBT community events, or involvement with parents. To add your faith com- munity to our list, please contact New Ways Ministry at [email protected] or call 301-277- 5674. Parishes are listed first and intentional Eucharistic communities follow. For links to many of these par- ishes’ websites, go to www.NewWaysMinistry.org

Orange: Holy Family Cathedral Connecticut Indianapolis: St. Thomas Aquinas Pasadena: Assumption of the B.V.M. Guilford: St. George’s Redondo: St. Lawrence Martyr Hartford: St. Patrick-St. Anthony Iowa Redwood City: St. Matthias Coralville: St. Thomas More PARISHES Ross: St. Anselm Delaware Sacramento: St. Francis of Assisi North Wilmington: Holy Child Alabama San Carlos: St. Charles Wilmington: St. Joseph, Sacred Heart Kentucky Decatur: Annunciation of the Lord San Diego: Ascension, St. John the Oratory Lexington: Historic St. Paul Church Montgomery: St. Bede Evangelist, St. Jude Shrine, Catho- Louisville: Epiphany, Cathedral of the lic Community of UC,San Diego District of Columbia Assumption, St. William Arizona San Dimas: Holy Name of Mary Holy Trinity, St. Matthew Cathedral Louisiana Chandler: St. Andrew San Francisco: Most Holy Redeemer, New Orleans: St. Augustine Glendale: St. Thomas More Old St. Mary Cathedral, St. Agnes, Florida Mesa: St. Bridget St. Dominic, St. Ignatius, St. Teresa Daytona Beach: Our Lady of Lourdes Maine Phoenix: St. Matthew of Avila Flagler Beach: Santa Maria del Mar Portland: Sacred Heart-St. Dominic Scottsdale: St. Patrick San Jose: St. Julie Billiart, Ft. Lauderdale: St. Anthony, Saco: Most Holy Trinity Tucson: St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Martin of Tours (Emmaus St. Maurice Ss. Peter and Paul, St. Pius X, Community) Kissimmee: Holy Redeemer Maryland Our Mother of Sorrows, St. Odilia San Luis Obispo: Mission San Luis St. Petersburg: Holy Cross Baltimore: Corpus Christi, San Ramon: St. Joan of Arc Tampa: Sacred Heart, Christ the King St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius, California San Raphael: Church of San Raphael St. Matthew, Baldwin Park: St. John the Baptist & Georgia St. Vincent dePaul Berkeley: Holy Spirit Parish Mission San Raphael Arcangel Atlanta: Shrine of the Immaculate Columbia: St. John the Evangelist Burney: St Francis of Assisi Santa Barbara: OL of Guadalupe Conception Gaithersburg: St. Rose of Lima Carlsbad: St. Patrick Santa Cruz: Holy Cross Hagerstown: St. Ann Camarillo: Padre Serra Parish Santa Monica: St. Monica Idaho Severn: St. Bernadette Claremont: Our Lady of Assumption Simi Valley: St. Rose of Lima Boise: St. Mary El Cajon: St. Luke Spring Valley: Santa Sophia Massachusetts Encino: Our Lady of Stanford: Catholic Community at Stan- Illinois Boston: Paulist Center, St. Anthony Escondido: St. Timothy ford University Berwyn: St. Mary of the Celle Shrine, St. Cecilia Fremont: St. Joseph-Mission San Jose South Pasadena: Holy Family Chicago: Immaculate Conception, Buzzard’s Bay: St. Margaret’s/StMary’s Fresno: St.. Paul Catholic Newman Valinda: St. Martha St. Clement, St. Gertrude, East Longmeadow: St. Michael Center Vernon: Holy Angels Catholic Church St. Gregory, St. Peter, St. Sylvester, Newton: St. Ignatius Goleta: St. Mark Univ. Parish of the Deaf St. Teresa of Avila, St. Thomas the Provincetown: St. Peter Hawthorne: St. Joseph (Spanish) Walnut Creek: St. John Vianney Apostle, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Sharon: Our Lady of Sorrows Hayward: All Saints West Hollywood: St. Ambrose, Lady of Mt. Carmel, Springfield: Sacred Heart LaPuente: St. Martha St. Victor Old St. Patrick Lemon Grove: St. John of the Cross Whittier: St. Mary of the Assumption Clarendon Hills: Notre Dame Michigan Long Beach: St. Matthew Country Club Hills: St. Emeric Ann Arbor: St. Mary Student Parish Los Angeles: Blessed Sacrament, Colorado Evanston: St. Nicholas Detroit: St. Leo, Christ the King, Gesu Christ the King, Mother of Good Arvada: Spirit of Christ Inverness: Holy Family Parish Counsel, St. Camillus Center-LA Avon: St. Edward Johnston City: St. Paul St. Ignace: St. Ignatius Loyola USC Medical Center (Spanish), Colorado Springs: Sacred Heart Morton Grove: St. Martha Westland: Ss. Simon and Jude St. Agatha, St. Paul the Apostle Denver: St. Dominic, Christ the King, Oak Park: Ascension, St. Catherine of North Hollywood: St. Jane Frances de Our Lady of Mount Carmel Sienna-St. Lucy, St. Giles Minnesota Chantal, St. Patrick Lafayette: Immaculate Conception Schaumburg: St. Marcelline Minneapolis: St. Frances Cabrini, Oakland: Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Co- Littleton: Light of the World, St. Joan of Arc lumba, St. Jarleth St Frances Cabrini Indiana Oceanside: St. Thomas More Dyer: St. Maria Goretti (Continued on page 5) Spring 2018 BONDINGS Page 5 Reviving the Role of Conscience in Catholic LGBT Discussions By Francis DeBernardo specifically applied the teaching to which also stresses that a person must or evil, nor does it create good or evil. It Bondings 2.0 homosexuality. Crux reported on the have an informed conscience and that weighs accumulated data, makes a NewWaysMinistry.org/blog interview: prayer and reflection on Scripture, Jesus’ judgement in very concrete, not January 20, 2018 “German Cardinal Reinhard Marx has passion and sacrifice, the guidance of the theoretical, situations, the concrete stated that decisions about sexual Holy Spirit, advice from others, and situations of one’s life.” (quoted in the Often left out of the Catholic hierarch- morality must be discerned according to church teaching are parts of the process Archdiocese of Baltimore’s 1983 ical discourse about the morality of les- a well-formed conscience, respecting of conscience formation. In section pastoral plan, A Ministry to Lesbian and bian and gay relationships is the very im- “the interplay of freedom and 1785, the Catechism states: Gay Catholic Persons: Rationale for portant Catholic teaching on the primacy responsibility.” “In the formation of conscience the Ministry) of conscience. Here is what the Catholic “The chairman of the German Word of God is the light for our path, we Marx’s intervention