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Prominent Canadian Priest Claims He's 'Gay', Blasts Vatican on Canadian National Radio
LifeSite ^ | December 6, 2005 | John-Henry Westen

Posted on 12/06/2005 9:26:00 AM PST by NYer

TORONTO, December 5, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Rev. Richard Renshaw, C.S.C., former Assistant Secretary General of the Canadian Religious Conference (1994-2002), exposed himself as a homosexual and supportive of the 'gay culture' on CBC radio on Sunday.  Renshaw made the revelations on CBC's The Sunday Edition hosted by anti-Catholic host Michael Enright who is known for his unrepentant 'joke' referencing the Catholic Church as "the greatest criminal organization outside of the Mafia."

Canadian Catholics who have wondered at the constant unorthodox stands of the Bishops' official development arm - the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) - will not be surprised to learn that Fr. Renshaw served as Deputy Executive Director at CCODP from November 2002 till he became the Interim Executive Director there in May last year - a post he held till this spring.

The latest Vatican document restating the Church's position against the ordination of men who "are actively homosexual, have deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture" was apparently too much for Renshaw who not only revealed himself as "gay" on the program, but also admitted to preaching in favour of the 'gay culture'. (see coverage on new Vatican document http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/nov/05112903.html ) Referring to the new document, Renshaw said, "There is a way in which this touches me very directly."  He continued, "I clearly supported gay causes for quite some time . . . There's no way I can deny I've done that very publicly . . .  I've spoken at gay pride, preached in churches about gay pride, I support the issues."

Renshaw, one of the founders of KAIROS, the Canadian ecumenical coalition on social justice and international solidarity, slammed the official Church teaching that homosexuality is an "objective disorder".  This teaching, he said, and the new Vatican directive, are examples of "how the church humiliates and shames people."  He also noted that his theological formation, which he said he received in Rome, "has never been of the slightest use to me".

"I feel there's some kind of a phobia in church leadership at the highest level," said Renshaw.  Enright pressed him to say "homophobia" and that it was "at the highest level, the Holy Father himself?" but after a pause, Renshaw merely responded, "at the highest levels."

Living in Montreal, Renshaw oddly says that although he is not permitted to say Mass publicly and hear confessions, he is nonetheless "not censured, not suspended, I'm a religious in good standing."

Renshaw said that in his 40 years of hearing confessions he didn't think anyone had told him a sin.  In the interview he also questioned if homosexuality itself was sinful.

Exposing his bias, Enright said with fervour, "You're doing what I take it the founding father of the Christian religion said you should do . . . What the hell difference does it make, your sexual orientation?!"

Renshaw is the second Canadian Catholic priest in recent months to expose his homosexuality in the broadcast media.  LifeSiteNews.com reported that in October, Vision TV, a television network heavily supported by Canada's National Catholic Broadcasting Corporation, featured a Catholic priest. Fr. Karl Clemens, who claimed to be the first in the country to "come out" as homosexual on television. (see the coverage: http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/oct/05102402.html )

Hear the audio of the CBC interview with Fr. Renshaw:
http://www.cbc.ca/thesundayedition/media/renshaw_s...

To express concerns to CBC ombudsman:
E-mail:
ombudsman@cbc.ca

Mail:
Office of the Ombudsman
CBC
P.O. Box 500, Station A
Toronto, Ontario M5W 1E6
Fax: 416/205-2825
Tel.: 416/205-2978

To Montreal Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte
-phone (514)931-7311; fax (514) 931-3432  email: chancellerie@diocesemontreal.org

See also
Vatican 'Gay' Priest Ban Forcing Dissidents Out of the Closet
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/nov/05112307.html




TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; General Discusssion; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: gay; homosexual; homosexualagenda; homosexualpriests; papalzot; priesthood; priests; vatican
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To: The_Republican
What attracts homos to this job?

Apparently it's a paycheck for some.

He also noted that his theological formation, which he said he received in Rome, "has never been of the slightest use to me".

21 posted on 12/06/2005 10:05:34 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: wideawake

good points...

Everyone likes to be accepted, and homos have their ENTIRE existence revolve around that. They want people to say its OK.

However, the institution that says NO to them, louder than anyone else, is the one they use to further their life-style.

I think they also do it to make the institution they truly hate, look bad by outing themselves.

I think purely out of complete hatred they join the Church as preist, and from the get go their plan is to reach prominent position and then do something sick to make Church look bad.


22 posted on 12/06/2005 10:07:10 AM PST by The_Republican
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To: NYer
Which is exactly what I expected to happen. Those most vocal and virulent will 'out' themselves and leave the priesthood and potentially the Church.

I believe as a Cardinal, Benedict XVI stated something to the effect that the Church, in preparation for the times to come, may be better being smaller and more true to its teachings than larger and without any compass.

I agree wholeheartedly.

23 posted on 12/06/2005 10:07:25 AM PST by Solson (magnae clunes mihi placent, nec possum de hac re mentiri.)
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To: The_Republican

They were allowed into seminaries in the '60's after the Church "modernized" its admissions policies to better fit the progressive agenda of denying the existence of sin.
After they reached a tipping point, they controlled the seminaries and drove away many normal men. Many bishops were enablers. Why are they attracted to the profession? The same reason they are attracted to the teaching profession and the ministries of mainstream Protestant religions..the same reason they desperately want scoutmaster positions..access to young boys.


24 posted on 12/06/2005 10:09:44 AM PST by steve8714
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To: Solson

--Which is exactly what I expected to happen. Those most vocal and virulent will 'out' themselves and leave the priesthood and potentially the Church.--

This is the way it ought to be.

There is the Church

and then there is churchLite, which only resembles the Church.


25 posted on 12/06/2005 10:17:48 AM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: NYer

Can we charge him under Canada's criminal hate speech law, or is hate speech against the Catholic religion exempt?


26 posted on 12/06/2005 11:02:04 AM PST by Unam Sanctam
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To: NYer
He also noted that his theological formation, which he said he received in Rome, "has never been of the slightest use to me".

We already knew that.

27 posted on 12/06/2005 11:26:16 AM PST by madprof98
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To: NYer

Well, that's one less....

Oh, Lord..."Renshaw said that in his 40 years of hearing confessions he didn't think anyone had told him a sin."

Oh my!


28 posted on 12/06/2005 11:49:17 AM PST by OpusatFR
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To: NYer
Canadian Catholics who have wondered at the constant unorthodox stands of the Bishops' official development arm - the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace (CCODP) - will not be surprised to learn that Fr. Renshaw served as Deputy Executive Director at CCODP from November 2002 till he became the Interim Executive Director there in May last year - a post he held till this spring.

**************

Thank goodness Pope Benedict has taken on the problem of homosexuality in the priesthood and other important issues. It's long overdue.

29 posted on 12/06/2005 11:56:08 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: NYer

The light has been turned on in the room: the bugs are scurrying about, blinded by the light.

-Theo


30 posted on 12/06/2005 1:35:18 PM PST by TeĆ³filo (Visit Vivificat! - http://www.vivificat.org)
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To: The_Republican
What attracts homos to this job?

Remember the song "Where the boys are?"

31 posted on 12/06/2005 2:57:32 PM PST by bornacatholic
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To: NYer
It's a rather disturbing tour into the mind of an apostate. Some other nuggets from the interview:

He actually stated that his theological training in Rome was focused on doctrine and has never been of the slightest use to him in his life.

He stated homosexuality is not a sin and that the purpose of the Church encyclicals and letters on the subject has nothing to do with morality-the purpose is only to shame and attack gay persons.

The Church's decision on married priests, celibacy, chastity and obedience is just a reaction to the decline of the Church. He said the Church is "in its autumn," by which he means it is dying.

He said he is a priest in good standing but he can adhere to his personal spiritual tradition in pastoral work. He stated this consisted of listening to all dimensions of personal experience; conscious, unconscious and one's body without any judgment whatsoever. He admitted his problem with confession was that the priest is there to judge and to absolve, and he didn't believe that is what Jesus wanted.

