Church leadership post for an openly gay Mormon

CNN ^ | Sept. 24, 2011 | Jessica Ravitz

[Colofornian]

(CNN) - Early on in life, Mitch Mayne knew exactly who he was.

He would race home...to watch reruns of “Star Trek” and swoon over his crush, Captain Kirk. At 8, after his parents converted, he was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...

It is where he feels spiritually at home, irrespective of the fact that, for the past 10 years, he’s been openly gay.

“I’m a man that lives in two worlds that a lot of people don’t think intersect,” Mayne said...

Actively Mormon and openly gay: It's the sort of combo that might leave people wondering...

...In mid-August he was...called (as Mormons say) by local church officials to serve in an LDS Church leadership position in San Francisco.

Mayne’s appointment may have generated attention, but he’s not the first gay Mormon to assume a leadership role in the church.

In Seattle, Washington, and Oakland, California, gay men have reportedly served in LDS Church leadership roles, Peggy Fletcher Stack wrote in her piece about Mayne in The Salt Lake Tribune. What makes Mayne unique, Stack said, is that he "may be the first local LDS leader to announce his orientation over the pulpit.”

Late last month, from the pulpit, Mayne revealed - to anyone who didn't already know - who he is:

"I am a gay Latter-day Saint.

SNIP

"I don't want tolerance. If I am tolerated, I am disliked in some way...

"I don't want acceptance. To accept me is to graciously grant me the favor of your company. To accept me is to marginalize me with the assumption that I am less than you..."

SNIP

...Mayne, who was in a longtime monogamous relationship until a year ago, was only able to get his church calling because he’s not currently with someone.

[SECURE AMERICA]

ANY Church that accepts sin and actually promotes it can not call itself Christian.

[Colofornian]

Queer couples may adopt from other planets.

The question for Mormon homosexuals called by the Mormon hierarchy in Salt Lake City is: Were you spirit-born that way in the pre-existence?

[SECURE AMERICA]

“I am a gay Latter-day Saint.

No sir, you are sick person consumed with their sin

[Colofornian]

(To the homosexual person highlighted in this article): No sir, you are sick person consumed with their sin

(And this sin is sanctioned @ the highest level of official Mormondom -- and by grassroots Mormons who continue to pay their tithe to this religious body)

[fwdude]

I no longer have any respect for a “church” which suspends one of its priests because he preaches against homosexuality and abortion. It is a cult, and nothing more.

[reaganaut]

They already have a history of “sealing men to men” so I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

[Trillian]

“He would race home...to watch reruns of “Star Trek” and swoon over his crush, Captain Kirk.”

That pic of sulu in a wedding dress outside the plane window while kirk watches popped into my mind as soon as I read that.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Fr. Donat Gionet,defender of the Catholic Faith

---

I think this is the case you were referring to: Rev. Donat Gionet, a priest who was giving a series of sermons against abortion and homosexual vice in numerous Canadian Catholic churches, was suspended by the Bishop of Bathurst (apparently) for the strongpreaching. This was covered in the Canadian Press(Link) earlier this month.

This much is clear: Fr. Gionet is the one who was defending the Catholic Church and its doctrines (quoting rather respected Catholic sources, by the way: the Bible, the Catechism, and the Pope). In contrast, the bishop of Bathurst (Rev. Valéry Vienneau) is the one who is failing to do so.

It is Bishop Vienneau, then, who has no respect for the teaching of the Church.

It is rather muddled for you to come out against the Church, when the strong-preaching priest you ought to be supporting, Fr. Gionet, is forthrightly and courageously FOR the Church.

If you are a friend of the truth, you ought to be standing with Fr. Gionet.

[fwdude]

Is not there a hierarchy in the Church. Are underlings not answerable to the Archbishops and the Pope? Why was nothing done about this travesty?

[greyfoxx39]

Wow. Pretty sad. I grew up knowing Mormons as highly moral, if theologically challenged, people.

I am disheartened greatly by the demise of their moral bearings.

What I find incongruous in this is the way the mormons boasted about being the main drivers of the Prop 8 battle, and now they have joined the gay rights brigade....I wonder when the revelation from God was given on this?

[Mrs. Don-o]

(1) Yes, there is a hierarchy in the Church.

(2) Yes,"underlings" (your term) are answerable to the Archbishops and the Pope.

(3) Yes--though you didn't ask---all of us are answerable to uphold the authentic teachings of the Church, which--- reduced to a convenient,searchable form--- you can get a notion of via the Catechism of the Catholic Church(Searchable at Link)

(4) Yes---I'll answer this unasked question, too- -- Fr. Gionet also has rights under Canon Law, which I certainly hope he will make use of to appeal his suspension or (more probably) change his incardination to a different diocese.

(5) Yes --- your third unasked question --- individual Catholic faithful have the right to protest the Bishop's scandalous, unpastoral, and shabby treatment of this good priest.

Most Rev. Valéry Vienneau, Bishop of Bathurst
645, avenue Murray
C.P. 460
Bathurst, New Brunswick
CANADA E2A 3Z4

Tel: (506) 546-1420
Fax: (506) 548-5565

E-mail: valeryv@nb.aibn.com

(6)"Why was nothing done about this travesty?" Well? What have you done? Pray? Fast? Protest to the Bishop? And if not, Why???

If you are a Catholic, you have the authority of the Sensus Fidelium behind you. I should add that, while it is not obligatory, it is within the Tradition to include in one's comments to pusillanimous hierarchs, some appropriate Biblical references to "millstones" and "whited sepulchres."

Have at it, dude. I'll do the same.

[fishtank]

My tagline explains the LDS.

[Recovering_Democrat]

To be fair, sometimes the leadership of an organization or movement is NOT in step with the vast majority of it membership...perhaps this is what happened. (see: Republican Party)

[reaganaut]

To be fair, sometimes the leadership of an organization or movement is NOT in step with the vast majority of it membership...perhaps this is what happened. (see: Republican Party)

- - — -
Mormonism is a very clear exception to this. Part of their requirements is ‘sustaining’ their prophets, apostles, regional and even local leadership. This ‘sustaining’ is an agreement that they are speaking for God and basically to follow what they say, do as the will of God (that includes church jobs like this one called ‘callings’).

There is no real room for disagreement between the LDS leadership and the rank and file. If you generally disagree you are either excommunicated (if vocal) or go ‘inactive’ or leave.

Mormonism is a very controlling organization and this is just one of the ways it keeps control. Been there done that (see tagline).