Our headline comes from the Huffington Post article on this same topic. In the latest developments, here’s a video of Fr. John Unni preaching at this past Sunday’s Mass. Listen at between the 0:20 to 0:50 time period to hear how Fr. Unni says he has no idea what the Gay Pride agenda means:
He says, “In the past week, folks have talked about the Gay Pride agenda. I confess to almighty God and my brothers and sisters that I don’t know what that group is. I apologize for my stupidity and ignorance. We put ads in the bulletin saying all are welcome.”
Fr. Unni, if it’s a matter of “stupidity and ignorance,” that’s about equally bad as knowing what it is and still promoting it. Once again, this is, at least in part, what Gay Pride is about:
This year’s theme was “equality”–which means “marriage equality,” which means in part, legalization of “same-sex marriage.”
He said, “We put ads in the bulletin saying all are welcome.“ No, they put ads in the bulletin saying, “Liturgy to Commemorate Boston Pride 2011″ and “in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month.
Google Boston Pride 2011 and this is what you get:
Is Fr. Unni really ignorant that this is what he and his parish were promoting?
Fr. Unni called this blog and Catholics who believe what the Church teaches on sexual morality as “hurtful” and espousing “hate” for saying the Catholic Church should be not be celebrating Boston Pride, and for exercising our rights and duties under the Code of Canon Law to voice our needs to our pastors:
Can. 211 All the Christian faithful have the duty and right to work so that the divine message of salvation more and more reaches all people in every age and in every land.
§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.
§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals…
All are welcome! But we do not need a special Mass or now a special prayer service to celebrate one particular sin and lifestyle. Every week and every day the sacrifice of the Mass is offered to welcome sinners. Jesus Christ welcomed all sinners and called them to conversion. We need to continue doing the same.
We are all on board with the “all are welcome.” Where’s the call to conversion by Fr. Unni?
Someone needs to do something about this situation.
Take Action to address this scandal by calling the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi at 202-333-7121. Leave a message saying that you need the Nuncio’s intervention to get Cardinal O’Malley to do the following:
- issue a written statement clearly stating Catholic Church teaching on homosexuality and homosexual activity
- insist that Fr. John Unni publicly acknowledge those teachings on sexual morality
- either cancel the June 19 GLBT prayer service (still being held at the same time & date as the previously promoted event celebrating Boston Pride) or replace the theme and speakers with a talk by a priest representing the Courage ministry, talking and praying about how people with same-sex attractions can live a life of holiness and chastity consistent with the Gospel and Word of God.
If you’ve got time for more than one phone call, you can also try calling Cardinal O’Malley at 617-782-2544 and Bishop Robert Hennessey at 617-269-4001.
We’ve said it before and will say it again, Cardinal O’Malley said in 2006,
“It is important to express the moral teachings of the Church with clarity and fidelity. The Church must be Church. We must teach the truths of the Gospel in season and out of season.Calling people to embrace the cross of discipleship, to live the commandments and at the same time assuring them that we love them as brothers and sisters can be difficult. Sometimes we are told: “If you do not accept my behavior, you do not love me.” In reality we must communicate the exact opposite: “Because we love you, we cannot accept your behavior.”
Your Eminence, which season is now, “in season” or “out of season”? Are you going to teach the truths of the Gospel and insist that your bishop, spokesman, and pastors do the same, or will we continue being “out of season” with you sitting silently by, letting your spokesman and Fr. Unni muddy the message of the truths of the Gospel?
Gee, I thought Jesus was all about inclusion of all people…
You seem to be mising an important of what Jesus was all about and perhaps you didn’t read the post Jesus was all about love and salvation. He died to save us from our sins. We said in the post several times we are not complaining about welcoming all. There is nothing about the messages coming from Fr. Unni and the Rainbow Ministry at St. Cecilia about rejecting sin,chastity for those with same-sex attractions,rejecting those aspects of Boston Pride/Gay Pride that encourage sinful behavior.
Did you miss the issue of the call to conversion and rejection of sin by Jesus in your understanding of his mission of salvation, as well as in our post?
Phil,
You obviously haven’t read the Gospels recently:
Luke 12:49-53
Christ Brings Division
49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
The Church dearly loves gay people, but it loves them, in the true sense of love, to much to keep them where they are. The bodies of a man and woman where created to bring forth new life. Sadly, many in our parishes have been poorly catechized. They don’t appreciate the riches they have received in being a Catholic Christian.
If Fr. Unni is preaching inclusiveness camouflaged as the acceptance of sinful behavior, this is wrong and we should all be praying for him. He should be representing Jesus and the teachings taught our Church in 33 A.D. Just read Paul’s epistle to the Romans, chapter 1.
We should love the sinner, but hate the sin.
This tells me that our seminaries still need some improvements.
Mike from AskACatholic.com
Philip you are absolutely correct. Jesus is about inclusion. In fact, he commanded his apostles to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth and to call all men an woman to repentance within the Church he established under the Pope and Magisterum.
There is no way to sugar coat the Gospel. Our mandate is to pick up our cross each day and follow Christ.
All of us are called to live lives of chastity within our state of life. When we fall, we pick ourselves up, repent of our sin, go to sacramental confession, and we try again. God is always there to forgive. But we should NEVER mock God by attempting to portray evil and sin as a ‘good’ and something to be celebrated.
I guess that “sex as a personal act of fulfillment” in the modern media might just be a bit extreme. Good comment.
If Fr. Unni isn’t promoting “Gay Pride,” why then did he say (in a homily) “You are welcome here, gay or straight, rich or poor, young or old, black or white…Here, you all can say, ‘I can worship the God who made me as I am.”
Fr. Unni is saying here that God created people to be homosexual persons. Which is why he says homosexual persons can say that God made them as they are. I address this at my latest post.
If Fr. Unni is right, then God owes the people of Sodom and Gomorrah an apology. For he destroyed them with fire for engaging in unnatural vice.
The “Gay Pride” movement is fond of repeating this mantra: God made me this way. “Lady Gaga,” who promotes the homosexual agenda, has a song pushing this ideology.
No, Fr. Unni knows exactly what he is doing. For this reason, he should be removed from any and all ministry.
The “Lady Gaga” video:
Truly satanic, coming fromn this ex-CAtholic.
Perhaps if there was a little more love coming from my conservative Catholic brothers and sisters they might be more successful in getting their message across. But, no. Here you sit casting stones. It appears that you’ve missed the message completely. Also, putting up “taboo” images to divide people and make them uncomfortable, well, that’s not only classy (sarcasm intended) it is just what Jesus would have done!
Remember the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Yours is for a purer Church. If you think being hateful, spiteful and snide will get you to the promised land, I say onward Christian soldier!
How would you suggest we more appropriately talk about sin and the call to repentence and conversion, given that’s not coming from St. Cecilia’s pastor or Rainbow Ministry?
Josh,
I guess Providence College wasn’t worth the money your parents spent sending you to a “Catholic” school. [As an aside: Is that a hateful assessment ... or is it factual.]
Your twisted concept of what hateful is … is astounding. Is the inclination to a homosexual lifestyle disordered? Is it hateful for me to use that term “disordered?” That is the term used in the Catholic Catechism. Is that what they taught you at Providence College, that the Catechism is a hateful document?
For a guy who claims to want to encourage more “loving” (can’t we all just get along?), you sure don’t seem to be too worried about spewing propaganda. My definition of loving does not include lying to people about the truth. And the truth is homosexuality is a dangerous lifestyle. Is it hateful to discourage people from a behavior which has massive and deadly health consequences? Or is it loving to tell people who are killing themselves that they don’t have to live that deadly lifestyle. They can choose to overcome the disordered inclination and live a chaste life. Doing so will add an average 20 years to a (homosexually inclined) man’s life. Is that hateful? Or is it loving? What does Mr. Providence “Catholic”College grad say?
For a person who claims to be upset over others “casting stones,” you seem to be pretty adept at casting stones yourself. Read the blog entries and the excellent comments explaining the Catholic Church position. No one other than you and the other gay apologists are doing any stone throwing — okay up until I called you “Mr. Providence Catholic College grad.”
Yes, inclusion into the Kingdom of God, not the kingdom of deviance.
I think the Latin to English translation for “disordered” picks up a flavor of mental illness when in reality it means more of something like “out of the natural order”.
Mr. Bell, I submit that your understanding of love is deeply flawed. Fr. Felix Sarda Y Salvany, in his book entitled Liberalism is a Sin writes, “Are not your vigorous denunciations, it is urged against us, harsh and uncharitable, in the very teeth of the teaching of Christianity which is essentially a religion of love? Such is the accusation continually flung in our face. Let us see what its value is. Let us see all that the word charity signifies.
The catechism, that popular and most authoritative epitome of Catholic theology, gives us the most complete and succinct definition of charity; it is full of wisdom and philosophy. Charity is a supernatural virtue which induces us to love God above all things and our neighbors as ourselves for the love of God. Thus after God, we ought to love our neighbor as ourselves, and this not in any way, but for the love of God and in obedience to His law. And now what is to love? Amare est velle bonum, replies the philosopher: “To love is to wish good to him whom we love.” To whom does charity command us to wish good? To our neighbor, that is to say, not to this or that man only but to everyone. What is that good which true love wishes? First of all supernatural good; then goods of the natural order, which are not incompatible with it. All this is included in the phrase “for the love of God.”
It follows, therefore, that we can love our neighbor, when displeasing him, when opposing him…If it is shown, that in displeasing or offending our neighbor, we act for his good, it is evident that we love him even when opposing or crossing him. The physician cauterizing his patient or cutting off his gangrened limb may none the less love him. When we correct the wicked by restraining or by punishing them none the less do we love them. This is charity and perfect charity. It is often necessary to displease or offend one person, not for his own good, but to deliver another from the evil he is inflicting. It is then an obligation of charity to repel the unjust violence of the aggressor; one may inflict as much injury on the aggressor as is necessary for the defense. Such would be the case should one see a highwayman attacking a traveler. In this instance, to kill, wound, or at least take such measures as to render the aggressor impotent, would be an act of true charity.
The good of all good is the divine good, just as God is for all men the neighbor of all neighbors. In consequence the love due to a man inasmuch as he is our neighbor ought always to be subordinated to that which is due to our common Lord. For His love and in His service we must not hesitate to offend men. The degree of our offense towards men can only be measured by the degree of our obligation to him. Charity is primarily the love of God, secondarily the love of our neighbor for God’s sake. To sacrifice the first is to abandon the latter. Therefore to offend our neighbor for the love of God is a true act of charity. Not to offend our neighbor for the love of God is a sin.
Modern Liberalism reverses this order. It imposes a false notion of charity; our neighbor first, and, if at all, God afterwards. By its reiterated and trite accusations of intolerance, it has succeeded in disconcerting even some staunch Catholics. But our rule is too plain and to concrete to admit of misconception. It is: Sovereign Catholic inflexibility is sovereign Catholic charity. This charity is practiced in relation to our neighbor when in his own interest, he is crossed, humiliated and chastised. it is practiced in relation to a third party, when he is defended from the unjust aggression of another, as when he is protected from the contagion of error by unmasking its authors and abettors and showing them in their true light as iniquitous and pervert, by holding them up to the contempt, horror and execration of all. It is practiced in relation to God when, for His glory and in His service, it becomes necessary to silence all human considerations, to trample under foot all human respect, to sacrifice all human interests, and even life itself to attain this highest of all ends. All this is Catholic inflexibility and inflexible Catholicity in the practice of that pure love which constitutes sovereign charity. The saints are the types of this unswerving and sovereign fidelity to God, the heroes of charity and religion. Because in our times there are so few true inflexibles in the love of God, so also are there few uncompromisers in the order of charity. Liberal charity is condescending, affectionate, even tender in appearance, but at bottom it is an essential contempt for the true good of men, of the supreme interests of truth and of God. It is human selflove usurping the throne of the Most High and demanding that worship which belongs to God alone.”
Mr. Bell, before you cast any more stones yourself at Catholics faithful to the Magisterium, you might purchase a Catechism of the Catholic Church (if you do not currently own a copy) and prayerfully reflect on 1822 of the same. It teaches quite clearly that charity places God first and then our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
By the way, you wrote “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Saint John Chrysostom, a Doctor of the Church, said that the road to Hell was paved with the skulls of Bishops. Why do you suppose he said this? Perhaps because there are many Bishops who fail to live up to their vocation by insisting upon the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity (Veritatis Splendor, No. 113)?
May I suggest anyone interested in reading one of Fr. Unni’s liberal defenders go to the Concord Pastor blog and note his remarks and those of his commentors. Fr. Austin Fleming apparently doesn’t think that simple statements from the Bible, the Catechism or Canon Law add substantially to “informed dialogue.” He praises Fr. Unni’s “warmth, wisdom and gospel witness.” I would love to see more balanced comments in that combox.
The very sad part of all of this is Father Unni is ultimately the one who will need to defend his actions before the Lord. He is luring sinners under false pretenses.
I am discouraged that Father Unni has taken it upon himself to phrase his objectives in ways that imply sin is okay if it falls into the categories he has decided are acceptable. All of our our sin is unacceptable to God, yet if we are seen to be trying and working to overcome it, Jesus promises eternal love and life. If I am led to believe by the shepherd that my sin does not need correction, Father Unni is compromising my chances for the promises of Christ.
All individuals are welcome in the house of the Lord. What Father Unni is “demanding” of his parish is that we accept one another’s sin. I don’t want anyone accepting my sin. Because I am not perfect, that is why I seek God’s guidance…that is why I am THERE.
If you are in the the Lord’s (or anyone else’s) house, you are expected to abide by the rules and moral standards of that house. St. C’s is not Father Unni’s house, it is God’s and it is God’s set of rules that we are expected to abide by. Until every child’s belly is fully in America, Haiti, and the rest of the world Father Unni should have very little time on his hands to redefine the scriptures.
That is utterly absurd and untrue and bearing false witness against a person. “luring sinners under false pretenses” . Completely false. I guess there’s a whole lot of Catholic teaching you just set aside. That’s one of the ten commandments you are ignoring.
Sorry, “Faithful,” but it’s the truth, and the truth hurts. In addition, you have no room to talk about setting aside Catholic teaching. I mean, if you assented to Church teaching on the immorality of the homosexual lifestyle, you wouldn’t be trying to justify the fact that Fr. Unni goes against Church teaching by acting like there’s nothing wrong with homosexuality.
Dear Friends,
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are sinful. Homosexuals are not, inherently, sinful, but if they act upon their sexuality, they are committing a sin. For those who disagree with this teaching (and I am one of them), you can bang your head against the Church’s Magesterium until you’ve knocked your brains out, but understand that this teaching will not change. You are then left with two choices: you can leave the Church, or you can come to grips with your dissent from Church teachings. I have chosen the later path. God knows my heart; I have carefully read the Church’s teachings, I have prayed and asked God for His help, and I have accepted that I simply cannot agree. There is a doctrine called ‘the primacy of conscience’ that I suggest you read up on; it is very comforting for those of us who earnestly, humbly, prayerfully, and unwaveringly do not accept this teaching of the Church. With all of that said, my disagreement is between me and God, not me, God, and the person sitting next to me in the pew. I don’t broadcast my belief when I go to mass. It is between me and He, not me and Thee.
So be at peace, friends. There is enough work for all of us to do in loving God and loving our neighbor. God will sort all of this out. Until then, let’s try and be kind to each other no matter who we are.
MJCIV, why do you wish to call yourself Catholic if you know what the Church teaches and yet refuse to assent to it? Also, you’ve shown you have no idea what “primacy of conscience” means. We have to follow a PROPERLY FORMED and CORRECT conscience — one that is formed by Church teaching, NOT our own personal views and opinions. Thus, it’s not following our conscience to believe that something that the Church condemns is actually OK; it’s pure disobedience.
Hi, Dave. I do not wish to call myself Catholic; I do, indeed call myself Catholic, because I am Catholic. Fortunately for me (and probably for you, too) the contents of my conscience are between God and I (although, admittedly, I did bring it up in this very informative thread of comments). As I said: God will sort it out. I no more need your permission to be a Catholic than you do mine…which I can assure you, is a good thing.
I’ll tell you what, Dave: if, at the end, I am burning in the fires of Hell for not agreeing with the Church in this matter, would you lower yourself to dip your fingers in some water and drip it down to me? I’m sure I’ll appreciate it. If you aren’t too busy. Thanks.
Joe,
The title, “Priest Defies Archdiocese” is judgmental and mean spirited :)
But actually, I think it is incorrect. Didn’t Donelan say it’s perfectly OK to hold the rally? Doesn’t this mean that Fr. U. can affirm the pride of guys who play pee-pee with each other?
When Archbishop Sambi declines to do as you request, will you accept that you have alerted your pastors as well as the faithful to to your opinions and that the shepherds of the Church do not share your opinion that it is necessary for the Cardinal and Fr. Unni to make the statements you have requested or for the service to be cancelled? Will you do so without attempting to cast doubt on their orthodoxy or their fitness for the offices which God has given them in his Church? And having done so, will you let the matter of the planned prayer service go?
What a hoot. First it’s peace, love, and joy. Then when that doesn’t work, it’s obey, submit, Roma locutus est, causa finis est! Change subject: When Cardinal Law moved molesters from parish to parish and silenced us lowly trash, should we have shut up then? Or when Cdl. Sean set up his abortion cooperative two years ago, should we have shut up? Many criticized Carol and others who kept screaming at full pitch. Bottom line: the scandals of prelates aren’t remedied by a scandalous silence and cowardice of the so-called faithful.
That’s “Roma locuta est; causa finita est.”
And it’s still peace, love, and joy.
Thanks for the Latin and for agreeing that we needn’t shut up and let Unni’s sodomy-pride service go on .. unmolested, so to speak.
To directly answer your question, I don’t know what will come next. Will prayerfully consider what to do.
Many people are asking the question of why there is a Rainbow Ministry at all at Stm Cecilia. Why not instead a chapter of Courage? Do you acknowledge the differences between the two? Also, if your blog is the one I referenced earlier, why do you identify yourself as a “homosexual”? Why the label at all? Why not just consider yourself a person who has same-sex attractions who is trying to live a chaste life consistent with the Word of God ad churxh teachings on sexual morality?
Well, I don’t know precisely, or even generally, what the Rainbow Ministry at St. Cecilia’s does. Obviously, it has a hand in organizing special Masses, but beyond that, I really don’t know. Whether or not there is a chapter of Courage at St. Cecilia’s (and I get the impression that they aren’t seeking to have one in every parish), it is certainly desirable that people be aware of Courage and its presence in this archdiocese.
I would be inclined to defer to the judgment of any pastor as to whether, and to what extent, Courage is promoted in his parish. It think it is reasonable to suppose that there are homosexuals in every parish of this archdiocese, but I suspect that there are very few where Courage is regularly mentioned, and not many more where it is ever mentioned at all. So I think that this is a matter for the archdiocese.
To be really practical and effective here, can’t we take it for granted that trying to get a chapter of Courage at St. Cecilia’s is most likely to be wasted effort. Wouldn’t there be more likelihood of real benefit if you could convince Fr. Sullivan (in private communication) to seek more publicity for Courage in archdiocesan media? That way, it would not be just the homosexuals of St. Cecilia’s. but those of the whole Church of Boston who would learn about it.
When one wants to give a message to a targeted audience, it is probably wise to use descriptors which engage said audience. The clause you suggest (a person who has same-sex attractions who is trying to live a chaste life consistent with the Word of God ad church teachings on sexual morality), accurate as it is, would not make a good blog title, IMO. To me, the words “homosexual” and “gay” do not, in contemporary parlance, imply sexual activity. They are commonly used to mean the same thing as “same-sex attracted.” And none of those terms absolutely excludes it, either. IMO one should try to use language one’s audience will understand, and to be as precise as a discussion requires.
As for how I consider myself, when I came to realize my same-sex attraction, the term of art for one who was same-sex attracted and sexually inactive was “latent homosexual.” That, of course, is a kind of homosexual. To me, “homosexual” has always been the clinical term for one with same-sex attraction. I only became aware of the phrase “same-sex attracted” within the past couple of years, and it strikes me as an awkward circumlocution.
MJCIV, there is one final step you can take: you can die to yourself, to your own will, your own desires and feelings, and yield to the truth of Jesus Christ, given to us by His holy Catholic Church
Thanks, Martin. I’ll take that under consideration.
The RC church is dying on the vine. The Catholic church is alive and well. The RC church teaches chastity while some priest molest year after year. Declining membersgip?? All you have to do is look what the Roman church stands for. They say genital relations among loving gay couples is not God’s best plan. You’re kidding me, right? Cardinal Law- look at what a joke he was. I feel no pain for their plight. Pope Benedict – another joke.
Phillip Hamilton
Memphis, TN
Though numbers in the RC Church may be smaller, it is far from dying. Intrestingly enough, prophets, saints and the Virgin Mary all prophesied about a much smaller Church as the true Church of her Son in ‘end times.’ It is precisely because of the scandals within the Church hierachy that the laity faithful to the Magisterium have had to step up to defend the Bride of Christ. The Church is infallible, not those in it, and many of us now feel the need to defend It for the salvation of souls. It isn’t the first time in history that the laity has stepped up, and it certainly is not an enjoyable endeavor to be in the VERY unpopular minority. It is however, the way of the Cross.
“genital relations among loving gay couples”
Ha ha! Phillip should work for the archdiocese! At least he can admit what Fr. Unni’s “pride service” is all about.
I’m grateful for priests like Fr. Unni. When I was in college at a Catholic university, I first came out to some of the priests as a 21-year-old. I had been struggling terribly prior to that, and my grades had slipped in the prior semester because I couldn’t even sleep well. After I was reassured that I was loved just as I am by a trusted mentoring senior priest, things got better. I went on to medical school and beyond. All of the successful gay people I know can point to some helpful and affirming mentor such as those I had in school.
Don’t undermine those mentors for us. We need them. They help us enormously in overcoming the stigma created by blogs like this one.
Not in my church, doctor. Go somewhere else to promote degenerate agendas. Everybody has a tendency to sin. But we have to obey God first. We eill fight against the devilish homo campaign to corrupt our children.
You have no more claim that the church is your own than I do. I happen to say yes, in my church. I’m not going to let your bigotry run me off. I’m not the only one. It takes a lot of reaffirmation to suffer the vicious malfeasance of people like you and other posters on this site, and much of that continues to come from Catholic clergy who stand with me in standing up for ourselves.
You need that stigma to overcome your selfish pride.If these “mentors” let you hide from your responsibility to refrain from all homosexual conduct,they are hurting you as a pusher hurts a drug addict.(I am not religious myself,but I consider the implications of sexual dimorphism evolving in a species very clear).
I have no such responsibility, and you have no business telling me that I do. And, I certainly don’t need any more stigma, and I want to end that which already exists. We don’t want to be stigmatized. So, don’t look upon us, our orientation, and our relationships as in any way inferior to your own.
Doctor,
Are we to imply from your message that you are a practicing homosexual? It’s one thing to suffer from the disorder and fight the sinful temptations that follow just like any other man is called to fight the temptation to sin. But to engage in the acts is clearly sin. Those homosexuals who fall in the former category should be treated with utmost respect. Theirs is a heavy cross. Those in the latter are sinners and are in need of repentance and Confession.
All of that being said, to have a group whose sole identity is encompassed in a disordered nature and/or sinful homosexual acts should not be singled out for some sort of unique celebration of the Mass. In fact, I’m against all such individualistic Masses that don’t emphasize God. Surely you would agree with that.
Doctor,
But your relationships are inferior. Your sexual relations CANNOT produce offspring. As a doctor you must realize your behavior is not natural, your inclination is disordered and your relationships are inferior.
You however are not inferior. God loves you whether or not you are obedient to Him.
Michael, the ability of the sex that I have has no bearing on the quality of that sex in comparison to heterosexual penis-in-vagina sex, to which you must be referring. I am not interested in producing offspring.
As a doctor, I find my orientation and behavior quite normal, and no psychiatric evidence suggests that they aren’t. The psychiatric issues that are associated with homosexuality are the result of constant isolation and shame brought about by hatemongers, religious or not, who somehow think it’s wise to stigmatize people.
Gay relationships are not inferior. That’s where your mind needs to change.
Edit to correct my first statement, which should read: “The ability of the sex that I have to produce offspring…” Sorry.
Hey Doc,
Thanks for sharing. Can we be candid? If you can’t hack Catholic celibate manhood perhaps the Unitarian Universalists would be a better match.
It would seem that nothing has changed in the Boston Archdiocese since the days of Paul Sinsigalli. Paul Likoudis explains in his book “Amchurch Comes Out”: “..Paul Sinsigalli, who graduated from the Archdiocese of Boston’s St. John’s Seminary in 1999..was advised he would never be allowed to serve as a priest anywhere in the country because he held an unprogressive view about homosexual acting out at the seminary.” Paul Likoudis then cites a report which appeared in Catholic World Report and authored by Michael S. Rose, in which Sinsigalli, a former Air Force officer, stated: “I was studying at St. John’s Seminary in Boston and was told that I did not have the qualities required to be a priest. They said that I lacked leadership, intellectual ability, and emotional maturity, among other things. When I asked them to explain where these traits were exhibited they merely repeated the oft heard mantra: ‘It’s the consensus of the faculty,’ and then would not defend or cite examples of said behavior. They had decided that I did not fit into their mold of what a priest should be…
What were my crimes, you may ask? I stood up for what the Church teaches every time there was a question about it. I stood against the homosexual atmosphere which pervaded the college at that time and had the temerity to suggest that homosexuality is a disorder. I also did not engage in their pro-masturbation conversations which were commonplace in the halls and the dinner table. I was the target of a homosexual classmate who is known to have a violent history and required a restraining order to be taken out against him by another student…” (Amchurch Comes Out, pp. 58-59).
