St. Andrew's Catholic Parish will carry banner in Portland's Pride Parade

[EmperorNapoleon]

Perhaps they are doing it as a sort of Catholic lobby…to make their presence known in that community and encourage people to join their church?

I think so, but apparently there are those here who believe that perceived reputational considerations are more important than saving souls. Gracepoole brought up an interesting example in regards to ministering to prostitutes. Where would the Church be if no one was willing to get down into the weeds and treat people with kindness and welcoming? Its a real problem when you become so concerned with what people think that you don’t avail yourself of an opportunity to minister.

 

[markomalley]

Emperor’s point about ministering to gays and lesbians still stands. Based on the view of the Church held by homosexuals, shouldn’t some evangelization efforts be aimed at this group? If you’ve ever participated in a ministry that brought you out to speak with prostitutes at 2am while they attempted to earn a living, you know there are more and less effective means of outreach. The Church’s “outreach” to gays and lesbians doesn’t appear to be effective.

As far as outreach to those with homosexual inclination, sure. No problem.

When one marches in a so-called “gay pride” parade, he/she is affirming the homosexual inclination and, frankly, affirming homosexual activity as being morally neutral or even morally good.

That is utterly unacceptable.

 

[BroomWagon]

Emperor’s point about ministering to gays and lesbians still stands. Based on the view of the Church held by homosexuals, shouldn’t some evangelization efforts be aimed at this group? If you’ve ever participated in a ministry that brought you out to speak with prostitutes at 2am while they attempted to earn a living, you know there are more and less effective means of outreach. The Church’s “outreach” to gays and lesbians doesn’t appear to be effective.

I don’t mean to be rude, but the Church does reach out to gays and true,Cardinal Dolan himself has said the Church needs to reach out to Gays. But it might not be best served in marching in and participating in a gay pride parade which are largely known as being very much on the bold side behaviorwise as Lisa A has indicated. Portland may not be San Francisco but it is still rather easy to visualize it being rather loud and boisterous. <---- And that’s a mild description, image search “gay pride parades” to see for oneselves. Maybe think “Village People” but a bit rowdier.

Let us not forget ever, that among the first to help out AIDS patients in San Francisco was the Catholic Church, not all AIDS patients were gay but a number were and in those days similar to the story depicted in Streets of Philadelphia with Tom Hanks, in some ways HIV positive persons were treated in a way that could make one think of how those suffering from Leprosy were treated.

 

[BamaJack]

I don’t get it… Why doesn’t the Archdiocese do something? Or even the Vatican? Why is this allowed?

 

[gracepoole]

As far as outreach to those with homosexual inclination, sure. No problem.

When one marches in a so-called “gay pride” parade, he/she is affirming the homosexual inclination and, frankly, affirming homosexual activity as being morally neutral or even morally good.

That is utterly unacceptable.

But it’s also utterly unacceptable to sell one’s body. Meeting prostitutes where they work and ministering to them there can actually be exceptionally fruitful. And I don’t believe it affirms prostitution.

 

[gracepoole]

I don’t mean to be rude, but the Church does reach out to gays and true,Cardinal Dolan himself has said the Church needs to reach out to Gays. But it might not be best served in marching in and participating in a gay pride parade which are largely known as being very much on the bold side behaviorwise as Lisa A has indicated. Portland may not be San Francisco but it is still rather easy to visualize it being rather loud and boisterous. <---- And that’s a mild description, image search “gay pride parades” to see for oneselves. Maybe think “Village People” but a bit rowdier.

Let us not forget ever, that among the first to help out AIDS patients in San Francisco was the Catholic Church, not all AIDS patients were gay but a number were and in those days similar to the story depicted in Streets of Philadelphia with Tom Hanks, in some ways HIV positive persons were treated in a way that could make one think of how those suffering from Leprosy were treated.

I guess I was just going off of the fact that a majority of gays and lesbians aren’t responding positively to current evangelization efforts.

"When ABC’s George Stephanopoulos tried to pin down Dolan on exactly how the church could be more welcoming to gay and lesbian Catholics, Dolan confessed that he wasn’t sure: ‘Well, I don’t know. We’re still – we’re – we’re trying. We’re trying our best to do it. We gotta listen to people.’” (huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/23/can-gay-catholics-find-a-home-in-the-catholic-church_n_3329126.html)

I think Cardinal Dolan is right – we’re still trying and we need to listen.

 

[BroomWagon]

As far as outreach to those with homosexual inclination, sure. No problem.

When one marches in a so-called “gay pride” parade, he/she is affirming the homosexual inclination and, frankly, affirming homosexual activity as being morally neutral or even morally good.

That is utterly unacceptable.

You are right, maybe one could argue about the use of the word “affirming” the behavior but it is showing at the least, a Solidarity to the event “Gay Pride” parade.