It's everyone's responsibility to address these wolves. I e-mailed and faxed a letter to Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte of Montreal and Msgr. Luigi Ventura, the Apostolic Nuncio in Canada regarding Mr. Reshaw. I asked whether I should take the Catechism of the Catholic Church or this self-proclaimed "priest in good standing" as a guide to my spiritual formation on faith and morals. If you feel strongly about this, please communicate your concerns-It does help. I wrote letters to Peterborough Bishop Nicola De Angelis regarding Fr. Edward Cachia's support for a group of women pretending Catholic ordination to the priesthood. All our letters, faxes and e-mails had an effect: Cachia was relieved of his duties as a priest within a month. We have seen encouraging action under blessed Benedict XVI and Msgr. Ventura is an Opus Dei archbishop as well, so he is likely sympathetic to the concerns of the faithful.

Msgr. Luigi Ventura
nuntius@bellnet.ca
FAX: 613-746-4786

Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte
chancellerie@ diocesemontreal.org
FAX: (514) 931-3432

32 posted on 12/06/2005 4:12:50 PM PST by Antioch (Benedikt Gott Geschickt)
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: The_Republican

"What attracts homos to this job?"

Evil always attacks good. That is its nature.


34 posted on 12/06/2005 6:11:59 PM PST by dsc
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To: OpusatFR
Oh, Lord..."Renshaw said that in his 40 years of hearing confessions he didn't think anyone had told him a sin." Oh my!

If he did not consider the cofessions, confessions of "sin", then he probably didn't forgive them. He probably told them there was nothing to forgive.

Does this mean that those sins remain with the penitents? Or is it good enough if they just confess their sins to God? IOW can God forgive their sins himself? Or is this an essential function of the priesthood?

35 posted on 12/06/2005 6:21:42 PM PST by P-Marlowe
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To: EdReform; backhoe; Yehuda; Clint N. Suhks; saradippity; stage left; Yakboy; I_Love_My_Husband; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping.

If you want on/off the ping list let me and little jeremiah know.

Free Republic homosexual agenda keyword search

36 posted on 12/06/2005 7:09:18 PM PST by DirtyHarryY2K (http://soapboxharry.blogspot.com/)
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To: Incorrigible

Every night say a prayer thanking God for the Holy Father.

He sure is cleaning out the stable !


37 posted on 12/06/2005 7:31:22 PM PST by Sam the Sham (A conservative party tough on illegal immigration could carry California in 2008)
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To: The_Republican
Everyone likes to be accepted, and homos have their ENTIRE existence revolve around that. They want people to say its OK.

There are people who enter the ministry not to love and serve God, but to be admired and looked up to themselves. For a deviant sodomite, being called "Father" and respected and trusted and looked up to must be a thrill.

That is why the liberal churches are so corrupt. To adhere to God's holy word is to say things that will make "progressives" not like and admire you. The MSM will call you "homophobic" and "intolerant". So naturally people who entered the ministry to serve their own needs will disown God in the crunch because they only follow the crowd to be liked and admired and popular.

38 posted on 12/06/2005 7:36:28 PM PST by Sam the Sham (A conservative party tough on illegal immigration could carry California in 2008)
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To: ArrogantBustard

As a man with a national platform who makes a point of reaching out to gays, and given the horrific levels of abuse and addiction in the gay community, not one gay ever confessed having unprotected gay sex? Cheating on a "lover?" Selling their body for drugs and/or sex? Pedophilia? Orgies? Drug use?

I mean, you'd think that if he had even any positive impact on a homosexual's life, even from Vicky Robinson's perspective of what positive is, he'd hear ONE person who had done SOMETHING terrible, even by gay standards.

Does he not believe even *unprotected* sodomy is sinful? Pedophelia? Heroine abuse? Male crack whoring?


39 posted on 12/06/2005 8:14:03 PM PST by dangus
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To: NYer

Another one who thinks he is better than, even knows better than, the Lord, OR the Pope.


40 posted on 12/06/2005 8:27:31 PM PST by gidget7 (Get GLSEN out of our schools!!!!!!)
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