Help! My Priest Admires Parents of Gays and Lesbians (Vanity)

me | 8/27/05 | me

[Bush2004]

During the homily at Mass today, our new priest was preaching about being "counter-culture" (what that had to do with the readings is beyond me), and said that he admires parents of gays and lesbians.

I was so astonished that he would expose pre-adolescent children to the concept of homosexuality that I had to walk out with our three kids. It's against everything I was always taught, and against Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality by the Pontifical Council for the Family (which says that homosexuality should not be addressed with children who are not adolescents - age of innocence).

Plus, I immediately thought that he was telling my kids that if they wanted their priest to admire my husband and I, then they should become homosexuals.

Am I wrong in doing this? I value the opinions of my fellow FReepers on this. Does anyone have useful suggestions on how to deal with this priest?

[Bush2004]

Please help.

[bnelson44]

Call your bishop

[bnelson44]

Call your bishop

[FairOpinion]

I would send a note to the Bishop and ask if he is aware of the kind of things this priest is teaching.

I would also change churches. It's better to drive a few extra miles, than to belong to a church headed by a priest who is not following the Church's teachings.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Am I wrong in doing this

not at all.

[PaulaB]

He should of said
he admires prays for parents of gays and lesbians

[Bush2004]

I want to fight him, so his filthy indoctrination doesn't harm anybody else.

[Texas Eagle]

I was so astonished that he would expose pre-adolescent children to the concept of homosexuality that I had to walk out with our three kids.

Awesome. You did the right thing.

Let's hope he hasn't been exposing other things to pre-adolescent children.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Sounds like a creepy thing to bring up. My personal experience as a kid was that I never listened to what the priest was saying anyway... of course our church was huge and had a bad sound system.

[Bush2004]

Thanks. I'll start the process of getting in contact with him about this tomorrow. There are certain channels that prove most effective.

[television is just wrong]

He is probably getting ready to come out of the closet himself.

[spunkets]

Have the men of the village exercise him. Else maybe one of the pinged has a suggestion.

[HitmanLV]

Well, I think if the subject of the homily made you uncomfortable with young children around, it was perfectly fair to leave.

As for thinking he was telling your kids that if they wanted their priest to admire you and your husband, then they should become homosexuals, I don't think that's what he was doing and you might be overreacting there.

If it bothers you, make an appointment to talk with the Padre and talk with him about it. My personal method is to ask direct questions and politely press for answers.

For example, in your case, I would build to the question "How do you reconcile your decision to discuss homosexuality in light of the Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality by the Pontifical Council for the Family?"

I always ask process questions, since most people are not prepared to answer them at all and look very bad doing it. Press him along those lines, and his process in coming to his decision will come out, even if it's totally whacked.

I was born and raised Catholic, lapsed for a bit, and then returned and now practice. Even as a child I wouldn't let the clergy get away with stuff I didn't think was right, and I would challenge them. Nothing wrong with that - that collar or habit isn't a shield from criticism.

Many of the nicest folks I have ever known have been in the church. Several of the most loathsome have been, too. They are just men and women, that's all.

[Bush2004]

I spent the remainder of Mass praying for him.

[nopardons]

Okay, here's your answer........

Don't post personal vanities to news, don't ever post personal religious stuff to news, and call your Bishop and complain.

[HitmanLV]

You have been getting some advice to report him to the Bishop. Don't, at least not yet. You have a problem with him, handle it like an adult and take it to him.

Nobody liked the kind of kids who would run to teachers, and nobody likes the type of adults who run to supervisors. Challenge him directly, and if unsatisfied, report it on up.