is consistent with Catechism says about the importance of Bishops’ Conference said in a new must assimilate it in faith and prayer and the approach of Pope Francis who said obeying one’s conscience: interview that a person ‘has to be guided put it into practice. We must also exam- this about conscience in Amoris Laetitia: “A human being must always obey the into the full reality of the faith and heed ine our conscience before the Lord’s “Therefore, while upholding a general certain judgment of his conscience. If he the voice of the Church. It is not Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the rule, it is necessary to recognize that were deliberately to act against it, he sufficient to say that one knows by Holy Spirit, aided by the witness or responsibility with respect to certain would condemn himself. Yet it can oneself whether something is good for advice of others and guided by the actions or decisions is not the same in all happen that moral conscience remains in you, or not. That would not constitute a authoritative teaching of the Church.” cases. Pastoral discernment, while taking ignorance and makes erroneous judg- conscientious decision-making process I am reminded of what I heard the into account a person’s properly formed ments about acts to be performed or alr- in the context of the Gospel.’ eminent theologian Father Charles conscience, must take responsibility for eady committed.” (Section 1790) “Speaking to the German magazine Curran say in a talk on conscience. these situations. Even the consequences The Vatican II document Gaudium et Herder Korrespondenz, Marx affirmed Curran remarked that the Catholic view of actions taken are not necessarily the Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the that this also applies to homosexuality. on conscience does not conform with the same in all cases”. (section 302) Church in the Modern World), section A ‘truly comprehensive assessment of American idea of “rugged individual- “. . . [E]very effort should be made to 16, offers a reason why con-science must the severity of guilt’ is not possible ism,” which prizes people making encourage the development of an be respected above all other rules and without looking at the individual’s independent decisions. The Catholic enlightened conscience, formed and laws: conscience, without looking at his view of conscience is more of a guided by the responsible and serious “Deep within his conscience man reality, at the concrete circumstances.” communal process in which the discernment of one’s pastor, and to discovers a law which he has not laid “Marx warned against interpreting this individual makes a decision by encourage an ever greater trust in God’s upon himself but which he must obey. Its ‘interplay of freedom and responsibility’ considering the wisdom of our faith grace..” (section 303) voice, ever calling him to love and to do as ‘relativism,’ saying that while ‘there tradition and comes to a decision based Conscience is not an “escape clause” what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in must be respect for the decision that one on conversation and interaction with in church teaching, and neither is it an his heart at the right moment. . . . For freely takes,’ it is always within the other people, not alone. opportunity for people to make decisions man has in his heart a law inscribed by context of the Gospel. Marx’s comments about “concrete willy-nilly. The teaching on conscience God. . . . His conscience is man’s most “ ‘It would be quite terrible to circumstances” also reminded me of is a foundational teaching of the Catholic secret core and his sanctuary. There he is consider this as relativism, like some what Baltimore’s Archbishop William Church because it describes the most alone with God whose voice echoes in indeed have repeatedly claimed, as Borders said about making conscience important aspect of faith: the relationship his depths.” though everyone could just go about decisions: of God with each of God’s beloved. Recently, Cardinal Reinhard Marx of doing whatever they please.’ “ “ ‘. . . the role of the conscience is Munich, Germany, discussed the teach- Marx’s comments are consistent with that of a judge, not a teacher; . . . ing with a German magazine, and he the Catechism’s teaching on conscience conscience does not teach what is good

(Continued from page 4) Rochester: Blessed Sacrament, Tennessee St. Mary (Downtown), St. Monica Alcoa: Our Lady of Fatima Missouri Saratoga Springs: St. Peter Kansas City: Guardian Angels, Holy Syracuse: St. Lucy, All Saints Virginia Family. St. James Utica: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Arlington: Our Lady Queen of Peace St. Joseph: St. Francis Xavier Historic Old St. John’s Glen Allen: St. Michael the Archangel St. Louis: St. Cronan, St. Margaret of Wading River: St. John the Baptist Mechanicsville: Church of the Re- Scotland, St. Pius V Wantaugh: St. Frances de Chantal deemer West Islip: Our Lady of Lourdes Richmond: Cathedral of the Sacred Montana Westbury: St. Brigid Heart, Sacred Heart Parish Billings: Holy Rosary, St. Pius X Roanoke: St. Gerard North Carolina Triangle: St. Francis Nebraska Charlotte: St. Peter Virginia Beach: St. Nicholas Omaha: Holy Family, Sacred Heart Durham: Immaculate Conception Fayetteville: St. Patrick Washington Nevada Raleigh: St. Francis of Assisi Seattle: Christ Our Hope, St. Benedict, Prince of Peace, Trinity-Guadalupe Las Vegas: Christ the King, St. James Cathedral, St. Joseph, Wauwatosa: St. Pius X Guardian Angel Cathedral Ohio Prince of Peace Akron: St. Bernard Newman Center Canada New Hampshire Cincinnati: St. George-St. Monica, Spokane: St. Aloysius Montreal: Holy Cross, Saint-Pierre- Merrimack: St. John Neumann St. Robert Bellarmine Tacoma: St. Leo Apôtre,_ Pelham: St. Patrick Cleveland: Blessed Trinity, Ottawa: St. Joseph St. Malachi, St. Martha Wisconsin Toronto: Our Lady of Lourdes New Jersey Columbus: St. Thomas More Fond du Lac: Holy Family Hoboken: Our Lady of Grace Newman Center Madison: Our Lady Queen of Peace England Keyport: St. Joseph Fairlawn: St. Hilary Menomonee Falls: Good Shepherd London: Church of the Immaculate Lawrenceville: St. Ann Mentor: St. John Vianney Conception (Mayfair) Long Beach Island: St. Francis of University Heights: Church of Gesu Milwaukee: Good Shepherd, Assisi Westlake: St. Ladislas Maplewood: St. Joseph Wooster: St. Mary of the Immaculate Monmouth: Precious Blood Conception INTENTIONAL EUCHARISTIC COMMUNITIES Pompton Lakes: St. Mary Arizona Michigan South Plainfield: Sacred Heart Oregon Scottsdale: Franciscan Renewal Grand Rapids: Marywood Tinton Falls: St. Anselm Beaverton: Spirit of Grace Center Kalamazoo: Lambda Catholics Portland: St. Andrew, St. Francis of

