Posted on 12/23/2003 8:18:05 AM PST by marshmallow
Saying they can no longer remain silent, a group of Chicago area Catholic pastors denounced what they say is "vile and toxic" language from the Vatican aimed at gays and lesbians.
The group of nearly two dozen priests from parishes in Chicago and the suburbs sent a scathing "open letter" to church officials Friday. In it, the pastors blasted recent church pronouncements regarding gays as "divisive and exclusionary" and "increasingly violent and abusive."
"As priests and pastors we are speaking out to make clear that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are all members of God's family, brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus and deserving of the same dignity and respect owed any human being," the letter stated.
The group singled out Vatican documents that use language referring to homosexual acts and gay marriage as "intrinsically disordered," "a troubling moral and social phenomenon" and "harmful to the proper development of society." Such language is driving gays from the church, the pastors said.
Cardinal Francis George received a copy of the letter Friday and issued what he acknowledged was a rare response.
"The church speaks, in moral and doctrinal issues, a philosophical and theological language in a society that understands, at best, only psychological and political terms," George wrote in a letter to the pastors.
"Our language is exact, but it does not help us in welcoming men and women of homosexual orientation," he wrote. "It can seem lacking in respect. This is a pastoral problem and a source of anxiety for me as it is for you. It would be good to discuss together."
But George went on to say that pastors must "mediate the tension between welcoming people and calling them to change."
If "you cannot resolve that tension between welcoming people as they are and still calling them to leave their sinfulness and become saints, or if you yourself do not accept the Church's moral teaching on the moral use of the gift of sexuality, it would be all the more important for us to talk," he wrote.
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The Open Letter is as follows:
PRESS RELEASE:
Catholic Pastors to Bishops: Treat Gays and Lesbians More Pastorally, Berwyn, Illinois, Friday, December 19, 2003.
23 Roman Catholic pastors today released, "An Open Letter to the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church Regarding the Pastoral Care of Gay and Lesbian Persons".
Concerned over the increasingly violent and abusive language used by certain Church officials when addressing issues pertaining to homosexuals, the signers of the Open Letter call on all bishops to treat gays and lesbians with greater pastoral sensitivity. Rooted in gospel justice which demands equal respect for each human person, the letter asks the bishops to enter into earnest dialogue with gay and lesbian Catholics instead of talking at them.
The signers invite all who agree with the Open Letter to uplicate it, sign it and send it to their pastor, bishop, Bishop¹s Conference or the Vatican. One of the signers, Rev. Richard J. Prendergast, pastor of St. Mary of Celle parish in Berwyn, said, "Especially at this time of the year, the Church family needs to model welcoming and sensitive behavior towards all family members. Too many families with gay and lesbian sons and daughters have been torn apart. As members of the Church our primary concern has to be strengthening family ties, not creating greater distance between members. Although the tone of public discourse by many politicians and in many television and radio shows has become harsh and intolerant, we must take every step possible to contain that intolerance and hatred and keep it from polluting our homes and our hearts."
Full text of Open Letter can be downloaded at: www.stmaryofcelle.org
Full text of Open Letter follows:
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE HIERARCHY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH REGARDING THE PASTORAL CARE OF GAY AND LESBIAN PERSONS
As Catholic pastors, we have become increasingly disturbed by the tone and, in some cases, content of documents and statements from the Vatican, bishops¹ conferences and individual bishops on issues categorized under the heading of "homosexual" or "gay/lesbian." We respect the teaching authority of the Church. Because of this, we find particularly troubling the increase in the use of violent and abusive language directed at any human person. Such language is inappropriate. This is especially so when addressing members of the community of the faithful.
These divisive and exclusionary statements from the Church are contrary to sound pastoral practice.
The life journey in faith is unique and sacred, including the personal integration of sexuality and spirituality. Condemnations leveled at sincere Catholics attempting to make sense out of their journey are inappropriate and pastorally destructive.
As priests and pastors we are speaking out to make clear that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are all members of God¹s family, brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus and deserving of the same dignity and respect owed any human being. Recognition of the inalienable dignity of the human person is the only path toward justice and reconciliation. We affirm the goodness of all homosexual persons. We root ourselves in the U.S. Bishops¹ statement "Always Our Children." Additionally, we re-affirm the understanding of the goodness of the human person as put forth throughout the papacy of Pope John Paul II. Further, we want to state clearly that ministering to and with our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters is mutually beneficial, as is all ministerial activity. Pre-judging where any believer¹s journey will take them is inappropriate. Walking with them, as we do with our heterosexual brothers and sisters, is the appropriate Christian response.
