tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post7528227672119383625..comments2023-07-01T00:39:39.762-07:00Comments on Father Geoff Farrow: Catholics For Equality, an analysis on the Eve of their launch.Father Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03904564207135202567noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-47415708848689032682010-09-18T08:16:15.975-07:002010-09-18T08:16:15.975-07:00This is a great idea. However, C4E better be prepa...This is a great idea. However, C4E better be prepared for a _massive_ backlash from the EWTN, fundie, and Latin Mass sets. Those people will try to destroy anything that threatens their group psychosis. They're convinced that very few priests are gay and that the Vatican is handling the sex abuse nightmare with the utmost skill. Their "arguments" are like a kid that sticks his fingers in his ears and has a screaming temper tantrum. <br /><br />There are a many priests that will feel extremely threatened when confronted with happy and healthy LGBT people in loving marriages and partnerships. Heck, there are some priests out there that can't even say the word "gay", let alone "I'm gay". <br /><br />The non-fundamentalist laity are often very accepting of gay people (especially 20 and 30 somethings.) It's the clergy that need help. Maybe it's better to help the clergy accept their homosexuality than try to convince the already convinced laity.Jordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-85367597814356340522010-09-05T10:53:00.273-07:002010-09-05T10:53:00.273-07:00This was an interesting article and interesting co...This was an interesting article and interesting comments also. Hopefully the oganization can do positive things but I wonder what impact it will have on people in the hinterlands. I think a lot of small town and rural Catholics (like myself) tend to be invisible.Mareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-65943925337049492052010-08-31T12:56:34.865-07:002010-08-31T12:56:34.865-07:00Kudos to you, Fr. Geoff and to Fr. Tony for your f...Kudos to you, Fr. Geoff and to Fr. Tony for your frank observations of this fledgling idea.<br /><br />Phil Attey, the self defined 'activist' doesn't want to change the Church and Fr. Joseph Palacios isn't free to stand up to it- so the organization is Dead On Arrival.<br /><br />We don't need another half baked organization fumbling toward equality.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05804173880520607666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-63892325692893815672010-08-31T12:01:43.541-07:002010-08-31T12:01:43.541-07:00Fr. Tony Adams is a current Board Member of Cathol...Fr. Tony Adams is a current Board Member of Catholics for Equality. It was my pleasure to work with him earlier this year at our initial founding meetings. I hope that the rest of the Board will listen to his advice regarding C4E. <br /><br />I studied with Fr. Joseph Palacios at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, CA. It is the seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Like many priests still in active ministry, he has to look over his shoulder. Especially since the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Benedict XVI.<br /><br />Electing to serve on the Board of a national Equality organization inevitably puts him on a collusion course with his Diocesan Bishop, Cardinal Roger Mahony and with the Jesuit run Georgetown University. I had cautioned him about this many months ago, hopefully things will work out happily for Joe. I know of many priests in active ministry who live in fear of being thrown out on the street (literally) if the truth were known about them. Jesus said, “Fear is useless” it seems that the Vatican and Mahony disagree with Jesus on that point. <br /><br />Jesus also said, “The truth shall set you free.” It is time to speak the truth in the light of day. Only this will free us from the fear, bigotry and hatred that have been so unjustly imposed on the LGBTQ community.Father Geoffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03904564207135202567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-76290149377933733062010-08-31T11:03:22.352-07:002010-08-31T11:03:22.352-07:00Geoff, this is in addition to my comment below:
I...Geoff, this is in addition to my comment below:<br /><br />It is important to note that new orgs like C4E can sometimes succeed despite the weaknesses of the founders. Catholics who believe in equality need a voice and this could be it. In their hearts, the founders can do good work for equality. They all think that women deserve rights in the church. That gays and married men both straight and gay deserve equality. That nuns deserve equality and should not be treated like servants to a Higher-Archie. In their hearts they are not afraid to correct their bishops and to challenge the addled and silly pope.<br />I urge C4E to grow some serious balls before its launch on the 14th, but they don't much listen to me. They caress old strategies that they think are diplomatic and they are overly preoccupied with attracting money. Sounds like the American bishops?<br />Still, if my role is to say the inconvenient thing for the betterment of C4E, I'll stay with it and I hope that someday you'll be back with us.<br />PS: some praise to Father Joe Palacios who makes it clear on the website that he is a Catholic priest. He has a lot to lose. I can't imagine that the Archdiocese of LA will turn a blind eye to a gay priest teaching at a Catholic University who is one of their own. (Although, I myself have never been suspended or reprimanded, if that should now happen, my life would not much change.) You never know how/where/when grace will move through people to the betterment of the church. Maybe it will happen here. If not, it will surely happen soon because all the polls show that young Catholics are overwhelmingly in favor of equality and that these issues which are so big for us today will be non-issues in just one or two short generations.Tony Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10091330901996916966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2850096231666604.post-88174664838798199232010-08-31T11:02:36.644-07:002010-08-31T11:02:36.644-07:00Dear Geoff,
Your worries about the fledgling C4E a...Dear Geoff,<br />Your worries about the fledgling C4E are also my worries. Last time I checked, the founders are almost 100% gay. I think it is silly to think we ought to downplay this in order to attract the moveable Catholic middle. That disguise is an old and failed one. It would be better to clearly inform American Catholics that their clergy is mostly gay and that their leadership has failed and that it is time for the sheep to lead the shepherds back onto the right path. <br />I have repeatedly asked that the brunch thing be removed from the website or at least buried deeply so that it will not invite the immediate laugh. Also, I've asked that the line about "drawing on the rich tradition of yadda yadda" be rewritten so as not to invite a belly laugh at a time when the richest tradition of the contemporary church is its decades of abuse and cover-up.<br /><br />It is my sincere hope that this fledgling org succeeds but you are right about the motives of some of the founders. Careers, job with medical benefits and turf are at play. I am considered a thorn because I have nothing to gain or lose and because I will write what I feel is true and because I think caution and timidity and guilt about what and who we are will be the death of us.Tony Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10091330901996916966noreply@blogger.com