New Mexico Assisi, St. Phillip Neri, Down- California Minnesota Albuquerque: Holy Family, town Chapel (St. Vincent de Paul) Orange: Koinonia Minneapolis: Spirit of St. Stephen's Shrine of St. Bernadette Pleasanton: Catholic Community of Catholic Community Espanola: Sacred Heart of Jesus Pennsylvania Pleasanton Danville: St. Joseph San Diego: Mary Magdalene Catholic New York Ohio Philadelphia: Old St. Joseph, Community Albany: St. Vincent DePaul Dayton: Living Beatitudes Community Old St. Mary, St. John the Baldwinsville: St. Augustine Evangelist, St. Vincent DePaul District of Columbia Bellmore: St. Barnabas the Apostle Oregon Wilkinsburg: St. James Communitas Portland: Journey and Koinonia Bellport: Mary Immaculate Catholic Community Binghamton: St. Francis of Assisi Rhode Island Florida Brooklyn: St. Andrew the Apostle, Providence: St. Raymond Tampa: Franciscan Center Pennsylvania St. Boniface, St. Athanasius, Wickford: St. Bernard St. Augustine, Immac.Heart of Mary Pittsburgh: Dignity//Pittsburgh Iowa Deer Park: Ss. Cyril and Methodius Tennessee Coralville: Full Circle Small Faith Virginia East Islip: St. Mary Memphis: Cathedral of the Community Arlington: NOVA Catholic Community Elmira: St. Mary Immaculate Conception Fairport: Church of the Assumption Maryland Washington Henrietta: Good Shepherd Texas Baltimore, Annapolis, Thurmont: Lacey: Holy Wisdom Inclusive Manhattan: Ascension, Blessed Sacra- Colleyville: Good Shepherd Living Water Inclusive Catholic Catholic Community ment, Holy Name of Jesus, St. Dallas: Holy Trinity Community Francis deSales, St. Francis of Assi- El Paso: All Saints Greenbelt: Greenbelt Catholic Wisconsin si, St. Francis Xavier, St. Ignatius Houston: St. Anne, St. Teresa Community Madison: Holy Wisdom Monastery Loyola, St. Paul the Apostle Odessa: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Milwaukee: Mary of Magdala, Apostle to Pittsford: Church of Transfiguration the Apostles Page 6 BONDINGS Vol. 37, No. 2 Homophobic Church “Not the Church of the Future,” Says McAleese processes. It has kept Christ out and invited speakers. It is therefore notable duty, my role to change the mentality By Robert Shine bigotry in. It has left the Church flapping that ’s Archbishop Diarmuid that surrounds me because I believe I’m Bondings 2.0 about awkwardly on one wing when God Martin responded positively to on a mission from God. . .There is much NewWaysMinistry.org/blog gave it two. We are entitled to hold our McAleese’s sharp challenge to church more I’d want to do in the church, but March 10, 2018 Church leaders to account for this and leaders. reported his I’m often limited by my sexual orienta- other egregious abuses of institutional statement: tion and gender, which was created by To mark International Women’s Day God. I believe things can be different. earlier this week, Voices of Faith, an Women have a lot of roles they can do in international Catholic women’s the church. Let no one stand in the way organization sponsored a conference in of the holy spirit.” Rome, entitled “Why Women Matter.” Crux reported that Warry also The event featured two Catholic LGBT called for Catholic leaders to become advocates: Mary McAleese, the former active in the struggle for LGBT human President of Ireland, and Ssenfuka rights: Joanita Warry, a lesbian rights advocate “‘Our religious leaders hold the key from Uganda. to the protection of LGBT persons, and McAleese’s talk at the event prompt- not only in Africa. Imagine if the Vatican ed a civil exchange between an Irish took a stance against criminalization to bishop and herself. stand up for these walks of life, then we McAleese made a series of headline- have hope.'” making remarks in the week leading up The Voices of Faith event is to and during the Voices of Faith event. important for LGBT issues not only Earlier in the week, McAleese said that a because a lesbian Catholic and the Church that is “homophobic and anti- Catholic mother of a gay child were abortion is not the Church of the future,” included, but also because the root of according to the BBC. The Catholic injustice in the church against women Church, she added, was “one of the last Ssenfuka Joanita Warry Mary McAleese and LGBT people comes from the same great bastions of misogyny” and “an patriarchal teachings on gender. The empire of misogyny.” power and we will insist on our right to “Her challenge to the internal culture causes of women’s equality and LGBT In her keynote address, “Time is do so no matter how many official doors of the Church today was brutally stark. equality are intimately linked, and so Now for Change in the Catholic are closed to us.” Some may find it unpleasant or unwell- LGBT advocates are wise to pay Church,” McAleese sharply challenged McAleese has long pressed for come. I must accept the challenge with attention to the lessons from Voices of the Church’s oppression and exclusion of LGBT equality inside and outside the the humility of one who recognises her Faith. women. You can find her full address at Church, including recent criticisms of alienation. . .Probably the most signif- Authentic dialogue cannot occur the Women’s Ordination Conference’s exclusionary censoring in the preparatory icant negative factor that influences atti- when restrictions are imposed on who website. Towards her conclusion, she materials for the 2018 World Meeting of tudes to the church in today’s Ireland is can speak or what can be discussed. But offered a challenge