QUOTE TO NOTE: Fr. James Martin Calls on Catholic Leaders to Love Unconditionally

In recent weeks, Cardinal Dolan’s conditional acceptance LGBT Catholics and a surge in anti-gay violence in certain regions of the world (including New York, Russia, and Georgia) should compel Catholic clergy to welcome all unequivocally. Now, Jesuit Fr. James Martin has taken to Twitter as he calls on the church’s leadership to speak inclusively to LGBT people:

Then, a reply to the original tweet above led to this equally powerful exchange about inclusion within the Catholic Church with priest-scholar Fr. Raymond Kemp:

Thank you, as always, to Fr. James for promoting a Gospel of equality that includes LGBT people.

–Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Vatican Official on Civil Unions

Archbishop Vincent Paglia, the head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council on the Family, was recently interviewed by National Catholic Reporter’s  John Allen, who asked the prelate to clarify his recent statements which supported civil unions for lesbian and gay couples.  Though some commentators felt that Paglia had retracted his support,  his comments in the Allen interview indicate that he continues to back civil unions. Here’s the relevant excerpt:

“ALLEN: Speaking of private law, you recently created a small media frenzy by suggesting that nations could find “private law solutions” to protect the rights of unmarried couples, potentially including gays and lesbians. In some quarters, that was seen as softening the Vatican’s line on gay marriage at a time when bishops in various countries are trying to resist a push for it. Did you learn anything from that episode?

“PAGLIA: Yes, that I have to be more careful in how I talk about these things, and more aware that words can be derailed. You may think they’re going to take you to the station, but in reality they can carry you to the edge of a cliff! But to make clear to you what I actually meant at the time, I proposed what the church has maintained: it is a matter of [protecting] individual rights. Facing the explosion in various forms of living together today, I simply called on states to find solutions which help people and avoid abuses.”

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: What Jesus Said About Condemning Gays

In the context of the Supreme Court’s recent hearing of oral arguments in the two marriage equality cases, James Salt, executive director of Catholics United, a political organization, had this to say:

“Christ did indeed say many things, but let’s face it: not one of them was about condemning gay people. It’s troubling that so many people who claim to follow his word have such difficulty understanding his real message. Christ’s message was to bring good news to the poor, not to ostracize gays, inflame phobias or create division.”

You can read the full article in which this excerpt was quoted in The Vindicator, a newspaper from Liberty County, Texas.

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Assuming Responsibility for a Vatican II Ecclesiology

With Pope Benedict XVI now formally resigned, this act is viewed by many as an act of personal humility that broke with a centuries-old tradition of popes dying in office and overcame a stigma against stepping down. Fr. Joseph Komonchak writing in Commonweal shifts attention from papal politics to the failings of every other Catholic since Vatican II to implement a more positive ecclesiology. In conclusion, he writes instructive words for the coming days:

“A certain paradox is visible in the events now unfolding. The very act that humanizes the papacy also produces the hullabaloo over the upcoming conclave, which tends to reconfirm the inflated notion of the Petrine office that has developed over the past two hundred and fifty years, and the impression is given, once again, that the future of the church hinges on the choice of a successor to the See of Peter. One can hear it from both sides: from traditionalists who want still-tighter disciplinary control over doctrine, worship, and practice; and from progressives who want a pope who will loosen things up in all those areas. They both want something from Rome; they want the new pope to do something about what they each perceive as critical points. But the church is not the pope, and the pope is not the church, and perhaps what we most need is a pope who will encourage and allow the laity, the religious, the clergy, and the hierarchy to assume their responsibilities for the difference the church is supposed to make in the world. Benedict’s resignation was a self-denying act of personal humility. What we need now in Rome are acts of institutional humility and self-denial.”

Recent discussions on Catholic LGBT issues sometimes hinge reform on the election of a more inclusive pope, and while this certainly aids the cause, Fr. Komonchak reminds us that we are church and responsibility for progress exists within each layperson, as well as the bishops and clergy.

–Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Archbishop Cordileone on Male Breastfeeding

In a recent interview, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco continued his crusade against marriage equality by advocating that opponents use the term “gay marriage” as infrequently as possible.

He reasons if “gay marriage” is spoken, people may view it as a reality and not an impossibility. Cordileone clarifies his thoughts with this helpful comparison:

“Legislating for the right for people of the same sex to marry is like legalising male breastfeeding…”

National Catholic Reporter reported the full story here and Bondings 2.0 recently covered an in-depth profile of Archbishop Cordileone’s relationship with the LGBT community in San Francisco here.

–Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Thank You, Catholic Voters

National Catholic Reporter columnist Kate Childs Graham posted a piece today thanking Catholic voters for their tremendous positive impact in the four states that voted on marriage equality yesterday, while reminding us amid the euphoric victories that the struggle continues:

“As we celebrate these victories, these conversions, we must prepare for the next step on our journey towards fairness. Not only must we begin to organize and proselytize in those states that have not yet heeded the call of progress, we must bring that call to the pews…

Kate Childs Graham

“I look forward to a day when fairness for my family isn’t seen as a threat to freedom for my religion, when all communities of faith — including our Catholic community — affirm same-sex unions.

“That day can’t happen without some hard conversations and some hard work. So after the dust has settled and the celebrations have finished, let us band together like we did in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington. Let us do as scripture says. Let us “learn to do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed,” both in our communities and our church.

“Catholic voters, again I say simply: Thanks.”

–Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Bishop Gene Robinson on Maryland’s Catholic Bishops

Bishop Gene Robinson

Openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson penned an essay on the Washington Post’s On Faith blog  in support of Maryland’s upcoming marriage equality referendum in which he made the case for the state law’s strong religious protections and exemptions.

As he argued strongly for how religious freedom will be protected, he also took the state’s Catholic bishops to task for spreading false information about this issue:

“Maryland’s Roman Catholic bishops’ caution that marriage equality ‘infringe[s] upon the religious liberties of individuals and institutions’ displays either an ignorance of what the law actually says, or an intentional distortion of the truth.”

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: The Cardinal and Colbert

Stephen Colbert and Cardinal Dolan

Cardinal Timothy Dolan and television personality Stephen Colbert engaged in a widely-publicized conversation at Fordham University last week, moderated by Jesuit Fr. James Martin. The New York Times reports on the question and answer period, where one person asked:

“ ‘So many Christian leaders spread hatred, especially of homosexuals. How can you maintain your joy?’ ”

 

“Cardinal Dolan responded with two meandering anecdotes — one about having met this week with Muslim leaders, and another about encountering demonstrators outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.”

 

“But Mr. Colbert’s response was quick and unequivocal. ‘If someone spreads hate,’ he said, ‘then they’re not your religious leader.’ ”

-Bob Shine, New Ways Ministry

QUOTE TO NOTE: Is Creationism Next?

 

We’ve reported that a sociology course at the Franciscan University of Steubenville includes “homosexuality” as one of the topics covered under “deviant behavior.”  The story has sparked much commentary across the nation.

One Catholic commentator, Eric Bugyis, who blogs at dotCommonewal.com, made the following observation in a recent post entitled “Social Work or Catechesis?” :

“What’s next, creationism as a viable alternative to evolution in Biology 101?”

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

 

QUOTE TO NOTE: Fr. Fred Daley on the Blessing of GLBT Gifts and Talents

An article entitled “Syracuse Gay Pride parade celebrates diversity” on Syracuse.com quotes Fr. Fred Daley, pastor of All Saints Parish in this upstate New York city.  Fr. Daley, an out gay priest who recently led a focus session on gay priests at New Ways Ministry’s Seventh National Symposium, stated:

Rev. Fred Daley

“There’s so much ignorance around the issue of orientation. As church, it’s our responsibility to proclaim the truth. No one chooses their orientation. It’s set before you’re four years old. We as a parish are so enriched by the presence and involvement of the GLBT community. How blessed we are to celebrate their gifts and talents.”

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry