Weekly Mass for gays ends in San Antonio

[estesbob]

SAN ANTONIO — Catholic leaders here have discontinued a Mass that had been offered quietly for more than 15 years to the gay and lesbian community at a near downtown parish.

The weekly Mass at St. Ann Catholic Church was the subject of periodic complaints to the archdiocese. But until last Sunday, the local hierarchy had declined to shut it down. A handful of local priests sympathetic to the gay and lesbian community had conducted the Mass.

chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/7260317.html

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I believe the interim Bishop dod this to save the incoming Bishop from having to do it. A long overdue step. IMO.

 

[Julian0404]

After reading the article, the group was an advocate for the Catholic Church to accept their alternative life styles.

The Mass is the reception of GOD’s gifts of grace and mercy and salvation through the reception of HIS SON’s Body & Blood as an expression of your belief in the Way, the Truth and the Life of JESUS, which requires we be “…as perfect as our heavenly FATHER…”. No sin, and a constant struggle against sinning, vs. constant struggle pushing your sin to be accepted as a life style.

I can understand the priests wanting to continue to give GOD’s gift of mercy to those deep in the sin of homosexualilty, but if they are not open to receiving that gift, but instead insist on The Church changing to accept them, then there is a serious disconnect that during the 15 years may not have been addressed or expressed as it should have been.

The Church cannot accept sin as a “life style”. Each of us may embrace a sin as part of our life style, but we cannot then expect the Church to make an exception for “our sin” to be accepted.

 

[Hiskid1973]

I imagine this will cause a stir for taking a stand…Jesus said , go and sin no more…It one thing to support someone struggling/working to overcome sin compared to an alternative that keeps enabling it…

 

[utah_rose]

I imagine this will cause a stir for taking a stand…Jesus said , go and sin no more…It one thing to support someone struggling/working to overcome sin compared to an alternative that keeps enabling it…

A priest in our diocese had a monthly Mass for gays, until the newspaper (because of their pro-gay views I think) took a picture of partners going up for Communion holding hands! Then the diocese (at that time we were without a Bishop) finally stepped in and stopped it.

I feel sorry for them as individuals, as some are very nice. But as a group their agenda is so anti-Catholic and anti heterosexual marriage, but same-sex marriage is okay.

There is at least one Catholic group helping them to try and live chaste lives, but I do think the Bishops should step up and stress that they cannot engage in sexual behavior, and to be fair they should also be stressing no sex before marriage and definitely heterosexuals not living together.

Maybe our crop of radical priests from the sixties will finally begin to fade and true Catholic pastors and Bishops will emerge. We need to pray.

 

[Hiskid1973]

A priest in our diocese had a monthly Mass for gays, until the newspaper (because of their pro-gay views I think) took a picture of partners going up for Communion holding hands! Then the diocese (at that time we were without a Bishop) finally stepped in and stopped it.

Just curious, was he reported to higher ups about this ? Was this a separate and inclusive mass just for them…Did the regular parishioners speak up about it…It’s one thing to have compassion for their souls an other to support and enable them…That’s pretty blatant walking up a couples to receive communion… We have a time before we partake where we search our hearts… I even ask the Lord forgiveness
if I had a disagreement with my beloved wife…I can’t imagine communing with the Lord in that state, even more so with your transubstantiation belief…

 

[wisdomseeker]

After reading the article, the group was an advocate for the Catholic Church to accept their alternative life styles.

The Mass is the reception of GOD’s gifts of grace and mercy and salvation through the reception of HIS SON’s Body & Blood as an expression of your belief in the Way, the Truth and the Life of JESUS, which requires we be “…as perfect as our heavenly FATHER…”. No sin, and a constant struggle against sinning, vs. constant struggle pushing your sin to be accepted as a life style.

I can understand the priests wanting to continue to give GOD’s gift of mercy to those deep in the sin of homosexualilty, but if they are not open to receiving that gift, but instead insist on The Church changing to accept them, then there is a serious disconnect that during the 15 years may not have been addressed or expressed as it should have been.

The Church cannot accept sin as a “life style”. Each of us may embrace a sin as part of our life style, but we cannot then expect the Church to make an exception for “our sin” to be accepted.