that could be Families set to take place in Dublin this the place of women in the church. I am “Why Women Matter” is evidence that applicable to LGBT people as well: summer. The mother of a gay son, she not saying that just because of the com- taking risks to pursue authentic dialogue “Today we challenge Pope Francis previously endorsed marriage equality, ments in these days by President McA- (even when that means rejecting church to develop a credible strategy for the and, in 2015, she said that Church leese. Indeed, I was happy to note that leaders’ approval) allows the Holy Spirit inclusion of women as equals throughout teaching on homosexuality was wrong President McAleese quoted that exact to speak prophetically through people of the Church’s root and branch infra- and that the Church’s language about phrase of mine in her speech.” faith. Imagine what could happen in the structure, including its decision-making. lesbian and gay people is conducive for Ssenfuka Joanita Warry also spoke Church if more spaces of dialogue and A strategy with targets, pathways and . In 2015, she addressed an at “Why Women Matter.” She heads the sharing were created, and bishops and outcomes regularly and independently international conference on Catholic feminist LGBT advocacy group Freedom other church officials took the approach audited Failure to include women as LGBT issues, sponsored by the Global and Roam in Uganda, and is a leader in of Archbishop Martin to humbly listen. equals has deprived the Church of fresh Network of Rainbow Catholics. the Global Network of Rainbow Cath- The Catholic women involved with and innovative discernment; it has con- For four previous years, the Voices olics. Warry explained why she is com- Voices of Faith have taken the risk to signed it to recycled thinking among a of Faith conference was held at the mitted to remaining Catholic and to her model a way forward. The challenge now hermetically sealed cosy male clerical Vatican, but this year Cardinal Kevin activism. The Huffington Post quoted her is for more Catholics to go and do elite flattered and rarely challenged by Farrell did not allow it, in part because as saying: likewise.  those tapped for jobs in secret and closed McAleese and Warry were on the list of “I believe it is my responsibility, my Officials Seek Inclusive World Meeting of Families, But Who Defines Inclusion? By Robert Shine President Mary McAleese, who has prisingly focus on Pope Francis’ version of marriage. In recent weeks, the Bondings 2.0 made multiple headlines recently for her apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. cardinal has barred a women’s group NewWaysMinistry.org/blog sharp criticisms of the Catholic Church, Several top church leaders will be from meeting at the Vatican because of March 16, 2018 offered her thoughts on WMF and Pope attending, including Cardinals Christoph certain pro-LGBT speakers, including Francis’ unconfirmed but expected Schonborn of Vienna; Gerald Cyprien McAleese. Farrell offered confused As preparations continue for the 2018 accompanying visit to Ireland. McAleese Lacroix of ; , head remarks on dialogue, and now has made World Meeting of Families (WMF) in told Crux: of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting a contradictory statement about WMF’s Dublin in August, Irish officials continue “I’m hoping that the vision presented Integral Human Development; Luis welcome and goal. It seems Cardinal to insist that the event be fully inclusive for the World Meeting by our archbishop Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, as Farrell does not understand that you for all families, including LGBT ones. [Diarmuid Martin] and by Bishop well as Farrell. cannot say you are being inclusive while But a cardinal’s remark shows the [Brendan] Leahy, and the event will be Some bishops have expressed a desire silencing a person’s voice or denigrating potential rupture between how inclusion truly inclusive, in which every one is for LGBT families to be included, and it their family. is being understood. welcome no matter their relationship is clear many Irish leaders would like to It is probably too early to know Katherine Zappone, who is Ireland’s with the Church. . .My dream is that see inclusion reign. But LGBT-related whether the World Meeting of Families Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Ireland can be the place that retrieves images and text have been removed from in 2018 will be truly inclusive of LGBT said WMF should not be “a platform for that spirit of God’s family as truly WMF preparatory materials and a bishop people and their families. If the remarks which exclude, isolate or hurt inclusive and loving.” was censored in a video for even definition of inclusion being used is any family.” She added, according to McAleese has previously criticized acknowledging such families exist. closer to Katherine Zappone’s than The Irish Times:“There should be a WMF organizers for potentially anti- Cardinal Farrell embodies this tension. Cardinal Farrell’s the World Meeting of welcome for all. And never again should LGBT actions, such as the deletion of He claimed that the WMF will not Families in Dublin will truly be a public statements or remarks which seek LGBT-related images in preparatory exclude anyone while in the same breath celebration of ALL families.  to isolate certain families be tolerated. . . materials. Last week, McAleese spoke at suggested the event would focus mostly [Ireland is] where people want marriage a women’s event in Rome where she said on championing a heteronormative equality, where adoption by LGBTI a homophobic Church is “not the Church people is government policy, and where of the future.” She also said the Church all families are fully respected. was “one of the last great bastions of “The eyes of the world will be on misogyny.” German bishops’ blessing? Dublin. Indeed some of the biggest In her most recent comments, (Continued from page 1) hardly be made clearer that we’re second audiences will be in countries where McAleese also explained that given how “The discussions in recent years -class people.” LGBTI people are discriminated against, “the Church is deeply implicated in the have shown this. (Bode) has only Several Catholic theologians have threatened and abused. . .The World hurt so many people feel” in Ireland, the expressed what is actually under chimed in to say blessings are a sign of Meeting of Families is a unique pope’s visit must be a truly pastoral one. discussion in every diocese,” Dörne- God’s mercy and should not be refused opportunity to confront such inequality, But she wondered aloud whether Francis mann told the archdiocese’s radio station. to believers who do not live up to church discrimination and hate. It can provide “fully understands the depth of pain out We Are Church, a leading lay teachings completely. global leadership on inclusion. there.” reform movement, urged the faithful to “I think it’s a problem theologically “LGBTI families, like all families, Cardinal , who heads the join in these discussions. “The people in if we make blessings dependent on a should be celebrated and not excluded – Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life and the pews must hold constructive moral assessment of human behav- that’s the message that should be coming who is also a WMF organizer, said the conversations with church leaders in ior,” Benedikt Kranemann, a professor of not just from the World Meeting of event would indeed not exclude anyone. which the bishops are the ones who have liturgy at the University of Erfurt, told Families, but from all who believe in “All people are invited, we don’t exclude something to learn,” it said. the church’s official news site, katho- justice, equality and fairness.” anybody,” Crux reported him saying, The blessing issue made headlines in lisch.de. Zappone issued this call for inclusion while also expressing hope that the September when a bishop barred a priest “When a car is blessed, the driver is at the WMF during the Copenhagen WMF would “bring family values back in Emmerich, near the Dutch border, also blessed, regardless of how he Conference on Private and Family Life to life again” and would “promote the from giving one in church to the city’s drives,” he said. “The church was author- for LGBTI People earlier this month. Christian concept of marriage.” gay mayor and his partner. ized to pass on God’s blessing as a prom- Zappone, who is a married lesbian, has WMF organizers are moving ahead “Dogs, cats and motorcycles get ise. The person blessed is supposed to both Catholic roots and a record of with plans, and announced at the start of blessings, but we’re not worth one?” live according to what he was promised.” LGBT advocacy in Ireland.Former Irish March that the event would unsur- Mayor Peter Hinze complained. “It can  Spring 2018 BONDINGS Page 7 Georgetown University Approves Gender and Sexuality LLC By Will Cassou announced the size and location of the trans students’ minds when housing historic town hall held by University The Hoya Crossroads LLC, which will launch in selection rolls around.” President John J. DeGioia on LGBTQ Georgetown University the 2018-2019 school year. The proposal Gasman added, “What this means inclusivity. The aftermath of the cam- Washingrton, DC was co-authored by Grace Smith (COL for the LGBTQ campus community is, in paign, the town hall and the incidents led January 12, 2018 ’18) and Henry Callander (COL ’18). so many words, an assurance of safety to the improvement of procedure to form Smith, also the co-chair of the and comfortability.” -ally report and record incidents of bias A newly proposed Living Learning Georgetown University Student The LLC’s approval has drawn against the LBGTQ community and the Community providing a space for Association’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy and media criticism, particularly from establishment of the LBGTQ Resource students to explore gender and sexuality Policy coalition, said the new LLC’s religious and conservative circles. Center, the first of its kind for a Catholic received approval from Georgetown approval signifies Georgetown’s Washington Times columnist Cheryl university in the United States. University’s Office of Residential Living acknowledgement of the importance of Chumley wrote that the LLC would At the town hall, DeGioia said that last month. gender and sexuality in student life. “water down the gender definitions even Georgetown must uphold its Catholic The LLC, called “Crossroads: “This is a major and unprecedented further” while “ratcheting confusions heritage in all its actions as a university Gender and Sexuality,” is intended to accomplishment for a Catholic univers- and political correctness and fears to while also supporting its LGBTQ stu- serve as a community space for ity,” Smith wrote in an email to The speak truthfully about the role of biology dents. conversations about inclusivity issues Hoya. “It makes a profound and radical and God in determining sex.” “We can and must advocate for pertaining to gender and sexual statement that religion does not have to The Office of Residential Liv- respect, inclusion, understanding, safety, orientation while remaining true to be mutually exclusive with the freedom ing rejected the Crossroads LLC pro- mentoring, dignity, growth and equal Georgetown’s Jesuit values, according to to understand, challenge, and grow posal last year. In an April 2017 inter- opportunity. We can and must advocate Todd Olson, vice president of student through and with expressions of and view with The Hoya, Smith, who helped for freedom from prejudice, exclusion, affairs. reflection on gender and sexuality. It author the initial proposal, said she be- discrimination and homophobia,” “Our Catholic and Jesuit values call says: come as you are; be who you are; lieved the university perceived the LLC DeGioia said. on us to engage with ‘respect, love how you do; and we’ll make a home as part of a “much larger fight over how Smith said the approval of the compassion, and sensitivity’ with our for you.” Georgetown wants to live its Catholic Crossroads LLC is a major step forward, LGBTQ community. It is in keeping Chad Gasman (COL ’20), president values and what those Catholic values but room for improvement remains for with our Catholic and Jesuit values to of the LGBTQ advocacy group GUPride are.” LGBTQ inclusion at Georgetown. provide a language, perspective, and and a coordinator for the LLC, said that, Addressing why the application was “Housing and residential life is sense of inclusion for deepening our in addition to providing a student-led successful this year after the earlier fundamentally a process of creating a sense of cura personalis,” Olson wrote in space as a resource for queer students, rejection, Smith pointed to the 10th space of home for students on this an email to The Hoya. this LLC will also ease the housing anniversary of Georgetown’s Out for campus,” Smith wrote. “And this only LLCs are residential communities process for LGBTQ students. Change campaign, which was commem- succeeds if and when the university is “where like-minded individuals can “For trans students especially, orated this year by Georgetown in an willing to recognize the diversity of all share and deepen their passions through housing is a very difficult and stressful event titled “Discerning Our Past: Town- its students at an institutional level and social, educational, and reflective process,” Gasman wrote in an email to hall Revisited.” allows them to choose the residential activities,” according to the Office of The Hoya. “I know I spent many nights “In the wake of the tenth anniver- conditions that give them a place from Residential Living’s website. Student sleeplessly trying to figure out where to sary of the Out for Change cam-paign at which to thrive. This requires a holistic proposals for new LLCs are accepted live that was going to get me both an Georgetown and in a time when com- commitment to making residential and reviewed annually. accepting roommate and also an munity and solitary feel especially im- spaces inclusive — from all-gender About 500 students currently live in accepting floor community, and having portant, this year is a distinctly powerful bathrooms on every single hall to a Georgetown’s 13 residential LLCs, an assurance that a floor on campus is and critical one,” Smith wrote. housing selection process that is according to Olson. The themes of other not only geared towards queer and trans Georgetown launched the Out for grounded in choice and not policy.” LLCs include culture and the arts, issues, but is going to be heavily, if not Change campaign in 2007 in response to entrepreneurship and intercultural living. entirely, filled with fellow queer and alleged bias-related incidents that oc- Administrators have not yet trans students is undoubtedly a load off curred on campus, which sparked a LGBT-friendly Catholic Colleges and Universities

Below is a list of known LGBT-friendly Catholic colleges and universities, that is, those Catholic institutions that have some type of gay/ LGBT student group, support group, ally group, etc. If you are aware of such a college that is known as welcoming to LGBT people, please let us know.

Alabama Iowa Montana Mobile: Spring Hill College Davenport: St. Ambrose University Helena: Carroll College Pennsylvania Dubuque: Loras College, Clarke University Cresson: Mount Aloysius College California Nebraska Dallas: Belmont: Notre Dame de Namur University Kentucky Omaha: Creighton University Erie: Mercyhurst College Goleta: St. Mark’s University Louisville: Spalding University, Greensburg: Seton Hill University Los Angeles: Loyola Marymount Universi- Bellarmine University New Hampshire Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill College, ty, Mount Saint Mary’s College Manchester: St. Anselm College LaSalle University, St. Joseph’s Moraga: St. Mary’s College Louisiana Nashua: Rivier College University Oakland: Holy Names University New Orleans: Loyola University Pittsburgh: Carlow University, Ranchos Palos Verde: Marymount College New Jersey Duquesne University San Diego: University of San Diego Maryland Caldwell: Caldwell College Radnor: Cabrini College San Francisco: University of San Baltimore: Notre Dame of Jersey City: St. Peter’s College Reading: Alvernia University Francisco Maryland University, South Orange: Seton Hall Scranton: Santa Clara: Santa Clara University Loyola University of Maryland Villanova: Villanova University New York Colorado Massachusetts Albany: College of Saint Rose Rhode Island Denver: Regis University Boston: Emmanuel College, Brooklyn and Patchogue: Newport: Salve Regina University Chestnut Hill: Boston College St. Joseph’s College Providence: Providence College Connecticut Chicopee: Elms College Bronx: Fordham University, Fairfield: Fairfield University, Easton: Stonehill College Manhattan College Texas Sacred Heart University North Andover: Merrimack College Buffalo: Canisius College Austin: Saint Edward’s University New Haven: Albertus Magnus College Weston: Regis College Loudonville: Siena College San Antonio: University of the Incarnate West Hartford: Saint Joseph College Worcester: Assumption College, New Rochelle: College of New Rochelle, Word, Our Lady of the Lake College of the Holy Cross Iona College University District of Columbia Poughkeepsie: Marist College Georgetown University, Trinity University Michigan Rochester: St. John Fisher College Vermont Detroit: University of Detroit Mercy, St. Bonaventure: St. Bonaventure Colchester: Saint Michael’s College Florida Marygrove College University Miami Gardens: St. Thomas University Grand Rapids: Aquinas College Sparkill: St. Thomas Aquinas College Washington Miami Shores: Barry University Syracuse: LeMoyne College Lacey: St. Martin’s College Minnesota Queens: St. John’s University Seattle: Seattle University Hawaii Collegeville: St. John’s University Spokane: Gonzaga University Honolulu: Chaminade University Duluth: College of St. Scholastica Ohio Minneapolis: College of St. Catherine Cincinnati: Xavier University West Virginia Illinois St. Joseph: College of Saint Benedict Cleveland Heights: John Carroll University Wheeling: Wheeling Jesuit University