Posts

Homophobia Flares at U.S. Bishops’ Meeting, Targeting Gay Priests and Fr. James Martin

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Statements from church officials and protestors alike targeted gay priests and Fr. James Martin, SJ, during the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' assembly in Baltimore this week. These statements are but some of several signs that the U.S. episcopate still strongly resists Pope Francis' efforts at church reform. Read More

Catholics Reject Accusations That “Homosexual Clique” Is Running the Church

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Church officials in England have strongly rejected critics' charges that there is a "homosexual clique" controlling the church, which have prompted further repudiations of the idea that gay priests cause sexual abuse. Read More

While Archbishop Blames Gay Priests for Abuse, Cardinal and Other Catholics Reject Such Theories

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A leading U.S. bishop has firmly rejected any suggestion that gay priests have been a cause of clergy sexual abuse, joining a growing number of other Catholics who have refused to let such homophobic narratives go unchecked. Read More

Fr. James Martin to Youth Synod: Use “LGBT” Language, Affirm Lesbian/Gay Couples as Family

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Reports from the Synod on Youth indicate that LGBT issues are being raised in at least two ways: whether to use the term "LGBT" in a church document and whether to refer to same-gender couples and their children as "families." Read More

Linking Gay Priests to Sexual Abuse is “Discrimination,” Church Needs to Address Sexual Hypocrisy, Says German Official

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A top church official in Germany has rejected claims that gay priests are a cause of clergy sexual abuse, saying such ides are discriminatory. He also said the church can no longer be hypocritical by preaching its sexual morality while knowing few practice it. Read More

Archbishop Stands By Fr. James Martin and LGBT-Friendly Pastor Against Conservative Protestors

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Georgia's top bishop has reaffirmed his support for Fr. James Martin, SJ, and a local pastor at an LGBT-friendly parish after protestors spread misinformation about Martin's talk and sought to have the pastor removed. Read More

Named Witness to Brett Kavanaugh’s Alleged Attack Blames Gay Priests for Sexual Abuse

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A conservative writer named as a witness to allegations of rape by U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has previously blamed gay priests for clergy sexual abuse, an issue about which there are still many opinions among Catholics. Read More

Catholics Reject Bishops’ Claim that Gay Priests a Cause of Sexual Abuse

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Yesterday, Bondings 2.0 covered recent comments by several U.S. bishops that strove to link homosexuality with clergy sexual abuse. Today's post offers commentaries from Catholics who either pushed back against such bishops or who have offered a more positive assessment about gay priests and the abuse crisis. Read More

Bishop: Gay Priests “Wreaking Great Devastation” in Church and Cause of Sexual Abuse

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Right wing Church leaders are again trying to blame sexual abuse by clergy on gay priests and religious. One bishop has even suggested a 'homosexual subculture" is "wreaking great devastation in the vineyard of the Lord." But many Catholics have pushed back, rightfully acknowledging the positive role gay priests and religious have played in the Church while identifying real causes of abuse as crimes of power not sex. Today's post reports on the bishops' gay-negative statements while tomorrow's post shares several analyses. Read More

Fr. Bryan Massingale Responds to Archbishop’s Criticism of Retreat for Gay Clergy and Religious Men

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A leading theologian scheduled to lead a retreat for gay priests this fall has responded to criticism from the archbishop in whose diocese the retreat is being held.  Read More