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A New Archbishop for San Francisco Tolerant Statements Toward Gays/Homosexuals Can Minister As Priests, Niederauer Says

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A New Archbishop for San Francisco Tolerant Statements Toward Gays/Homosexuals Can Minister As Priests, Niederauer Says Volume 26, Number 3 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Winter 2005–Spring 2006 A New Archbishop for San Francisco Tolerant statements toward gays/Homosexuals can minister as priests, Niederauer says By Wyatt Buchanan “I don’t think there are any ifs, ands or San Francisco Chronicle buts that the Vatican is trying to blame the sex December 16, 2005 abuse crisis on gay priests, and this man says that is ‘seriously mistaken,’ “ said Sam Sinnett, San Francisco’s incoming Catholic arch- national president of DignityUSA, an organi- bishop, George Niederauer, has spoken boldly zation in Washington, D.C., of gay and lesbian in support of gay priests and has praised gay Catholics. parishioners, leaders of gay Catholic organiza- “Very few bishops have come out and tions said Thursday. said clearly that this is not about sexual ori- Many in the church hierarchy have blamed entation,” Sinnett said. He added that, if the the international clergy sex abuse scandal on statements reflected the bishop’s thinking, gay priests, and the Vatican’s recent instruc- his appointment in San Francisco would be tion on gays in the priesthood stated new rules “more than a small step forward for gay and on gay clergy were “made more urgent by lesbian Catholics.” the current situation.” As archbishop, Niederauer will have a cen- Niederauer disputed those ideas in an inter- tral role in determining who is ordained in San view with his diocesan newspaper in Utah. Francisco, Marin and San Mateo, the counties “Some who are seriously mistaken have included in the San Francisco diocese. named sexual orientation as the cause of the In 10 years as bishop of the Diocese of recent scandal regarding the sexual abuse Salt Lake City, Niederauer rarely had to of minors by priests,” Niederauer said in the address gay and lesbian issues in the church. Archbishop George Niederauer (center) interview with the Intermountain Catholic DignityUSA, which has chapters in 24 states, News, which was published Monday. isn’t active in Utah. of Utah clergy who urged tolerance for gays I met,” Niederauer said. He added, “They were His reference to “sexual orientation” stands In 2004, however, Niederauer publicly and lesbians after the state legislature in 1996 as wonderful and gifted and generous and in contrast to the Vatican instruction’s descrip- opposed a constitutional ban on same-sex mar- banned gay student clubs when students compassionate as any you meet.” tion of “persons with deep-seated homosexual riage that appeared on the Utah state ballot, at one school expressed interest in starting Francis DeBernardo, who leads New Ways tendencies.” even though he opposed same-sex marriage. such a club. Ministry, a national advocacy group for gay and Niederauer said gay men committed to Many Protestant leaders and the powerful Before he was assigned to Utah, Niederauer lesbian Catholics, and met with Niederauer in Christ and the church can effectively minister Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent his career in Southern California, Salt Lake City, said the bishop was genuinely as priests, and he said sexual orientation was supported the ban. But Niederauer said he including a stint at a parish in West Holly- interested in reaching out to the gay and les- “a structure of human personality.” In con- was troubled that the amendment banned any wood, which has a large gay population. In bian community. trast, the Vatican instruction states that men union beside marriage. He also saw the ban a 2003 interview with the (Salt Lake City) “With his pastoral experience in an over- “who practice homosexuality, present deep- as unnecessary because same-sex marriages Deseret News about his work in West whelmingly gay Catholic parish in West seated homosexual tendencies or support the already were prohibited by Utah law. Hollywood, he was enthusiastic. Hollywood, and his political experience deal- so-called ‘gay culture’ “ are unfit for priest- Niederauer also helped form the “Coalition “I don’t have to take a back seat to anyone ing with extremism from anti-gay forces in hood. of Concerned Religious Leaders,” a group in the church in my admiration for the people Utah, I think that Bishop Niederauer is one of the best candidates to lead the heavily gay-pop- ulated Catholic community of San Francisco,” DeBernardo said. In Strong Terms, Rome Is to Ban Gays Niederauer’s predecessor, Archbishop William Levada, received mixed reviews from gay and lesbian Catholics. Levada spoke sev- as Priests eral times at the Most Holy Redeemer Church, a largely gay parish in San Francisco’s Castro By Ian Fisher and Laurie