In the recent past, individual bishops, bishops¹ conferences and the Vatican have assumed a tone of such violence and abusiveness toward these sons and daughters of the Church, we can no longer remain silent. Has any other group of people within the Body of Christ been so assaulted and violated by such mean-spirited language? Examples from the most recent Vatican document show all too clearly the demonization of these children of God, referring to homosexuality as a "troubling moral and social phenomenon," "a serious depravity," "the spread of the phenomenon," "approval or legalization of evil," "grave detriment to the common good," "harmful to the proper development of human society," "intrinsically disordered."
Does anyone consider this vile and toxic language invitational?
For many gay and lesbian Catholics, this most recent series of attacks has forced them, out of self-respect and self-love, to withdraw from active participation in the Church and question how they can remain members of a Church they experience as abusive. It is not possible to minister to and with the needs of our homosexual brothers and sisters with language of his tone as a foundation.
The Catholic Church is most catholic when it is inclusive and embracing, and least reflective of the gospel of Jesus when it is exclusive and rigid. For this reason, we also want to affirm the many pastoral and positive statements by certain bishops and bishops¹ conferences (e.g. "Always Our Children").
The Church¹s theology, including her moral teaching, is always in dialogue with the broader lived experience of her members, which shapes and rearticulates the ancient deposit of faith. We encourage a new atmosphere of openness to dialogue which includes the lived experience of many Catholic members. We recognize the blessings of countless homosexuals in a variety of relationships. We believe their experiences must be listened to respectfully.
While we do not know the reasons for the increasingly violent and abusive language, we deplore it as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ and ask that it stop immediately. Furthermore, we request that all those in official positions of teaching authority in the Church refrain from any more statements directed AT the gay and lesbian members of the Body of Christ, and instead begin an earnest dialogue WITH those same members of the Body of Christ.
For our part, we pledge to treat all who seek to continue their faith journey with us with respect and dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation.
We join the countless men and women, heterosexual and homosexual, who seek justice, mercy and compassion in and through the Catholic Church.
We extend an invitation all who share our concern to duplicate this letter, sign it, and send it to their pastor, local bishop, National Bishop¹s Conference or the Vatican.
(Parish names are listed for identification purposes only.)
Rev. David Baldwin
St. Benedict the African-East
Chicago, IL
Rev. Daniel Cassidy
St. Mark
Chicago, IL
Rev. Dennis Condon
St. Marcelline
Schaumburg, IL
Rev. Lloyd Cunningham, S.V.D.
Catholic Theological Union
Chicago, IL
Rev. Nicholas Desmond
St. Aloysius
Chicago, IL
Rev. Brian Fischer
St. Gregory the Great
Chicago, IL
Rev. Donald Headley
St. Mary of the Woods
Chicago, IL
Rev. Robert P. Heinz
St. Alphonsus Liguori
Prospect Heights, IL
Rev. Michael Herman
St. Sylvester
Chicago, IL
Rev. Thomas Hickey
St. Clement
Chicago, IL
Rev. John Hoffman
St. Teresa of Avila
Chicago, IL
Rev. Richard Homa
Sacred Heart
Palos Hills, IL
Rev. Terry Johnson
St. Francis Xavier
LaGrange, IL
Rev. Patrick Lee
Immaculate Conception
Chicago, IL
Rev. Robert McLaughlin
Mary Seat of Wisdom
Park Ridge, IL
Rev. Dennis O¹Neill
St. Martha
Morton Grove, IL
Rev. Thomas Pelton
Maternity BVM
Chicago, IL
Rev. Richard Prendergast
St. Mary of Celle
Berwyn, IL
Rev. Michael Shanahan
St. Mark
Chicago, IL
Rev. William J. Stenzel
St. Francis Xavier
LaGrange, IL
Rev. Patrick Tucker
St. Bernardine
Forest Park, IL
Rev. Daniel Whiteside
St. Catherine of Siena/St. Lucy
Oak Park, IL
Rev. Bart Winters
St. Gregory the Great
Chicago, IL
(CCI NOTES: Several of the pastors on this list are known to be homosexuals themselves. It's hard to determine whether their impudent letter is more offensive, or the fact that as known homosexuals they are allowed to continue in their parishes impersonating "priests.")
The big problem is than many folks can't get beyond the belief that the Roman church is the tool of the devil and will be the vehicle for the anitchrist. The spewing of rhetoric, lies and contradictions, and the character of so many of the priests do nothing to relieve these beliefs.
