Anger at Iowa Newman center after bishop fires transgendered employee

[Catholic_Press]

Nearly 100 laity are boycotting Mass at an Iowa Newman center after Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines fired a transgendered housekeeper who had quietly offered counseling services and formed a transgendered support group there. Bishop Pates told Susan McIntyre, who was born as Jim Ford, that “your unauthorized representation indicating that you are employed by and operating on behalf of the Newman Center as a counselor or social worker” led to the housekeeper’s firing.

More…

 

[Teelynn]

Like some quoted in the article, the Parish really didn’t have any other choice. It truly is a liability issue of which we have had quite enough of in the recent past. The Church also must take a stand on Church teaching for it’s own sake. At the same time, we must be welcoming to the sinner, and display the compassion of Jesus. I do wonder if this could have been handled a different way in order to eliminate the liability issue. I really don’t know why they couldn’t have asked her (him) to completely disassociate her counseling from Church property, and the Parish. They needed to cut themselves off from the sin and not the sinner, however, that strategy in itself might have caused repercussions. A very sticky situation…very sad that it had to turn out that way. My heart truly goes out to these people who are so very confused. Maybe there was just not a good way to deal with it. At least they did not allow it to continue. We have had enough compromising Church teaching.

 

[rep140]

The bishop could have told her that she couldn’t continue her practice on church property.
To me, it’s a case of taking it out on her because of her sexuality, not very Christlike.
Compare this treatment to shuffling around peodiphile priests.

 

[redrosetea]

How do you know he didn’t? There may be more to this story than reported

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

How do you know he didn’t? There may be more to this story than reported

There is always more to every story than gets reported.

There are also issues with employment that the employer is barred from releasing due to other liability and legal issues.

 

[elgar]

Nearly 100 laity are boycotting Mass at an Iowa Newman center after Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines fired a transgendered housekeeper who had quietly offered counseling services and formed a transgendered support group there. Bishop Pates told Susan McIntyre, who was born as Jim Ford, that “your unauthorized representation indicating that you are employed by and operating on behalf of the Newman Center as a counselor or social worker” led to the housekeeper’s firing.

More…

I say let them boycott. Like so many Newman Centers in the midwest, they tend to lean very liberal and cater to cafeteria catholics both young and old. Either those in charge before the change in staff were naive as to what was going on or secretly encouraged it. Bishop Pates did the right thing. He really had no other choice.

 

[Argh]

I say let them boycott. Like so many Newman Centers in the midwest, they tend to lean very liberal and cater to cafeteria catholics both young and old.

faithfulmilwaukeecatholic.blogspot.com/2008/05/michael-lightner-going-to-newman-center.html

It is my joyful duty to correct that remark by saying that there is at least one Newman Center out there that is dutifully obedient to its archdiocese. Even before Fr. Mike was transferred to the Newman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, we had another living martyr to attend to us students, Fr. Mark. I don’t want to know what would have happened to me if it weren’t for the Catholic community on UWM’s campus. We were even blessed on many occasions to have then Archbishop of Milwaukee Dolan visit us.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering why people at St. Francis Borgia (my home parish) didn’t care for Fr. Mike Lightner, it’s because he stood up and gave homilies against artificial birth control, abortion, and all the rest of the hard issues.

In case the above text sounds harsh or condescending, I don’t mean it to be. I simply want to point out that there are bright spots out there.

 

[Beachcomber]

Perhaps this could be handled differently. Having her move her counseling to an off-campus site would be much better and put distance between her and the Newman center. Sometimes people seize on such occurrences just to feed anti-Catholic bias.

 

[elgar]

faithfulmilwaukeecatholic.blogspot.com/2008/05/michael-lightner-going-to-newman-center.html

It is my joyful duty to correct that remark by saying that there is at least one Newman Center out there that is dutifully obedient to its archdiocese. Even before Fr. Mike was transferred to the Newman Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, we had another living martyr to attend to us students, Fr. Mark. I don’t want to know what would have happened to me if it weren’t for the Catholic community on UWM’s campus. We were even blessed on many occasions to have then Archbishop of Milwaukee Dolan visit us.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering why people at St. Francis Borgia (my home parish) didn’t care for Fr. Mike Lightner, it’s because he stood up and gave homilies against artificial birth control, abortion, and all the rest of the hard issues.

In case the above text sounds harsh or condescending, I don’t mean it to be. I simply want to point out that there are bright spots out there.

No offence taken, and am glad of your positive experiences at Newman at UW-Milwaukee. This is even more surprising considering what all went on under Abp. Weakland there.

Things are actually getting much better locally at the Newman Center where I live (Iowa City) as a younger priest is showing quite a contrast to the baby-boomer liberal “old guy”. They have been very successful sponsoring The Alpha Program, which is not really Catholic in origin (started by an Anglican priest) but have adapted it to draw in students to the faith.

I avoid the place because it is “happy-clappy” liturgically and the music is controlled by a song composer guru. One would never hear a traditional hymn either Catholic or Protestant. The worship space is ultra modern and very stark Protestant appearing with not a kneeler in sight. That being said, the younger priest seems to be orthodox in his faith and preaching–a very good thing. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second recommending the place especially for a young person which I am not.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

There is always more to every story than gets reported.

There are also issues with employment that the employer is barred from releasing due to other liability and legal issues.

There’s two sides to every story.

We aren’t privy to what went on behind closed doors, and the Newman Center may have had very valid reasons for firing this person.

In most cases that I know of, even in at-will employment states, employers will usually try to build an air tight case to fire an employee. This is usually less aggrevation in the long run than going to court and having to settle.

Reports like these seem always to be one sided.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

There’s two sides to every story.

We aren’t privy to what went on behind closed doors, and the Newman Center may have had very valid reasons for firing this person.

In most cases that I know of, even in at-will employment states, employers will usually try to build an air tight case to fire an employee. This is usually less aggrevation in the long run than going to court and having to settle.

Reports like these seem always to be one sided.

They are one sided because we only get on side. The fired person is usually the only one talking, the employer is worried about liability issues and is, in many cases, restrained by law from making some comments. Then throw in that this is the Church and we know it will be one sided in the media.

 

[ComputerGeek25]

They are one sided because we only get on side. The fired person is usually the only one talking, the employer is worried about liability issues and is, in many cases, restrained by law from making some comments. Then throw in that this is the Church and we know it will be one sided in the media.

Yep, it’s generally the “employers bad” approach, and in this case since it’s the church, that makes the smear so much greater.

The article states that she was using church space for meetings. And was fired because she was passing herself off as someone “in authority.” Maybe it was that, or maybe she was consueling people in such a way that went against church teaching. Who knows…

 

[Stylites]

From the news article:

It began innocuously enough when the incoming priest at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center at Drake University noticed a piece of paper on a copy machine in the parish office.

On it was a counselor’s authorization of hormone therapy for a transgendered person about to undergo a sex change. On a letterhead that included the center’s name and address.

Until the Church preaches that self-mutilation is a good and moral thing and that people can know better than God does, then there’s really no news here.

Also from the news article:

Others believe the church should welcome everyone because, after all, isn’t that what Jesus did?

Where did He say: “Go and sin some more”?

.

 

[redrosetea]

From the news article:

Until the Church preaches that self-mutilation is a good and moral thing and that people can know better than God does, then there’s really no news here.

Also from the news article:

Where did He say: “Go and sin some more”?

.

Well I am not so sure Jesus welcomed everyone on their terms…even the rich young ruler got an earful because he wanted to do things his own way

 

[cathgal]

The bishop could have told her that she couldn’t continue her practice on church property.
To me, it’s a case of taking it out on her because of her sexuality, not very Christlike.
Compare this treatment to shuffling around peodiphile priests.

Now now, don’t get all conclusive about a piece of article. The media is always out to make the church looked bad and we should always be wary of it. :tsktsk:

 

[m134e5]

It would be really nice if dioceses would push just a little more effort and resources into the campus ministry programs at public universities. Some of them do a decent job at it- but the college years are a perfect time to inspire people to become passionate about the Faith. More needs to be done. People talk about needing strong Catholic families and parochial schools…and those things certainly are a BIG part of it- but it’s important to provide solid formation for those just a bit beyond the scope of the family and parochial school. Some people missed out on a good family or parochial school experience, and some people just need a little more guidance-& it can really help to get it from somewhere else.

College is a time of learning more about oneself. It is a time to have new ideas and experiences, and to think about what you already know. A college environment is the perfect time to help someone bring their faith to a new level. It can- and should be a time where a Catholic can take their faith to a new level. It is also a great time for catechesis. People often come from families where the Faith, if it was really taught at all, has not been taught very well. Newman Centers CAN be a great way to fix that- for students, and their future families (and maybe their current families back home as well). Newman Centers can be a great environment in which to nurture potential vocations- if the faith is taught correctly. Catechesis leads to orthodoxy, which produces vocations.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Quote:
It began innocuously enough when the incoming priest at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center at Drake University noticed a piece of paper on a copy machine in the parish office.

On it was a counselor’s authorization of hormone therapy for a transgendered person about to undergo a sex change. On a letterhead that included the center’s name and address.

If a cleaner at a doctor’s office used the premises for counselling without the doctor’s knowledge and issued authorizations for hormonal treatment on the doctor’s letterhead, I think that person would have been up for more than just being fired.

 

[gmarie21]

The Newman center at Northern Illinois University is fabulously faithful!!! I was so happy to see the true teachings of the Church being taught there.