The annual conference of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM) in Brooklyn next September and a concerned Catholic in that diocese has faxed me the conference materials for my perusal. If you know anything about NACDLGM, you know that their conferences and materials are often full of dissent from the Church’s teaching on homosexuality. Oh sure, on the surface, they claim to be faithful and only interested in helping people afflicted with this “orientation,” but in reality when you look at what’s actually going on, you see the truth.
If these ministries were in fact interested in helping people overcome sinfulness and the temptation to a sinful lifestyle, that would be one thing, but it has become very clear that’s not the case. Besides, what other sinful behavior gets its own ministry in the Church? Where is the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Fornicator Ministries? Or the National Association of Catholic Pedophile Ministries? Adulterers? Thieves? Liars? Ah, but for these people the aim is not to help people overcome homosexuality, it’s to help homosexuality overcome the Church’s teachings. How can I say that? Let’s look at some of the workshops planned for the event.
How about “Homosexuality and Scripture,” led by Jamie Manson, M. Div., director of faith formation, St. Francis Xavier Parish, New York City. Here’s the description: “This session will consider appropriate ways of understanding scripture as ‘inspired,’ discuss the cultural and historical context of biblical literature, and reflect on the presence of harmful texts in the Bible.” [emphasis added] I especially like the scare quotes around “inspired.” It raises the specter of “is it really inspired?” It’s quite clear that the session is designed to show that all those prohibitions against homosexuality in the Bible aren’t really prohibitions or that they can be safely ignored as not inspired by God and culturally conditioned by the homophobia of the time, etc.
Same old dissenting faces
Technorati Tags: Catholic, dissent, doctrine, homosexuality
“Besides, what other sinful behavior gets its own ministry in the Church? Where is the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Fornicator Ministries? Or the National Association of Catholic Pedophile Ministries? Adulterers? Thieves? Liars? Ah, but for these people the aim is not to help people overcome homosexuality, it’s to help homosexuality overcome the Church’s teachings.”
Right on…I have not seen or heard of theives or drunkards demonstrated as Masses wearing sashes for their cause. Nor have I seen fornicators or adulterers demand that the Church bless their relationships.
They argue that Jesus supported and sought out society’s outcasts. A clear reading of the Gospels shows this to be pop cultures sanitized version of Jesus’s outreach. Clearly the Gospels show that Jesus reached out to “sinners and those who are sick” and called on them all to repent.
Does a personal blog count as a media outlet? If so then every attendee is potentially a member of the press.
“May result in violation of libel laws?” Somebody’s blowing smoke!
RC is right “Failure to disclose media affiliation may result in violation of libel laws.” Why? Because it is libellous if a reporter notes that Funny Father Bozo is a member of a group of perverts? what is the big deal – it is all legal – and in fact actively promoted by the government?
“Something tells me that the credentials for reporters representing Catholic World Report or The Wanderer will get lost in the mail. Because they have nothing to hide from the rest of the Catholic Church, right?”
Just like those wonderful GLSEN conferences, anyone can sign up to attend, right? And if some of the material made it to those in the media, that is not a violation of any libel law I’ve ever seen…
I am surprised that such a marginalized segment of society does not seek diversity. I guess not every reporter will be welcome and accepted for who they really are. What are they afraid of . . . someone actually reporting the truth?
Dear Lynne,
Are you suggesting a leak?
Dear Dom,
Courage, I am sure, would be more than welcoming. I mean, the FSP record the sessions, so the press would be welcomed, esp. the CWR or Wanderer or NCRegister.
A leak would be a good thing but dangerous for the one doing it. Scott Whiteman is still being persued legally by the GLBT mafia for daring to audiotape the GLSEN conference at Tufts in 2000 (Fistgate).
I didn’t know a thing about this group until I got the “Catalog of Ministries” for the Bishops Annual Appeal (Diocese of Memphis.) Wow. I knew I didn’t like or agree with them after reading that little blurb (full of liberal buzzwords like inclusivity, mutual understanding, etc). I just read the schedule and description for the conference, and am appalled. I’m disappointed at myself for not realizing my bishop was promoting this garbage. I’m further surprised that down here in the “Bible belt” nobody raised a stink when they came to town. Needless to say, I will only be giving to CERTAIN ministries of the diocese.
Oh yes, Mike D., Memphis has quite the website promoting “Gay and Lesbian Ministry.” Check out the diocesan website (http://www.cdom.org) and look for the link. It’s quite easy to find. I have talked to a number of diocesan officials about this in the past year, and no one seems to care that this “ministry” and its affiliation with NACDLGM are in direct opposition to the teachings of the Church. I just don’t understand why and how they are allowed to get away with it. A couple of weeks ago Bishop Steib was given an award by the NCEA for his work with “Catholic education” in the Diocese of Memphis. I can’t think of anything more ironic.
“Besides, what other sinful behavior gets its own ministry in the Church?”
Indeed! We weren’t supposed to notice that fact.