Epicopal Spine Alert
From the Rainbow Sash Movement site. [Via Free Republic]
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Royal Oak, Michigan, 26 January 2005------ A Roman Catholic nun who has dedicated her work to creating communication and dialog within the church on the subject of homosexuality and acceptance of gays and lesbians has been barred from a Royal Oak Catholic Church facility, along with the group that had invited her and a local gay rights organization. Sister Jeannine Gramick, who will be in Metro Detroit for a weekend screening of a documentary based on her work, was to be the guest at a reception in her honor hosted by Call to Action of Michigan, a progressive Catholic social action organization. The film, In Good Conscience, is on the roster of films being presented at the Reel Pride Michigan Gay & Lesbian Film Festival presented by Triangle Foundation. Barbara Rick, the film’s producer/director will appear with Sister Gramick on the program. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Royal Oak offered its facilities to Call to Action several weeks ago. Early this week when reception organizers visited the church to make final arrangements they were informed that an official from the Archdiocese, Bishop Walter Hurley, had issued the order banning Sister Gramick and the event from the building. “Disappointed and uncalled for,” said Sister Gramick when informed of the Archdiocese action. “Decisions like that are what makes the Church look foolish in the eyes of the world. It’s embarrassing to me as a Catholic that the leaders of my Church would censor,” she concluded. Bravo for fairly new Bishop Hurley for preventing Sister Gramick from speaking and for this stopping this embarrassment of a film to be shown in a Catholic Church. Sister Gramick was "permanently barred from any pastoral work regarding homosexual persons." by the The Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith back in 1998 after years of dispute when she and Father Nugent refused to sign statements supporting the Church's teachings on homosexual acts. Next time maybe they will stop Call to Action from meeting at the church there. |
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Great picture to go along with the story Jeff. Too bad we have to take pleasure in the exception rather than the rule these days.
My favorite quote is this: "Decisions like that are what makes the Church look foolish in the eyes of the world."
It's funny, because I seem to remember some guy talking about how following Him would make us fools in the eyes of the world. I forget who said it, though.
That quote struck me too, RP. Good for Bishop Hurley.
Actually, Jeff, it's my understanding that Gramick and Nugent did comply fully with the curia. Nugent has withdrawn from ministry to homosexuals. Gramick was barred from public speaking after she complied with the CDF and later said the process was unjust and resumed speaking and ministry.
Given the misperception that these two were disobedient even after they, and especially Nugent, were willing to work with the Vatican, I can hardly say I blame Gramick for going on the speaking circuit again. Aside from her association with known sinners, Gramick had never been openly disobedient prior to a few years ago. Last time I checked, there's not a Biblical problem with such associations, is there?
Todd,
Sometimes even you surprise me. You are willing to defend the indefensible. She did not just become openly disobedient a few years ago. The investigation into their conduct started in 1988 and lasted eleven years. This process would not have started that long ago if they had been faithful at and others did not have doubts about their orthodoxy.
She did return to homosexual ministry in 2001 and said that "God outranks the Vatican" in order to excuse her continued disobedience. She had originally stated in 1999 that she would not return to ministy but would only try to appeal the decision. So she has not just gone on the speaking circuit but has continued her heretical teachings and has been a keynote speaker at many pro-homosexual.
Then you say you can't blame her for going on the speaking circuit? Do you really approve of her appearance for a homosexual pride film festival? Or is is that one dissenting Catholic has no problems with another dissenting Catholic.
Uh, hello Sister, please read the Gospel of John.
No one who practices homosexuality will enter the kingdom of God. That's plain and simple. No rationalization can change it.