Is there repentance tought in this Parish? or just the Mercy of God? to receive the Mercy of god, one must repent first? where did this teaching go?

 

[lightoftheworld]

Not to be boastful, but I actually am the Vice-President of the Defenders of the Magisterium, and actually went to one of these “Masses” when we were investigating the matter. It was a *horrible *experience. Seeing same-sex couples with children, seeing teenagers there, (I am involved in youth ministry), at a Mass, was probably the most saddening, disturbing *and *revolting things I have ever seen.

They not only were pro-gay - they actually were advocates of inclusive language on steroids. The service began, “In the Name of the Creator, Redeemer and Life-Giving Spirit” and went downhill from there. I remember them saying something about how God is not “male or female.” The heretic they had for a priest stated that the Church is not in Rome or at the Chancery (news to me; I always thought the headquarters of the Catholic Church was located on a hill in Rome called the Vatican). They gave out a little guide to their “Mass” that I gladly took with me and it was part of the evidence we gave. I did not receive communion (in fact, I went to a real Mass the night before, a nice Novus-Ordo Mass).

Because I knew some of the people there, and because I was very standoffish (I was naturally uncomfortable), other individuals were the one’s who actually went and recorded it.

I wish I had a copy of the letter I wrote down regarding the service - I lost it on a jump drive.

We recorded one of the Masses and transcribed it, and sent it to various people in positions of authority, including the Chancery and the Papal Nuncio.

We are thankful that this sacrilege has been ended.

God bless,
Peter Rowe

 

[Petergee]

Any church where the Mass is “offered to” anybody except God is not only non-Catholic but non-Christian.

It is a worry that the previous archbishop who allowed this abomination to go on for so long has now been appointed Archbishop of the huge archdiocese of Los Angeles.

 

[barb_finnegan]

Not to be boastful, but I actually am the Vice-President of the Defenders of the Magisterium, and actually went to one of these “Masses” when we were investigating the matter. It was a *horrible *experience. Seeing same-sex couples with children, seeing teenagers there, (I am involved in youth ministry), at a Mass, was probably the most saddening, disturbing *and *revolting things I have ever seen.

They not only were pro-gay - they actually were advocates of inclusive language on steroids. The service began, “In the Name of the Creator, Redeemer and Life-Giving Spirit” and went downhill from there. I remember them saying something about how God is not “male or female.” The heretic they had for a priest stated that the Church is not in Rome or at the Chancery (news to me; I always thought the headquarters of the Catholic Church was located on a hill in Rome called the Vatican). They gave out a little guide to their “Mass” that I gladly took with me and it was part of the evidence we gave. I did not receive communion (in fact, I went to a real Mass the night before, a nice Novus-Ordo Mass).

Because I knew some of the people there, and because I was very standoffish (I was naturally uncomfortable), other individuals were the one’s who actually went and recorded it.

I wish I had a copy of the letter I wrote down regarding the service - I lost it on a jump drive.

We recorded one of the Masses and transcribed it, and sent it to various people in positions of authority, including the Chancery and the Papal Nuncio.

We are thankful that this sacrilege has been ended.

God bless,
Peter Rowe

Good for you, Peter!

 

[Barbkw]

15 YEARS!

"SAN ANTONIO — Catholic leaders here have discontinued **a Mass that had been offered quietly for more than 15 years to the gay and lesbian community **at a near downtown parish.

The weekly Mass at St. Ann Catholic Church was the subject of periodic complaints to the archdiocese. But until last Sunday, the local hierarchy had declined to shut it down. A handful of local priests sympathetic to the gay and lesbian community had conducted the Mass."

From a direct observer of the Mass:

“They not only were pro-gay - they actually were advocates of inclusive language on steroids. The service began, “In the Name of the Creator, Redeemer and Life-Giving Spirit” and went downhill from there. I remember them saying something about how God is not “male or female.” The heretic they had for a priest stated that the Church is not in Rome or at the Chancery…”

 

[Hiskid1973]

I can’t imagine people wouldn’t have reported this to the bishop that is over this area…

 

[Elizabeth502]

I do think the Bishops should step up and stress that they cannot engage in sexual behavior, and to be fair they should also be stressing no sex before marriage and definitely heterosexuals not living together.

