obituary Archives - New Ways Ministry

Remembering Casey Lopata Who Had a Loving Father’s Eyes

May 13, 2021/4 Comments/in Marriage & Family, New Ways Ministry /by Francis DeBernardo, Editor

At a New Ways Ministry workshop that Casey attended, I once asked participants for their favorite scripture verse or passage which gave them strength for the journey of LGBTQ ministry. Casey’s answer was: “Human beings look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Casey’s life was an example of striving to live into that virtue. He always tried to look at people the way God looked at them—with loving parental eyes. Our church is a better place because he lived that way. Read More

Remembering Nickie Valdez, An LGBTQ Catholic Pioneer

January 15, 2021/0 Comments/in Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Personal Stories /by Angela Howard-McParland

An LGBTQ Catholic who refused to be sidelined by the institution due to her sexual orientation, and who was a pioneer in her hometown for Catholic LGBTQ ministry and advocacy, has passed away. Read More

Remembering Terrence McNally and His Controversial Depiction of Gay Men & Catholicism

May 11, 2020/1 Comment/in Arts, Books & Culture /by Catherine Buck

he New York Times’ obituary of playwright Terrence McNally who died in late-March from COVID-19, recalled his many accomplishments, including multiple Tony awards and his ability to expand theater audiences’ horizons through his depictions of gay life. McNally was the creator of Corpus Christi, though, in a separate remembrance of the playwright in Commonweal, Paul Baumann notes this controversial gay play was curiously absent from the Times’ recounting of McNally’s works. Read More