Chicago: DePaul University, Loyola Uni- St. Paul: St. Thomas University Dayton: University of Dayton versity, St. Xavier University Winona: St. Mary’s University of Pepper Pike: Ursuline College Wisconsin Joliet: University of St. Francis Minnesota South Euclid: Notre Dame College De Pere: St. Norbert College River Forest: Dominican University in Illi- Sylvania: Lourdes College Madison: Edgewood College nois Missouri Milwaukee: Alverno College, Romeoville: Lewis University Kansas City: Avila University, Oregon Cardinal Stritch University, Rockhurst University Marylhurst: Marylhurst University Marquette University Indiana St. Louis: Fontbonne University, Portland: University of Portland Notre Dame: Holy Cross College, St. St. Louis University Canada Mary’s College, Univ. of Notre Dame Toronto: Regis College Page 8 BONDINGS Vol. 37, No. 2 Father of Gay Son Explains the Meaning of “LGBTQ” By Ivan Briggiler When Marcos came out it was a true The best way to begin the process was by compared to others, by blessing me with Bondings 2.0 moment of joy for all of us. I remember asking Marcos questions because I was someone special that will show me new NewWaysMinistry.org/blog it as a happy moment, and also as a curious and eager to learn. I also wanted ways to love and respect others? January 7, 2018 relief: finally we knew and would be able to show my love and support by asking Q could also represent to move on. questions. It was my way of trying to tell the unknown— what I can’t understand God has blessed my wife and me Marcos that I was by his side. or explain. And that is fine. I don’t need with three children. My oldest son, And the first thing that I needed to to understand all of God’s plan. All I Marcos, is gay. learn was the meaning of each of the need to do is love God’s Creation. When Marcos was around five, my letters of “LGBTQ”. This is what I have I want to share a few of my hopes. I wife began saying that she thought learned so far: hope that in our family we are planting Marcos might be gay. My reaction at the L stands for Love and also the seeds for our future generations, time was cold and rational. I said it was for Learn where any person of any of the LGBTQ too early to tell, and I wanted Marcos to Through my son I’m learning new letters will feel loved and welcomed and figure this out and to let me know on his ways to love. And the best way to learn safe. own terms. In other words, I was telling is by being curious, by asking questions, I used to dread about giving my my wife that it was not possible for her to by engaging in conversations, by being daughter to another man. Now I dream know this about our child at such a willing to meet other people where they about the day when Marcos will intro- young age. are. duce us to our new son-in-law joining I was wrong. G stands for Grace our family. I dream and hope about Looking back, I can see that I was By God’s grace. I have Marcos in grandchildren. And I hope I can walk not ready to accept the possibility that my life. Marcos is God’s creation and together with my son down the aisle. my child might be gay. I could have been I’m lucky to be an instrument chosen to To finish, I want to go back to the more supportive of my wife. I could have take care of him. first letter L for Love. Fr. Anthony de been more open to dialogue. I could have B stands for Born and Being Mello, the Jesuit spiritual writer, says been more sensitive and open-minded to My son was born gay. That is an that there are two forces in the world: the possibility that, yes, kids can start important lesson that I learned. My son fear and love. So, I make the following expressing their true selves at a young did not choose to be gay: my son was hope-filled declarations: age. born gay. This Is part of his being. I choose to move from fear to love. My wife’s instinct was correct. She T stands for Trust and also I choose not to fear about what could sense something different in for Time might go wrong. Marcos even before he did. All she Trust your inner voice. And it is I choose to dream about what can go needed was for me to listen to her, and I time. Some people have been waiting for right. chose not to. She walked a lonely road The Briggiler-Gualdoni Family: Back decades to be welcomed and accepted in I choose to love for the greater glory for quite a few years until Marcos came row: Marcos, Victoria, and Ivan; our Church, to be who they are, to have of God.  out. I’m sorry for not being more Front row: Maria and Lucas no fear of being rejected. It is time for us, supportive and open minded. as members of the Church, to come out Ivan Briggiler and his wife, Maria But even if we weren’t sure, or and welcome them. All of them are part Gualdoni, are orignally from Argentina, And that is when my inner voice couldn’t agree on whether Marcos was of God’s creation. I’m a middle-aged and they have been parishioners at St. said “Now is your time to run with the gay or not, from the beginning we both man but my mind is not of a man from Ignatius Loyola Parish, Manhattan, New ball.” I told myself that if my son had the agreed on something: we wanted to make the Middle Ages. York, for the past 20 years. This article courage to come out so should I. I chose sure that we created an environment Q might stand for Question is based on a December 7, 2017 panel to come out as the father of a gay man. I where our son would feel comfortable Maybe I’m wrong in my beliefs or presentation sponsored by the parish’s chose to start telling my boss, clients, and safe growing in our family. We preconceptions? “LGBT Catholics and Friends” ministry. colleagues and friends. wanted to make sure Marcos would come Maybe I’m not welcoming enough? To me this has been a learning out first to his family. Maybe God is giving me a break process, and I still have a lot to learn. The Ultimate Rebels: Queer Catholics