The 'they' in my post were indeed the queers; they were complaining about being criticised by 'vile and toxic' rhetoric from Rome.
Got it? If not, try reading that again.
With regards to the first statement, I see only two denominations. Those who adhere to authentic Catholic doctrine, and those that don't. There is truth and untruth. Untruth has varying colors and complexions. It may contain a half-truth, it may contain no truth but it is a departure from the whole truth.
Heterodoxy has been allowed to flourish within the Church and there's no need to expand on the consequences of this mistake. It's been amply documented on this board and elsewhere. Ironically (and this is not meant to be taken personally), I think it shows the danger of a Protestant approach to discipline. Rigor and vigilance must be maintained or the wolves enter the sheep pasture.
Just looking for a small touch of truth from RC's who so often call everyone else "schizmatics" while claiming unity.
They are distinct from the folks who think that Jews are out to take over the world and rape all the Gentile girls on the way.
Not distinct in their character, you understand, just in the object of their irrational hatred.
And evading the question, but that's no surprise.
Actually, we -- those of us who are loyal to the tradition and the faithful shepherds of the flock -- have unity. Too bad these priests are absenting themselves from it. Too bad for them, I mean, and those foolish enough to listen to them.
That's not what the Cardinal stated.
He stated that the Church's language often fostered a lack of respect for gays as human beings, and that is a pastoral problem.
That's not a bible question.
The Bible doesn't address issues of Church unity and discipline? As Mr. Spock would say, "fascinating".
Actually, the only way for a married man to be ordained a Latin Rite Catholic priest is to be a Protestant minister first.
I only say it because our little fundie church of about 20 males has almost 20 different views on the combined exercises and doctrines of: predestination, alcohol, politics, TV, homeschooling, and gambling.
Gay priests dismissed en masse for openly supporting pervert lifestyle.
I did not leave the Catholic Church. It left me.
We root ourselves in the U.S. Bishops¹ statement "Always Our Children.""Always Our Children" is a committee letter that was penned by the officially silenced Robert Nugent. It is not a statement of the U.S. Bishops.
Always Our Children: Flawed & Defective (Most Rev. Fabian W. Bruskewitz, Bishop of Lincoln)
Last October 1st, a document entitled Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children was published by the Committee on Marriage and Family of the U.S. bishops’ conference. Although this document was evidently "approved" by the Administrative Committee of that conference, and it would seem the correct procedures outlined in conference rules were followed, it should be made clear that the document was composed without any input from the majority of the American Catholic bishops, who were given no opportunity whatever to comment on its pastoral usefulness or on its contents. As almost always happens when such procedures are used by committees of the conference, the illusion is given, perhaps deliberately, and carried forth by the media, to the effect that this is something the U.S. bishops have published, rather than the correct information being conveyed in the public; namely, that most bishops had nothing to do with this undertaking. I believe one would be justified in asserting that in this case, flawed and defective procedures, badly in need of correction and reform, resulted in a very flawed and defective document.Observations on the Pastoral Letter from the Bishops' Committee on Marriage and Family: "Always Our Children" (Fr. John Harvey, founder of Courage)
Sexuality is a gift of God expressed in the unitive and procreative good of marriage. The document very correctly points out that homogenital behaviour is objectively immoral, because it does not occur within the marriage relationship of a man and woman, and because it is not open to the possible creation of human life. The document also distinguishes between homogenital behaviour and homosexual orientation; however, while the document does point out that the homosexual orientation is not in itself immoral, it neglects to mention that the homosexual orientation is objectively disordered (CDF Letter to the Roman Catholic Bishops of the World, sect. 3). Instead, it says that "sexuality is a gift from God" and then goes on to quote the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2333: "Everyone... should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity." The idea conveyed is that homosexuality is also a gift from God, and should be accepted as one’s fixed and permanent identity; however, the actual quote from the Catechism, "Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his sexual identity" is part of a paragraph describing the complementarity of man and woman in married life and in society. It is incorrect to use this quote as a justification that one should accept their homosexuality as a fixed state. Neither can homosexual attraction be considered as a gift of God, except in the sense that suffering can be a gift. In the context of homosexuality, it is more accurate to speak of "sexual attraction" rather than "sexual identity". It is important to distinguish between the proper other-sex attraction and a misdirected same-sex attraction. The conviction that a misdirected attraction is a stable or "fundamental dimension of one's personality has no support from Catholic teaching.Observations Concerning the Revised Text of Always Our Children (Fr. John Harvey, founder of Courage)
> (Always Our Children -- Original and Revised)
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