GLBT Club On Campus

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

There is nothing wrong with saying that we should show tolerance toward those with whom we might disagree.

What if this disagreement is on matters of morality?

We obvisiously do not agree nor tolerate the fundamentalist islamic who believe that suicide bombings are justified.

Do we have to tolerate a club that promotes the “gay lifestyle”?

 

[LCMS_No_More]

What if this disagreement is on matters of morality?

We obvisiously do not agree nor tolerate the fundamentalist islamic who believe that suicide bombings are justified.

Do we have to tolerate a club that promotes the “gay lifestyle”?

What about a group that provides support to people cursed with homosexuality so they know that they don’t bear the burden of being so accursed alone?

How about a group the helps those so accursed in bearing the burden of chastity by having members of the group share their struggles and victories?

There is such a group in the Catholic Church.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

What about a group that provides support to people cursed with homosexuality so they know that they don’t bear the burden of being so accursed alone?

How about a group the helps those so accursed in bearing the burden of chastity by having members of the group share their struggles and victories?

There is such a group in the Catholic Church.

Yes, if this is the purpose of the group then it is good.

But as I said, the Catholic University I attended for my undergraduate degree turned down a GLBT club becuase its purpose was to defend and promote the “gay-lifestyle”.

 

[RaymondJensen]

like many posters said, depends on what the message that the club says. If it’s like a support group to help them life chaste “or in the bisexual case straight” lifestyles, then that’s fine. As long as they aren’t promoting a gay or promiscuess lifestyle then it should be ok.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

The involvement fair is a showcase of clubs on campus (environmental club, vegetarian club, republican/democrat club, etc.), in which the clubs recruit members and distribute information about their cause. The GLBT club is not allowed to recruit.

The club has to jump over a lot more hurdles than the other clubs in order to promote themselves or do something on campus.

There is a lot of diversity at my school, and a lot of gay and lesbian individuals. I have never been to a GLBT meeting, but I would imagine the discretion of the meeting is probably up to them, and they can talk about whatever they want to. After all, these are people in their 20s. Seeing as it is not a religious club, and only about 40% of the student body identifies as Catholic, I would seriously doubt they are discussing chastity issues.

Then the Club is in direct opposition to Catholic and Christian Morality and also Natural Law. Therefore it should not be allowed to be on campus, period.

 

[archangel04]

Our Catholic parish in the western suburbs of Chicago is becoming known for being Gay Friendly. Our former pastor allowed a parent of a gay to start a group to support parents of homosexuals back in 2007 and she called it Always Our Children. Our pastor promised me that it would not promote homosexuality but that is exactly what has happened. It is now called The Gay and Lesbian Ministry and promotes G.L.B.T. Where can we go for help? I have written to the Pastor twice and to our Bishop and the Chancellor, all to no avail. Other parishioners have also.

Really? It’s not in Aurora or Naperville is it?

 

[ccholy]

The one I am referring to is not in Aurora or Naperville.

 

[losh14]

The good:

Also, a LOT of people rely on this club for support. There are no other group resources on campus for gay or lesbian individuals, and I think the group support helps them cope.

The bad:

The club causes A LOT of controversy . . .

Not that controversy is bad, per se, but there’s a point where trouble is just inevitable. A private institution has greater right to control what happens on its campus than does a public institution, but even so any university has the right to restrict what does not support the mission of the University.

GLBT groups tend to cause controversy even at public campuses - there’s an ongoing row at my grad school every year because of an annual drag show. Some students are offended by school funds (alloted as part of fee money to campus clubs) being used for what is arguably a sex show. Or at least it’s gotten a LOT more risqué lately.

I agree with other posters that a GLBT club should serve legitimate interests within the university’s mission. Having resources to help students with their emotional needs is fully valid, as is having education programs to prevent violence and discrimination against GLBT students. Pushing for gay marriage is another story.

And while it sounds contradictory to be against discrimination and be against gay marriage in the same sentence, remember that the Church does not consider gay marriage to be an issue of rights.