By Christopher Pett taken aback by his lack of knowledge embrace your true self, you hasten the who stand on the margins in their truth Advocate.com and understanding of what it truly means day when the false dogma too long and integrity. January 23, 2018 to be LGBTQI and a member of the promulgated by the Vatican and church I believe that being a movement also Catholic Church. In reality, this person’s officials across the globe finally means taking the risk as an individual to If you are an LGBTQI Catholic, you experience is not the experience of many crumbles. Then LGBTQI people will at articulate a vision of a desired, valued, are a movement. I admit this sounds other LGBTQI Catholics, and I felt last be seen as fully human, embodying and spirit-filled future. We must do more counterintuitive. Aren’t movements called to respectfully point this out. the divine just as much as our straight/ than simply resist what we are against, about a lot of people, not just an Whether you know it or not, just by cisgender kin do. When the harmful, even in this shameful and extremely individual, creating some kind of impact being fully and openly dehumanizing teachings challenging social and political environ- or momentum toward a desired good or LGBTQ or I and Cath- are finally repealed, the ment. As a person of faith, I envision a response to injustice? So let me explain. olic, you are part of a oppressive underpinnings church that is truly inclusive and just, At a recent holiday gathering, an long and vital effort to of much social and legal respectful of all believers and their gifts. attendee who identifies as a Catholic gay effect change in the discrimination will And as I articulate this vision, I invite man spoke about how he thinks the largest, most powerful vanish. others to share in it. This engagement Catholic Church is moving in a positive institution on the plan- So it took an exper- can be formal or informal, spontaneous direction. He even identified some local et. Each of us is a ience at a holiday party to or continuous. When I am a movement, I church leaders as examples of indivi- movement. ignite my belief again in am visionary and hope-filled while also duals with whom he has had deep con- Each time you self-agency, of not wait- holding the structures of power account- versations about gay sexuality and inclu- embrace your sexual ing for someone else to able. sion in the church, and he named a local orientation or gender create the next hashtag or Yes, I am a movement. I believe that archdiocesan LGBTQI outreach identity and your catchphrase to address none of us, as members of the human organization as an example of progress. Catholic faith, you what I know isn’t right or community or as people of faith, should When I called attention to the fact challenge the church’s Christopher Pett just for many. ever forfeit the opportunity — and right that the cited organization was founded stance that there is an I need to continually — to bring all into the warmth and on an expectation that its members inherent conflict between these aspects embrace this belief that each of us is a blessing of a just society, and for us would accept official church teaching of your selfhood. movement, called to change perceptions, Catholics, a just and respectful church. (i.e., being gay is morally disordered and Each day that you live in loving tell our story, speak up, show up, and So welcome to a new year. Be bold! intrinsically evil) and expected its relationship, in a respectful, sexually sometimes act up. Ask questions. Be beautiful! Be the movement that you members to be celibate, he responded, intimate relationship, you are resisting Challenge authorities who want to mask are!  “No one asked me to do this.” the power of this institution. Catholic Church teaching within a Not to be too hard on this individual, Each time you offer your Catholic cocoon of “pastoral care” that extends Christopher Pett is president of whom I respect and who has many gifts family members, friends, colleagues, and only to those who submit to the official DignityUSA. to offer to our community, but I was fellow worshippers the opportunity to outreach structure while omitting those Transgender issues next battle in culture war (Continued from page 1) or military service, so far — seem religious world, and in the Catholic spiritual research which supports noting that both liberal and conservative relatively minor, and the number of world in particular, gender is so transgender people in their quest to live advocacy organizations may have been people affected relatively small, Silk embedded in so many doctrinal as their authentic selves by various surprised at how quickly Americans — said. "I don't see how it really affects statements that any new understanding forms of gender transition," DeBernardo including American Catholics — came people in terms of institutional of gender is very threatening." said. "Even more simply, Catholic to largely accept same-sex marriage. behavior," he said. "What's the threat?" He noted critiques of transgender leaders should listen to the personal "I don't mean to be overly cynical, But it is precisely the social and issues at a conference for bishops last experiences of transgender Catholics." but I think both sides thought they were legal advances made by transgender year, sponsored by the Knights of Howes, who converted to in for a much longer struggle … and people that have conservative Catholic Columbus and the National Catholic Catholicism after she transitioned, then they needed a new issue to keep and other religious leaders concerned, Bioethics Center, two organizations with agrees. "They have a very poor them raising money," Silk said. "Same- said Francis DeBernardo, executive a long track record of anti-LGBT understanding of what life is really like sex marriage is no longer where you can director of New Ways Ministry, which efforts. for transgender people," she said. "If get anybody's attention." advocates for LGBT people. "If Catholic leaders wanted to, they they would listen to transgender people, Yet the public policy issues — "I think it's going to become a big could avail themselves of the immense it would be a step forward."  focused on bathroom accommodations issue," DeBernardo said. "In the amount of scientific, theological, and