And so we now have an idea what qualities the Archdiocese considers necessary to be a priest. If you promote “Gay Pride” and talk favorably about masturbation, you are considered to have the qualities required to be a good, healthy priest. This is taken as emotional maturity and evidence of intellectual ability.
Small wonder that Father Unni has the “full confidence and support” of the Boston Archdiocese.
So sad a Priest leading is people to damnation.
Cardinal Sean has got to go…
Dear Mr. Sacerdo:
I called the Apostolic Nuncio in DC and was told that only written “messages” are accepted. So, I will write a letter and include the points you have indicated re: 6/19, etc. I have also called the “Communications Line” that has been “set up” for purposes of communications…ah, human folly. I pray to the communion of saints and to the Holy Spirit to bring me wisdom AND a sense of humor!
I support GAGA’s rights to her opinion, but can in no way, shape, or form buy her “theology”. Social Justice is NOT God’s Justice. God will judge me not on my feelings but in how I follow His laws. I do not hate those who disagree with me, even though people who don’t even know me may all too easily assume that I do.
You know what? If LGBT loves the Church so much as to want a special Mass, that is one thing. But why is it necessary to have it during “Pride Week” which offers the sort of sights that really are offensive to women, families and appears to be all about hedonism and recreational sex, which is not healthy or cool for anyone Catholic, gay or straight, and for really good reasons which mean well for all of us. It certainly seems to be a special political event, in the Church, using sacred liturgy, to affirm hedonism and politics. Have it some other time in the year if it is so crucial to this community. And the parish should also then offer something for CoHabitating Straight People Pride. Or whatever else.
I have never heard or witnessed any Catholic say or do any hurtful or judgmental act towards a gay person, ever or be unwelcoming in parish. But, is it kindness, tolerance, for the Pride Agenda to accuse Christians of being hateful? And if a person does not feel able to cast a vote in favor of gay marriage that still does not mean that they hate or intend harm or would not be welcoming in a parish. Perhaps if there is to be prayer or liturgy during Pride Week, the Pride Agenda community could also apologize to Catholics who have been unjustly wronged. If there is a conscience it should not be a big deal.
Doctor,
Gay relationships are disordered and marred by sinful homosexual acts. That’s where your mind needs to change.
Folks, queer doc is jacking you around. He gets a laugh out of it [comment removed by Joe Sacerdo]
The popes and doctors of the Church have given us ample warning about this vice, of how it destroys the soul and warps the mind. This demon is expelled only by prayer and fasting, not argumentation. That’s why prevention is the best method, via a public stigma and shame that keeps it in the closet. Pray the Rosary for an end to this vice.
Accept my regrets for the inflammatory remark that Joe had to remove.
You are out of line. I certainly don’t get a laugh out of any of this; I think it’s terrible that anyone in a modern age has viewpoints such as your that need refuting. In reading this blog, I haven’t yet encountered a more insulting and spiteful poster than you. HOW DARE YOU accuse me of infecting patients? Do you know the first thing about what I do? And I object to being referred to by you as “queer.” You really despise gay people, don’t you, Jerry? Do you think that I should be denied a license to practice medicine and surgery because I’m gay? Some people think so. Should I be subject to legally losing my job or home because I’m gay? Some people think so. Do you?
Are you at all aware that mental health and social science professionals go to great lengths to undo the stigma and shame that you actively wish to ingrain? You’re hurting a lot of people, and I wish you’d stop.
In memory of Kimberly Bergalis, d. 1991, infected by her “loving, caring,” homo dentist.
Jerry, You, I, and others may disagree with every single comment that “Gay Doctor” has posted here and find flaws in everything he’s written, but I think the earlier comment crossed a line. Several people have already commented on it, so to remove it now is too late.
