Opinion: Homosexual Equivalency Activism Masquerading as Compassion

'Why would any Catholic parish support organizations which work directly against the Church and the truth she proclaims?'

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - On Friday, February 5, 2010, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops acting through Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I, the archbishop of Chicago and president of the Conference, issued a strong repudiation of   "New Ways Ministry." The group is comprised of people who openly dissent from the clear teaching of the Catholic Church concerning the immorality of homosexual practice. They have aggressively opposed efforts to defend marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman. They foster dissent within the Catholic Church and cause scandal and confusion to many of the faithful. They have been publicly and repeatedly reprimanded by the Church.  For example, two of their former leaders, a priest and a religious sister, were ordered to resign their positions with the organization and separate themselves from any involvement The Cardinal said in his notice: "No one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching and an authentic Catholic pastoral practice. Their claim to be Catholic only confuses the faithful regarding the authentic teaching and ministry of the Church with respect to persons with a homosexual inclination." As for the organization, they have responded to the correction by rejecting it whole cloth. In fact, they have encouraged an advocacy campaign to get the Church to change its position. Among the clearest summaries of Catholic teaching on this matter was that set forth by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the leadership of then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in the "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" promulgated in 1986. Here are a few of the paragraphs in this important instruction:

"The Church, obedient to the Lord who founded her and gave to her the sacramental life, celebrates the divine plan of the loving and live-giving union of men and women in the sacrament of marriage. It is only in the marital relationship that the use of the sexual faculty can be morally good. A person engaging in homosexual behavior therefore acts immorally." "To choose someone of the same sex for one's sexual activity is to annul the rich symbolism and meaning, not to mention the goals, of the Creator's sexual design. Homosexual activity is not a complementary union, able to transmit life; and so it thwarts the call to a life of that form of self-giving which the Gospel says is the essence of Christian living. This does not mean that homosexual persons are not often generous and giving of themselves; but when they engage in homosexual activity they confirm within themselves a disordered sexual inclination which is essentially self-indulgent". "As in every moral disorder, homosexual activity prevents one's own fulfillment and happiness by acting contrary to the creative wisdom of God. The Church, in rejecting erroneous opinions regarding homosexuality, does not limit but rather defends personal freedom and dignity realistically and authentically understood." This teaching cannot and will not change. Groups like "New Ways Ministry", by their open defiance of this teaching, undermine the authority of the Church, confuse those who struggle with same sex attraction and scandalize the faithful. Finally, they confuse the public as to what the Church actually teaches. "New Ways Ministry" is only one in a network of groups which participate in what I have called the "Homosexual Equivalency Movement."  They are at work within the Church to promote heresy and within the broader culture to bring about a Cultural Revolution. The dissenting or confused Catholics who support the Homosexual Equivalency movement within the Church insist that the Catholic Church adopt their new doctrine - which amounts to heresy. Some also insist that the Civil Law of the Nation create a legal and moral equivalency between true marriages and cohabitating practicing homosexuals. In these efforts they are led by well funded and strategic groups such as the "Human Rights Campaign" in the United States. I have written extensively about this challenge in other articles. However, I now address the challenge within the Catholic Church. It may be escalating, in spite of the absolutely clear statements by Bishops, conferences, and the Magisterium. For example, it is reported today that on Friday nights, St Joseph's Parish in Newtown, Australia hosts what is called a 'Gay Mass'. The event is sponsored by a group called 'Acceptance' Sydney. The Archdiocese of Sydney's website advertises the Mass time. Pictures have been disseminated around the world on the internet. The Altar for this Liturgy is adorned with a frontal cloth resembling the so called "Gay Flag." A cursory reading of the links on the Web site demonstrates the sponsoring organization promotes groups whose agendas are absolutely at odds with the teaching of the Catholic Church. See, Acceptance of Sydney  under "Links." In the United States we see the same problem. Thomas Peters, founder of American Papist, is one of the brightest and best in the growing community of Catholic bloggers and commentators. He now writes for "Catholic Vote Action." In an exclusive entitled "NYC parish hosts anti-Catholic LGBT group, promotes harmful practices" , he reported on a similar travesty in New York at the Jesuit-run Church of St. Francis Xavier Thomas writes "... this parish has abandoned the Church´s loving (and complete) message about homosexual acts and lifestyle, and has instead opted to support the false and destructive narrative promoted by gay activists.... (F)or example, this parish sponsored an event ("after Mass!") just last week promoting Equality Ride 2010, "a 2 month cross-country social justice bus ride promoting equality in faith-based universities with policies that discriminate against LGBT youth." "Equality Ride 2010 is a project of Soul Force, which "seeks freedom from religious and political oppression for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning people". Here´s what Soul Force says about the Catholic Church: "The Pope/Vatican and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) continue to make spiritually violent statements and policies against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, both politically and socially. These policies hurt people both inside and outside the church." Thomas asks the question which must be asked. He notes that "...Soul Force has a lot to say about the Catholic Church. None of it is complimentary, very, very little of it is true. So why is a Catholic parish supporting organizations which work directly against the Church and the truths she proclaims?" The Homosexual Equivalency Movement is engaged in open defiance right within the Catholic Church. Its activities masquerade as compassion but they are anything but. Exposing these activities is an important undertaking. Those in our midst who struggle with same sex attraction need to be given the truth which will help to set them free. They should be shown true compassion such as that offered by authentic ministries to homosexual persons like Courage.

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'