Posted on 03/21/2024 3:24:52 PM PDT by ebb tide
Inside one of the many skyscrapers in the center of Manhattan, James Martin heads to his office at America, the Jesuit magazine where he is an editor. Martin's workspace is filled with objects that evoke his personal journey as a Jesuit priest who has worked with gang members in Boston as well as refugees in Kenya.
Next to his computer, there's a photo of him conversing with Pope Francis during a meeting in 2019 at the Vatican. This was the first of four one-on-one encounters the two Jesuits have now had.
"It was one of the highlights of my life," Martin recalls. "I am not a cardinal, archbishop, bishop, or even a university president. Why would a pope want to meet me?"
Only one of many voices
He knows the answer. At 63 years old, the American Jesuit is one of the leading advocates for including LGBT people within the Catholic Church. He has both the trust and ear of Francis. In 2017, the pope appointed him as a consultant to the Dicastery for Communication. And last year, he asked him to participate in the Synod assembly on the future of the Church.
Ever since the publication of Fiducia supplicans, the controversial declaration the Vatican's doctrinal office issued last December that allows priests the possibility of blessing same-sex couples, Martin proudly states he has done so four times.
"I am just one of many voices speaking to the pope on this issue," he says, downplaying his role in this development.
"What does this community need to do to be recognized by the Church?"
The LGBT cause has not always been central for Martin. Before being ordained a priest, this child of a French teacher and a businessman pursued a career in accounting and human resources at the American conglomerate General Electric.
"I was a yuppie," he says. "I made a good living, lived in New York, went to nightclubs, and spent a lot of money."
But he grew weary of that lifestyle after a few years. He saw a documentary about the Trappist monk Thomas Merton, but he didn't even know what a monastery was. In the end, he decided to become a Jesuit.
He first began writing about LGBT Catholics in the 1990s in the pages of America because "the issue was little addressed at the time". He faced his first controversy in 2000 when he wrote an article about gay priests. But it wasn't until sixteen years later that he decided to make recognition of LGBT people the focus of his ministry. The turning point was the death of 49 people on June 12, 2016 at "Pulse", a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
"Very few bishops spoke out after this shooting, the deadliest in the country's history. And even fewer used the word 'gay',” Martin says. “I thought to myself – ‘what does this community need to do to be recognized by the Church?’ Is dying not enough?"
"What does this community need to do to be recognized by the Church?’ Is dying not enough?"
James Martin
After the nightclub shooting, he began participating in conferences, appearing in major news media, and writing books like Building a Bridge (HarperOne, 2018) to urge the Catholic Church to "listen" to its LGBT members rather than "treat them as sinners who need to be scrutinized for life". He even became the subject of a 2021 documentary produced by the famous director Martin Scorsese. And since 2022, he has been running "Outreach", a website affiliated with America that is dedicated to LGBT Catholics
"I'm not one to seek controversy"
His notoriety has earned him enemies, including many bishops, who accuse him of wanting to distort Catholic teaching.
"Jesus welcomed the marginalized, that's what I do," he says in defense of his work. "I'm not one to seek controversy. I would prefer to write about saints and prayer, but I've gotten used to being hated."
While he sees Fiducia supplicans as a "huge" advancement, he does not believe it marks a step towards recognizing homosexual unions.
"LGBT Catholics have accepted that this point will not change. All they want is to be treated as human beings," he says. "By excluding these people, we are also closing the doors of our churches to their parents, siblings, and friends. In the past, they would have sought their place within the Church. Now, they prefer to leave."
Because he's a homosexualist, like his fellow Jesuit and sponsor, Jorge the Heretic.
Ping
It makes sense. In his present role, he can still be an active homosexual, and pretend to be a faithful priest.
He’s used to being a pervert
It's been 2,738 days now, and Bergoglio has not granted an audience to the surviving cardinals who presented a dubia in regards to Bergoglio's "Amoris Laetia" (aka, the Joy of Sex).
I don’t hate the heretic, but his heresy.
Well boo freaking hoo Jimmy. You’re not a priest nor a man on God whatsoever. You are quite simply a flaming homosexual who is quite comfortable using your “brand” of religion to destroy everything and everyone who “doesn’t agree with your views”. A wolf in sheep’s clothing for sure. Jimmy doesn’t know the Bible, Jimmy doesn’t know Jesus, Jimmy likes to screw men and hates himself so much that he’s looking for a way to absolve his sins. Sorry but no. You don’t make yourself better by tearing down someone else.
The one thing that will not change is Jesus, no matter how much whack jobs like Jimmy wish it weren’t so.
But it wasn't until sixteen years later that he decided to make recognition of LGBT people the focus of his ministry. The turning point was the death of 49 people on June 12, 2016 at "Pulse", a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.You'd think this event would make him want to oppose Islam, not promote sodomy.
Pope Francis and Father Martin are like frosh pledges prankin’ the upper classmen. Neither of them are serious about the Gospel. Am curious what the Holy Spirit thinks about them.
I wonder how long it will take him to get used to burning in hell.
“Ever since the publication of Fiducia supplicans, the controversial declaration the Vatican’s doctrinal office issued last December that allows priests the possibility of blessing same-sex couples, Martin proudly states he has done so four times.” I don’t think Fiducia Supplicans allows a priest to bless the union of a homosexual couple.
And, while I’m no expert, I am fairly certain your post saying “every time a Catholic priest/bishop blesses a homosexual couple they are blessing the sin; not the individuals” is incorrect. In fact I believe it is the exact opposite. They are blessing the individuals not the sin and not the couple.
Why can’t they be blessed individually with instructions to sin no more?
Do you have a problem with a priest blessing a pregnant mother and her abortionist who are about to murder her baby that the procedure goes safely for the mother?
What do you think the above is?
Thank you for including me. I would never have found this. I was aware of a bit of Fr. Martin’s history. This Cliff’s Note will help others understand his biography and ministry.
A ministry that you highly approve of, I'm sure.
I know 3 priests quite well who also came/left the corporate world in their late 20s-early 30s and are among the best I have encountered, if that is what you mean.
No, that’s not what I mean.
Are your three priest-friends also homosexualists like Jimmy Martin? Not that you would care
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