 

[m134e5]

It would be so much better if, instead of groups that promote the gay lifestyle, Catholic universities would have groups and presentations (once a semester or so) that inform people about Church teaching, and that is intended to motivate people struggling with homosexuality to live chaste lives- and give them support when they are afraid or feel hopeless. Maybe they could also have a way to discreetly give students who attend the presentations referrals to counselors and spiritual directors if they need help. The typical college student with this struggle doesn’t stop to think *why *they feel the way they do- they just know how they feel, and that they aren’t choosing to feel that way. They will act on it when they get the chance if nobody they respect presents Church teaching to them in a way they can understand them and are inspired by them. They need to know that God loves them, and that He has a plan for their lives.

 

[Debora123]

Just wondering what the forum thinks about the presence of a GLBT club on a Catholic campus (for those who don’t know, GLBT = gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered).

I attend a private, Catholic university that does have a GLBT club on campus, although the club must ask for approval from the university for most public appearances. They are also not allowed to appear at involvement fairs.

The club has caused some controversy, as the school must adhere to Catholic teaching yet feels empathy for students in the club that feel unrepresented and hurt that their club (which reflects their identities) faces a set of guidelines and restrictions that other clubs do not.

Is the presence of such a club on a Catholic campus orthodox?

Very good question. I myself have always struggled to understand the line between supporting a gay as a human being who should be respected and loved, and supporting the gay lifestyle.

Whatever the case may be, I’m sure we can all agree that it must be incredibly difficult and devastating to be told that your natural attraction to someone is a mortal sin against your own faith. I definitely don’t envy Catholic gays, or their situation. It must be such a difficult battle for them. I mean, could you imagine being told that you are attracted to the wrong gender and you therefore aren’t supposed to get married or have any romantic relationships in your entire life?

I try to treat gays with as much love and acceptance as possible, because I know that it must be such a difficult battle for them already, the last thing I want to do is make it any harder for them by protesting against their support groups. I don’t support gay marriage and I don’t think it should be legalized, but at the same time, I’m not going to go out of my way to tear apart one of their support groups. Even if it is on a Catholic church or Catholic campus. I don’t think it’s right or beneficial for anyone to do so.

 

[losh14]

The typical college student with this struggle doesn’t stop to think *why *they feel the way they do- they just know how they feel, and that they aren’t choosing to feel that way.

Especially true when perceived cultural norms reinforce an attitude of “if it feels good, do it.” On another thread here, I read posts by a celibate Catholic who felt same-sex attraction but refused to tell his friends about it because they would berate him for not acting on his feelings. To turn the situation around, imagine if a woman told co-workers she was attracted to men but remained chaste and her co-workers encouraged her to go on dates and become physically intimate with men.

 

[losh14]

Try starting a Bestiality Club or a Polygamy Club, maybe a Sodomy Club, and see how far you get with then powers that be.

A bit extreme for the point you’re making. GLBT involves how a person thinks about him- or herself and affects relationships with others. I don’t think that level of depth is possible with goat or grouse.

 

[losh14]

But as I said, the Catholic University I attended for my undergraduate degree turned down a GLBT club becuase its purpose was to defend and promote the “gay-lifestyle”.

Every GLBT club on the campuses I’ve attended has been dual-purpose -

1. Support the emotional and social needs of GLBT students, especially those who are coming out or have not yet come out.
2. Increase visibility of and acceptance of GLBT lifestyles.

I can understand (1). We do see more mental health problems among GLBT persons and it’s probably due to fear of not being accepted. Note that acceptance is not the same as permissiveness or licentiousness of behavior. Yes, we can accept that you have these feelings. We love you the same and wont’ change our behavior around you. And we will help you not to act on these.

Too often, though, I think (2) is seen as the only venue for supporting emotional and social needs. And (2) often tries to emulate those lifestyles that have gained mainstream acceptance - ie, somewhere between “The L Word”, “Will and Grace” and “Sex and the City.” Not that mainstream culture does a good job of showing healthy relationships to emulate for heterosexuals, either (“Desperate Housewives”, etc). What’s really needed is a counter-cultural example of acceptable lifestyles for all - an emphasis on chastity in relationships, respect in dating, a focus on friendship and an understanding of one’s own self as a servant called to holiness.