Goodstein Catholic Web site, AdistaOnline.it. is an appropriate response to the recent sex neighborhood, and appointed gays and lesbi- The New York Times The document appears to allow ordination scandals and whether celibate gay men can still ans to important positions in the diocese. November 23, 2005 only for candidates who experienced “transi- be good priests. But on Levada’s watch, the diocese stopped tory” homosexual tendencies that were “clearly On both sides of that divide, there was its ministry specifically for gay and lesbian ROME, Nov. 22 - A new Vatican document overcome” at least three years before ordina- general agreement on Tuesday night that the Catholics and left that work to local parishes, excludes from the priesthood most gay men, tion as a deacon, the last step before priest- document presented a strong deterrent to said the Rev. Jim Schexnayder, who founded with few exceptions, banning in strong and hood. It does not define “overcome.” Several homosexual men, but with some limited room the Berkeley-based National Association of specific language candidates “who are actively critics worried that that language would make for seminaries to make exceptions. Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual it nearly impossible for men who believe their The document puts the onus on bishops, Schexnayder said he hoped Niederauer would tendencies, or support the so-called ‘gay cul- basic orientation is gay – but who are celibate seminary directors and the spiritual advisers revive that ministry. ture.’ “ – to become priests. “to evaluate all of the qualities of the personal- “There’s a great need obviously in San The long-awaited document, which has The anticipation of the document has divid- ity and assure that the candidate does not have Francisco, with so many gay and lesbian leaked out in sections over the last few months, ed Catholics, especially in the United States, sexual disorders that are incompatible with Catholics who would greatly benefit from a was published Tuesday in Italian by an Italian igniting contentious debate over whether this priesthood.” public pastoral outreach,” Schexnayder said. Continued on page 4 Page 2 BONDINGS Volume 26 Number 3 Gay-Friendly Catholic Colleges Universitas Volume 26, No. 3 Winter 2005–Spring 2006 Below is a partial list of known “gay-friendly” Catholic colleges and universities, that is, those Catholic colleges that have some type of gay and lesbian student group, support group, ally group, etc. Thank you Francis DeBernardo, Editor for helping us add to this growing list! If you are aware of such a college that is known as welcoming to Marillyn Langfeld, Design gay and lesbian people, please let us know. Tell us if this welcome is because of a club, support services, participation in gay community events, or simply the friendliness of the faculty and staff. Board of Directors California Indiana Winona: Saint Mary’s Pennsylvania Mary Byers Belmont: Notre Dame de Notre Dame: Holy Cross University of Minnesota Erie: Mercyhurst College Frank O’Donnell, SM Namur University College, Saint Mary’s Montana Philadelphia: Chestnut Hill Rev. Paul Thomas Los Angeles: Loyola College, University of Notre College, LaSalle University, Helena: Carroll College Marymount University Dame Saint Joseph’s University Moraga: Saint Mary’s College Nebraska Villanova: Villanova Board of Advisors Iowa Ranchos Palos Verde: Omaha: Creighton University University Marymount College Dubuque: Loras College Mary Ann Coyle, SL Rhode Island William Hunt, SFO San Diego: University of San New Hampshire Kentucky Newport: Salve Regina Patricia McDermott, RSM Diego Nashua: Rivier College San Francisco: University of Louisville: Spalding University Barbara Regan, rc University New Jersey San Francisco Texas Santa Clara: Santa Clara Louisiana South Orange: Seton Hall University Austin: Saint Edward’s Executive Director New Orleans: Loyola New York University Colorado University New Orleans Albany: College of Saint Rose Francis DeBernardo Vermont Denver: Regis University Maryland Bronx: Fordham University, Manhattan College Colchester: Saint Michael’s Baltimore: College of Notre Co-Founders Connecticut Buffalo: Canisius College College Dame of Maryland, Loyola Fairfield: Fairfield University, New Rochelle: College of New Sister Jeannine Gramick College of Maryland Washington Sacred Heart Univ.ersity Rochelle, Iona College Father Robert Nugent Lacey: Saint Martin’s College New Haven: Albertus Massachusetts Poughkeepsie: Marist College Magnus College Seattle: Seattle University Boston: Emmanuel College Riverdale: College of Mount Bondings is a seasonal publication designed to keep West Hartford: Saint Joseph Spokane: Gonzaga University Chestnut Hill: Boston College Saint Vincent our subscribers informed of issues that pertain to lesbian College Easton: Stonehill College Rochester: Nazareth College Wisconsin and gay people and the Catholic
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