Thank you Archbishop Harry Flynn, St. Joan of Arc church censured!

[Catholic29]

Minneapolis Catholic church censured for Gay Pride support

Matt Mckinney, Star Tribune
October 28, 2004 JOAN1028

A Catholic church in Minneapolis known for its progressive stands on social issues has been ordered by the Vatican and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to remove Gay Pride material from its Web site and stop allowing unordained guests to speak during mass.

The order was delivered by two bishops in person two weeks ago to the pastor of St. Joan of Arc and again in a statement issued Wednesday.

The Rev. George Wertin of St. Joan’s said he intends to comply with the order.

But in keeping with his church’s long-standing practice of community decisionmaking, he said several parish committees are considering precisely how to respond.

“It takes awhile to turn a ship around,” he said.

Archbishop Harry Flynn sent Auxiliary Bishops Frederick Campbell and Richard Pates two weeks ago to deliver the message, which, according to a statement Wednesday from the archdiocese, originated with the Holy See.

Campbell left last week to become bishop of Columbus, Ohio.

Wertin said it’s unclear what prompted the order.

After issuing the directive, the archdiocese clarified its position through a statement.

The statement read: "The Archdiocese welcomes gay and lesbian worshippers who are in full communion with the moral teachings of the Church as they apply to all Catholics.

“It does not, however, endorse the promotion of sexual relations among unmarried persons.”

cont’d

 

[Catholic29]

The church, at 4537 3rd Av. S., was founded in 1946 and claims 4,000 member households. It has a long history of supporting the gay and lesbian community, including its organization of a hospice for people dying of AIDS and parish participation in Gay Pride events.

Parish administrator Peter Eichten said church members have met twice to discuss the order. Emotions at the meetings ranged from fear to anger, he said.

“We’ve really tried to avoid creating a we-versus-them type of situation,” he said. “We’ve never felt that we’ve done anything contrary to the teachings of the church. We would not do that. We feel that the gospel demand is to be open and hospitable to all people, no matter who or what they are.”

The church has run afoul of Catholic leaders in the past. Wertin said he met with the same two bishops more than a year ago over another dispute. In May 2003 the archdiocese rescinded an award of excellence that was to be given to religious educator Kathy Itzin at St. Joan’s after Wertin was told that she was a lesbian.

In a recent letter to church members, Wertin acknowledged that the parish faces difficult decisions.

“We are in the process of an in-depth self-examination that will help us get better in touch with our identity as a Catholic community that teaches us to promote justice, peace and inclusivity,” he wrote.

The letter said the church plans to allow guest speakers before mass begins, a move to satisfy one of the archdiocese’s concerns.

Although Wertin said the Gay Pride information will be removed from the church’s Web site, those pages remained there Wednesday.

The site has photos and long articles about the parish’s participation in Minneapolis’ annual Gay Pride parade. Some of the parish’s speakers have been gay-rights advocates.

“We have to determine the best way to allow the Web site to represent St. Joan of Arc and the positions of the Church and also allow for open dialogue and discussion within our community,” Wertin wrote to members. “It does become a problem when outsiders who know little or nothing about our community and its content log on and interpret what we are about without a full context. We are, however, committed to openness and transparency. We have nothing to hide.”

Wertin included in his letter a call for parishioners to work with the archdiocese while continuing the congregation’s mission.

“We also need to find creative and healthy ways to be a prophetic community that is creative and also humble,” he wrote. “We cannot allow ourselves to be viewed as self-righteous and intolerant. We need to explore new ways of relating with the archbishop and the larger church.”

startribune.com/stories/614/5056033.html

Having this much be done by this archbishop, though more certainly could be, nonetheless is worthy of all praise from me. Thank you Archbishop Harry Flynn, and praise Jesus Christ!

 

[Catholic29]

Not so fast, it was the Vatican who intervened in this parish! Maybe I spoke too soon!:bigyikes:

Here is more lifesite.net/ldn/2004/oct/04102806.html

 

[Fitz]

I have gone to the church’s website a few times and have marveled at the willful things going on there. It does not resemble any Catholic Church I have ever seen. It seems more like one of the non denominational ones in a big city. I won’t return to the website thought, because the priests message to the parishoners this past Sunday was in part about all the people coming on to the website just to cause trouble. I didn’t want to be in their controversy.

 

[OurLadyOfEfes]

This is straight from there own website and Bulletin;

Pride: To celebrate the lives and gifts of our GLBT Community, join us for a Pride week Prayer Service, Wednesday, June 22 at 7 pm in the Church with music by the wonderful Ann Reed. You are also invited to march behind the SJA banner in the Pride parade. FFI on the parade contact Julie at the Parish Center

AHHHHHHHGGGG!!!

 

[Island_Oak]

…and the really sad thing is that Mpls. Gay Pride parade is like a modern day human freak show. Were I someone struggling with SSA, this is not what I would want others to think was representative of my habits, lifestyle or conduct any more than the rest of us would want a chorus line of showgirls from the Vegas strip to be representative of average heterosexuals.

 

[OurLadyOfEfes]

I just dont understand how they can just go against orders from the Archbishop and Vatican and post this on their website?

 

[WanderAimlessly]

I expect this church may attempt to “break away” and join a something like the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS). Lets see what happens when they try to take the property with them.

PF

 

[Franze]

Very good news, now defrocking the priest and putting an orthodox priest.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Just check their web site. No change yet. Time to get the chains and padlocks out.

PF