 

[BamaJack]

I’ve read through the comments - These parishes are not “witnessing” to anyone. They’re openly accepting and even enabling homosexuality. These people need truth and leadership, not a friend in the Holy Church. What in the world is wrong with this archdiocese.

 

[BroomWagon]

But it’s also utterly unacceptable to sell one’s body. Meeting prostitutes where they work and ministering to them there can actually be exceptionally fruitful. And I don’t believe it affirms prostitution.

But what if you applied this to other situations? A white supremacist parade? You can understand the Church would not march in that. And obviously, there are other examples that can be used.

 

[EmperorNapoleon]

But what if you applied this to other situations? A white supremacist parade? You can understand the Church would not march in that. And obviously, there are other examples that can be used.

Does the Church participate in the Mardi Gras parade?

 

[BroomWagon]

Does the Church participate in the Mardi Gras parade?

I don’t know, let’s say the one in New Orleans.

But I have been to of all things a St. Patrick’s day parade and the St. Pat’s day parade I went to in fact, did not have a Church marching in it, did not have the K of C marching in it either.

And that St. Patrick’s day parade is certainly connected to a lot of drinking and in fact, the city provides free bus rides home on that day, I’ve only gone to it 2 times, enough times to see it. Did not personally see drinking in the parade but afterwards, the bars are jam-packed, it’s a party.

 

[BroomWagon]

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, St. Paul Minnesota, participants:

stpatsassoc.org/02_Parade/LineUps/parade_signup_2013_public_view_ALPHA.asp

Aha, there is one Catholic organization in there at least, Little Sisters of the Poor, a nursing home is what they are largely, which is very close to downtown St. Paul, so they are a bit a part of the community.

Perhaps, an individual church might march in the gay pride parade, I wouldn’t approve. It’s sort of their individual parish.

 

[BroomWagon]

To me, it may not be acceptable but might be understandable for one Church, St. Andrew’s to march in this fashion since I’ve possibly been to a similar church.

But if there was a main Cathedral or the Archdiocese itself doing the Marching, that would be highly unacceptable.

 

[gracepoole]

But what if you applied this to other situations? A white supremacist parade? You can understand the Church would not march in that. And obviously, there are other examples that can be used.

Where do gays and lesbians hang out? Maybe there really are good or better places to evangelize?

 

[BroomWagon]

Where do gays and lesbians hang out?

That has nothing to do with my statement, however, an individual church that serves the community and this is what St. Andrews does might have some reason to march in a parade.

St. Andrews’ position might be understandable though I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, it is only one church.

 

[gracepoole]

That has nothing to do with my statement, however, an individual church that serves the community and this is what St. Andrews does might have some reason to march in a parade.

St. Andrews’ position might be understandable though I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, it is only one church.

Sorry, I edited my last comment to include this: “Maybe there really are good or better places to evangelize?” Just thinking practically here about positive results.

 

[BroomWagon]

I don’t get it… Why doesn’t the Archdiocese do something? Or even the Vatican? Why is this allowed?

I see your point and in fact sort of agree with it.

This is a community church, it’d be like if you had a Hispanic Church and they marched in the Cinco de Mayo celebration, not directly related to Church activities.

I do see St. Andrews view some, it does seem this would only be one church but that they should follow the advice of the Mother Church.

 

[BroomWagon]

Sorry, I edited my last comment to include this: “Maybe there really are good or better places to evangelize?” Just thinking practically here about positive results.

If Evangelization is so important to you, why should it be one church marching, maybe the Archdiocese itself should march in it, a float or what have you, banner??

 

[gracepoole]

If Evangelization is so important to you, why should it be one church marching, maybe the Archdiocese itself should march in it, a float or what have you, banner??

It’s not that it’s important to me – it’s important to the Church. I don’t know if this is a good choice for evangelization. I was just trying to give this church the benefit of the doubt. But either way, there must be better evangelization opportunities available to the Church and I think we need to investigate them.

 

[BroomWagon]

The Church is a part of the Community, St. Andrews may be a part of the community.

Monsignor Dennis O’Donovan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Portland, called St. Andrew’s pastor, the Rev. Dave Zegar, on May 31 on behalf of Sample, parishioners say. O’Donovan relayed the message that individuals could walk in the parade but that the archbishop did not want St. Andrew’s members to walk as a community.

And this above was what the Archdiocese said to them.

At least four Catholic parishes are expected to participate in the parade, according to the Rev. Tara Wilkins, executive director of the Community of Welcoming Congregations. Members of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Philip Neri and St. André Bessette (the Downtown Chapel) also are expected to march. In the past, they have carried parish banners, Wilkins said.

4 is a lot… one church may carry a banner.