Thoughts on always our children

[mrld20]

I’m starting to figure out that here in the forums people tend to be rather conservative Catholics (nothing wrong with that ).

Here goes. About a decade or so ago give or take a few years USCCB released an inspiring and ground breaking document called Always Our Children

This document underwent revision in 1998. Now 13 years later the landscape has changed rapidly.

What are everyone’s thought on this document?

Too “pro-homosexual” or a message of love?

Document can be found here

 

[ardis3958]

Why is there no version of AOC for parents of fornicators or addicts?

Anyway I have a little problem with this passage:

[from http://nccbuscc.org/laity/always.shtml]

Do everything possible to continue demonstrating love for your child. However, accepting his or her homosexual orientation does not have to include approving of all related attitudes and behavioral choices. In fact, you may need to challenge certain aspects of a lifestyle that you find objectionable.So if my adult gay son is in fact sexually active with his adult gay boyfriend and I have an issue with it, AOC condescendingly labels my issue as merely something I “find objectionable”.

Well I find AOC’s attitude “objectionable”.

Don’t get me wrong, on the whole it’s a very “nice” document, but in general I don’t think parents like being told how to be a parent. I’m sure suggestions are welcome to most, but on the whole AOC seems to be just another one of those magazine articles you see at the supermarket checkout, on the order of “The Home Front: When You’re Married To The Military” or “Be A True Friend During The Grieving Process: Experts Share 8 Tips”.

 

[guanophore]

Why is there no version of AOC for parents of fornicators or addicts?

Anyway I have a little problem with this passage:
So if my adult gay son is in fact sexually active with his adult gay boyfriend and I have an issue with it, AOC condescendingly labels my issue as merely something I “find objectionable”.

Well I find AOC’s attitude “objectionable”.

Don’t get me wrong, on the whole it’s a very “nice” document, but in general I don’t think parents like being told how to be a parent. I’m sure suggestions are welcome to most, but on the whole AOC seems to be just another one of those magazine articles you see at the supermarket checkout, on the order of “The Home Front: When You’re Married To The Military” or “Be A True Friend During The Grieving Process: Experts Share 8 Tips”.

You don’t seem to have much respect for the bishops.

 

[ardis3958]

You don’t seem to have much respect for the bishops.

According to Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz … emphasis mine:

Although this document was evidently “approved” by the Administrative Committee of that conference, and it would seem the correct procedures outlined in conference rules were followed, it should be made clear that the document was composed without any (name removed by moderator)ut from the majority of the American Catholic bishops, who were given no opportunity whatever to comment on its pastoral usefulness or on its contents.

As almost always happens when such procedures are used by committees of the conference,** the illusion is given, perhaps deliberately, and carried forth by the media, to the effect that this is something the US bishops have published, **rather than the correct information being conveyed to the public; namely, that most bishops had nothing to do with this undertaking. I believe one would be justified in asserting that in this case, flawed and defective procedures, badly in need of correction and reform, resulted in a very flawed and defective document.

The majority of America’s Catholic bishops were allowed nothing to say about this document. Still less were they permitted any suggestions or comments about the “advisers” and consultants used by the committee, who, by their own boasting and the ordinary “rumor mill”, have been detected to be people whose qualifications in this area of moral conduct are highly questionable. The document, in a view which is shared by many, is founded on bad advice, mistaken theology, erroneous science and skewed sociology. It is pastorally helpful in no perceptible way. Does this committee intend to issue documents to parents of drug addicts, promiscuous teenagers, adult children involved in canonically invalid marriages, and the like? These are far more numerous than parents of homosexuals. ** The occasion and the motivation for this document’s birth remain hidden in the murky arrangements which brought it forth.**

 

[guanophore]

According to Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz … emphasis mine:

Thanks Ardis, this is very helpful. It is necessary that you link to your source, if possible, so that participants in the thread can find the document. If it is not on the intetrnet, then enough publication info to find it. Thanks.

 

[speakttruth]

I’m starting to figure out that here in the forums people tend to be rather conservative Catholics (nothing wrong with that ).

Here goes. About a decade or so ago give or take a few years USCCB released an inspiring and ground breaking document called Always Our Children

This document underwent revision in 1998. Now 13 years later the landscape has changed rapidly.

What are everyone’s thought on this document?

Too “pro-homosexual” or a message of love?

Document can be found here

Too pro homosexual. Very deceptive. They are recommendations and the original was written by a former homosexual promoting priest and nun. The Canadian document for pastoral care for people with SSA was excellent from bishops. They have to throw this Always my childen out. Fr. Harvey in the Courage Apostates, now deceased, tried to get them to change it, but they have too many Bishops that are promoting it and they might have an agenda and haven’t gotten rid of it.

 

[JimG]

Here’s a link to Bishop Bruskewitz’s comment. He is one bishop I find to be always trustworthy.

 

[ardis3958]

Thanks Ardis, this is very helpful. It is necessary that you link to your source, if possible, so that participants in the thread can find the document. If it is not on the intetrnet, then enough publication info to find it. Thanks.

JimG gave a link, but in general you can google select phrases and find it that way. Most people don’t click on links anyway.