Free Republic

out again in again flynn againThis past Wednesday Archbishop Harry Flynn issued a statement "to clarify remarks he made in an interview with Catholic News Service in December." CNS reports on the clarification: In a Jan. 26 statement, Archbishop Flynn said he met in mid-December with Cardinal Francis Arinze, head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, to discuss "the difficult pastoral situation" of Rainbow Sash. Cardinal Arinze "did not in fact suggest an immediate change to the policy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis," Archbishop Flynn said in his statement. "However, he did clearly...

This Sunday at the Cathedral of St. Paul, a 1960s liberal anti-war activist turned orthodox church layman plans to stand — literally — in the way of gay Catholics and their supporters to prevent them from taking Holy Communion. "I've never seen such an event unfold in a Catholic Mass, and I'm 50 years old,'' said Brian McNeill of Minneapolis, who helps organize the annual gay-rights presence at the Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday. David Pence's plan has startled leaders of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It also shocked members of the Rainbow Sash Alliance in the Twin Cities,...

MINNEAPOLIS — St. Joan of Arc, the "progressive" Catholic parish told by the Vatican last month to remove pictures from its web site showing parish participation in the Twin Cities annual gay pride parade, is continuing its homosexual advocacy by hosting a lecture on gay relationships by homosexual and lesbian couples. In mid-October, St. Paul/Minneapolis Archbishop Harry Flynn sent his two auxiliary bishops, Frederick Campbell and Richard Pates, to inform St. Joan’s pastor, Fr. George Wertin, that the Holy See wanted the gay pride material removed from its web site. The Vatican letter to Archbishop Flynn was not made public,...

"In a time when right wing conservatives of many churches condemn the lifestyle of homosexuality, some excluding gays and lesbians from worship while perpetuating a message of hate, St. Joan's has been steadfast in welcoming their GLBT parishioners. A monthly potluck support group run by Ron Joki and Theresa Healy allows for an outreach of connectiveness. An annual GLBT spiritual retreat explores biblical readings, meditations, rituals, play and musical skits with guest performers and speakers that confront negativity, challenges exclusivity and affirms acceptance and healing. This very website includes a GLBT section devoted to updates of relative news, GLBT families,...

<p>A Catholic religious education coordinator was denied an award from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Wednesday evening because she is a lesbian, prompting a protest at the dinner honoring the other 17 recipients.</p> <p>About 200 members of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church demonstrated Wednesday night in support of Kathy Itzin, the church's religious education coordinator. Itzin, a member of St. Joan's, was to be one of 18 archdiocesan workers honored for their work in teaching young people about the faith. She is in a relationship with a partner, and they have four children, ages 10 to 16.</p>