If your point is that people who engage in homosexual activity have a higher risk of catching a sexually-transmitted disease such as AIDS and/or transmitting it, then I’d suggest you state that point. If your point is that a dentist with AIDS infected 6 patients in the 1988 timeframe and 4 died, then state that point. Here are a few articles that I learned a few things from:
http://www.nytimes.com/keyword/kimberly-bergalis
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/apr/01/news/mn-45203
If your concern is that medical workers–if indeed “Gay Doctor” is one–who engage in homosexual activity run the risk of contracting AIDS or some other disease and might continue treating patients while they have advanced HIV disease (or “full-blown AIDS”) or some other disease and then infect those patients, say that. If you’re skeptical of how a medical worker reconciles their own homosexual activity and the risk of contracting an infectious disease with their profession of helping people be healthy, then ask how “Gay Doctor” reconciles those these seemingly contradictory practices.
You, I and others clearly disagree with “Gay Doctor’s beliefs and values and unorthodox version of Catholicism he or she seems to live by. He/she seems to have no respect for Catholic teachings on sexual morality or even respect for what the Catholic Mass is about (commemorating the sacrifice on Calvary, not commemorating “Gay Pride”). He seems to have no respect for Catholics who believe what the Catholic Church teaches, and because we believe what the Catholic Church teaches, we are somehow intolerant and bigots. He seems to have no desire to live a chaste life consistent with the Word of God. Still, please try to avoid such harshness in the discourse and comments.
Roger. Wilco. It wasn’t nice of me to suggest that G.Doc enjoys putting his patients at risk. I’m sure he does it in a loving and caring way. Just as all of his ilk who introduce young men into their loving and caring fold. These predators come here and preach against Our Lord on your site, and jack you and the faithful commenters around. But I’ll tone it down, as I said in my earlier email to you. God bless.
Jerry is one of those people who thinks that God hates all the same people that he does. You are yelling into a black hole, Gay Doctor. Save your breath, and pray that God will show Jerry how unlike Jesus he actually is.
I think the exchanges involving Gay Doctor show why it is misguided to insist that Fr. Unni must preach on the sinfulness of homosexual conduct. Those in his congregation who disagree, like Gay Doctor, will not be convinced, and it will be, at best, wasted breath, and at worst, counterproductive. The teaching of the Church is well-known and clear. It is not necessary to keep repeating it once people have heard it in CCD.
IMO, what will be far more effective in bringing conversions — and that really is what all you commenters want, right? — is to speak of God’s love which calls all of us to holiness of life, to speak of the fact that we are all sinners, to speak of asking the Holy Spirit to show us how to live as God wants us to every moment of our lives. Let God soften hearts. This is not a one-size-fits-all thing. Each person is opened to God’s grace at a different time, and in his own way. God will not fail to provide the person with the right words, or the book, or the article, or the meaningful situation at the time someone is most open to the stirrings of grace.
Let’s all be people who always encourage others to draw close to the God who loves them.
naturegesetz, The Church is always and continuously trying to connect sinners, all sinners, to God’s love, period. Maybe having a Mass during Pride Week is not the most effective outreach though. Gay people as Catholics are not expected to merely support those in similar situations though that would be a part but they would be expected to be leaders in unity with the entire Church. Combined with the hedonistic, somewhat pornographic and militantly politically charged atmosphere of Pride Week a Mass primarily about one group alone seems counterproductive for the very good hope that fallen away Catholics return, or that persons who have never before heard the good news be permitted to look into it. Why would the Church want to send the message to gay people that they are only welcomed during Pride Week or if a parish doesn’t have a Pride Week celebration somehow they will be attacked? That would be a bad idea and of course it is not remotely based on fact.
Friend,
It seems that the archdiocese agrees with you that the explicit linking of the Mass with a theme “All Are Welcome” to Pride Week was imprudent, as it could be taken as an endorsement of all that happens as part of Pride Week. I think that is a valid point, and I have no problem with the postponement of the Mass.
Certainly the message “All Are Welcome,” is always timely, and I think it is useful to state it explicitly from time to time in view of the fact that many people falsely claim that the Catholic Church hates homosexuals. That notion must be dispelled. The tone of a few comments on this blog corroborates the need for official recognition of what, in an ideal world, could be taken for granted.
Jerry, I write this in all seriousness, no sarcasm: I will pray for you. Look at what you wrote in your post at 12:05. Really try to see what it is you said. And take your own advice: pray the rosary.
Prayers noted and appreciated. You and your ilk here are included in my daily “devotion for the dying” prayer.
How dare you come to a Catholic site and speak against the Church’s Holy moral teachings! You kill souls, and the pervs here (you, too?) infect and kill bodies as well. You talk as if G.Doctor is on a charity mission. Good grief. It’s very sad you can’t tell up from down.
May God grant you peace, Jerry.