Yes, this is entirely the problem: There have been no differentiation or distinctions made, and this is the cause for confusion, scandal, and anger. I mean, the minute my parish starts offering “Gay Masses,” I’m going to demand Equal Time. I will ask why there can’t be Masses for Fornicators; that will allow me to bring a male lover and everyone will “just have to accept me as I am” and “assume” that I’m not actually sharing a bed with this guy when I give every indication by my behavior that I probably am.

 

[wisdomseeker]

Not to be boastful, but I actually am the Vice-President of the Defenders of the Magisterium, and actually went to one of these “Masses” when we were investigating the matter. It was a *horrible *experience. Seeing same-sex couples with children, seeing teenagers there, (I am involved in youth ministry), at a Mass, was probably the most saddening, disturbing *and *revolting things I have ever seen.

They not only were pro-gay - they actually were advocates of inclusive language on steroids. The service began, “In the Name of the Creator, Redeemer and Life-Giving Spirit” and went downhill from there. I remember them saying something about how God is not “male or female.” The heretic they had for a priest stated that the Church is not in Rome or at the Chancery (news to me; I always thought the headquarters of the Catholic Church was located on a hill in Rome called the Vatican). They gave out a little guide to their “Mass” that I gladly took with me and it was part of the evidence we gave. I did not receive communion (in fact, I went to a real Mass the night before, a nice Novus-Ordo Mass).

Because I knew some of the people there, and because I was very standoffish (I was naturally uncomfortable), other individuals were the one’s who actually went and recorded it.

I wish I had a copy of the letter I wrote down regarding the service - I lost it on a jump drive.

We recorded one of the Masses and transcribed it, and sent it to various people in positions of authority, including the Chancery and the Papal Nuncio.

We are thankful that this sacrilege has been ended.

God bless,
Peter Rowe

the Mix of what is Holy and what is profane.

 

[thealtonroute]

What do you want to bet that the priests offering these gay Masses are gay themselves and sleeping around with some of the people to whom they “minister”?

 

[miniquedoes]

This is my hometown and I had no idea this was even going on. I am very grateful Bishop Cantu put a stop to this.

The story: mysanantonio.com/news/religion/archdiocese_discontinues_catholic_gay_and_lesbian_mass_105583123.html

the video: ksat.com/video/25497917/index.html

 

[cyb]

Mixing the Holy with the profane indeed…

As someone else stated, there must have been complaints about this…and yet the previous Bishop allowed it to flourish for 15 years. Now that Bishop is in L.A.? The poor Catholics of L.A.; first Mahoney and now him.

Parishes similar to this one are still thriving in Bishop Dolan’s NY Diocese. Complaints are made and nothing changes.

Thank God this San Antonio disgrace has been stopped. Thank you, Peter, for being an instrumental part of cleaning up the Church.

 

[wisdomseeker]

These are not going to give up. The CC needs to send a clear message about this issue. they dont seem to understand what the Church teaches on this. they dont seem to understand that this is a sin against God. period. and these dont understand the teachings of God either. they are there just to please people and not God.

 

[cyb]

These are not going to give up. The CC needs to send a clear message about this issue. they dont seem to understand what the Church teaches on this. they dont seem to understand that this is a sin against God. period. and these dont understand the teachings of God either. they are there just to please people and not God.

My fear is that they do understand - but they don’t care.

 

[miniquedoes]

To be fair, Archbishop Gomez was only in San Antonio for about 5 years. We of course don’t know how long it took for complaints to get to him. For all we know, they could have come recently. I doubt that he being a very conservative, Opus Dei member, would have knowingly allowed this situation to continue. I am sure that the Archbishop will be a wonderful asset to L.A. I pray that Archbishop Garcia-Siller will continue what Archbishop Gomez started.

 

[miniquedoes]

What do you want to bet that the priests offering these gay Masses are gay themselves and sleeping around with some of the people to whom they “minister”?

Speculations like this only do more damage. Please use a little charity, we still need to show respect no matter how we view the actions of the priest.