The Catholic Church Can Start Fixing Itself by Changing Its Celibacy Rule

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Terence

The basis of the difficulties, as it has been in so many of the Church’s scandals and human tragedies, is the institution’s moronic insistence on a celibate clergy. Nine hundred years is a sufficient data set to conclude that the experiment, which has no basis in the gospels unless you reverse engineer them beyond all recognition, has been a terrible failure on every level. If Papa Francesco wants to leave a mark on the Church, and on the people in it, that will bring him the praise of ages, he at least could make the requirement optional. Otherwise, the Church is going to be working poor Rezendes to death.

Source: The Catholic Church Can Start Fixing Itself by Changing Its Celibacy Rule

Waiting Until Marriage: Gay Christians Navigate Faith and Sexuality

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Terence

They met on OkCupid. At the time, Constantino Khalaf, now 37, lived in New York City, and David Khalaf, now 39, lived in Los Angeles. But the distance didn’t faze them. The couple, now married, had found two shared traits in each other: They were both Christian, and they were both waiting until marriage to have sex.

“You can use sex to control someone or denigrate a person. Or you can use sex to say something beautiful like ‘I love you,'” Constantino Khalaf said. “Sex can be used to say ‘I am yours, you are mine’ — the idea of a marriage covenant.”

Their beliefs in sex are rooted in a theology of marriage that reserves sexual intimacy until they make that sacred covenant. In a traditional evangelical sexual ethic, virginity is meant to be a gift for your partner after the sacred marriage covenant — a belief that is interpreted to be a biblical directive.

Living Out denies support for gay cure therapy: ‘Homosexuality is not an illness’

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Terence

Living Out denies support for gay cure therapy: ‘Homosexuality is not an illness’ Harry Farley JUNIOR STAFF WRITER 29 March 2016Email Print More Sharing Services Share A support group for same-sex attracted Christians has hit back at claims it supports gay cure.Sean Doherty, one of the leaders of Living Out, denied the accusations made by gay MP Mike Freer who labelled the charity “gay cure therapy rebranded”.TwitterSean Doherty, a leader of Living Out, topped the General Synod election poll in the London diocese. He also teaches at the theological college, St Mellitus.”Homosexuality is not an illness,” Doherty wrote on the group’s website. He said the language of a cure was damaging and could make vulnerable people “ashamed of who they are at a very deep and fundamental level”.

Source: Living Out denies support for gay cure therapy: ‘Homosexuality is not an illness’ | Christian News on Christian Today

“Side B” Gay Christians: Celibacy and Desire

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Terence

Between the faction of gay Christians who are happy with their sexual identity and “ex-gays,” who say they’ve removed their homosexual yearnings, is a third group that gets little attention. These so-called Side B Christians identify as gay and believe it’s not sinful to do so. But because they see acting on their orientation as ungodly, they commit to a life of celibacy.

Now, for the first time, a sociologist has taken an in-depth look at what makes Side Bs tick, particularly how they navigate their same-sex desires and their awkward position as stuck in the middle of ex-gay groups and content gay Christians. The study is small, but finds that Side Bs experience both tension and connection with these two groups. (The origins of the “Side B” term are foggy, but the terminology seems to come from the organization the Gay Christian Network, which labels gay Christians who do not see their sexuality as sinful as “Side A” and those who do as “Side B.”)

“The networks overlap with these two groups very strongly, and they did often feel kind of caught in the middle, certainly,” said study researcher S.J. Creek, a sociologist at Hollins University in Virginia. [5 Myths About Gay People, Debunked]

-continue reading at LiveScience.

Confessions of a Gay Married Priest; A Must Read for Cardinals and Justices

Posted on March 21, 2013 by Terence

As the College of Cardinals meets to elect a new Pope and as the US Supreme Court meets to address marriage equality, Confessions of a Gay Married Priest: A Spiritual Journey (Maurice L. Monette, Vallarta Institute, 2013) puts a human face on millions who will be impacted by their decisions.

Buy from Amazon UK: Confessions of a Gay Married Priest: A Spiritual JourneyBuy from Amazon USA: Confessions of a Gay Married Priest: A Spiritual Journey

Monette belonged to a Roman Catholic order of priests for 30 years, authored numerous books, and directed graduate programs in church leadership and organizational psychology. He and his husband of 24 years live in Oakland, California.

According to a CBS News Poll released on March 5, 66% of US Catholics favor letting priests get married, 66% favor letting women become priests and 62%believe same-sex marriage should be legal.

Franciscan priest and best-selling spirituality author Richard Rohr says of this book, ““This story illustrates one of the most counter intuitive messages of world religions, how our failings, heartbreaks and disappointments can be stepping stones to the spiritual joys of the second half of life.”

Sister Jeannine Gramick, a Huffington Post contributor with a longtime ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics, says, “Through little cameos in prose and poetry, Monette’s faith journey shows the triumph of the human spirit over religious messages to suppress sexuality. This is a story of self-discovery and self-acceptance that brings about freedom for a more authentic God-relationship.”

Former marketing director for the National Catholic Reporter Dan Grippo says, “It’s the one book I recommend for each Cardinal before he casts his vote for the next Pope. The lessons Monette shares are lessons for the future church where all women, men and children are appreciated in their diversity.”

In reference to the Church’s transition, Monette comments, “My story and the stories of so many others offer healthy alternatives to a Church that has become better known for its sex scandals and cover ups than its spirituality and social justice. A mature sexual ethics would go a long way to healing this wounded Church.”

-continue reading at Religion Press Release Services.

Monsignor Fernando Maria Bargallo Quits, Argentinian Bishop Seen Frolicking With Woman

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Terence

The pope has accepted the resignation of an Argentine bishop photographed frolicking on a Mexican beach with a woman, one of several personnel changes announced Tuesday by the Vatican before the pontiff heads off for summer vacation.

Monsignor Fernando Maria Bargallo, bishop of Merlo-Moreno outside Buenos Aires, initially denied having had any improper relationship with the woman, whom he described as a childhood friend. But the 57-year-old Bargallo later decided to step down under the church rule that lets bishops retire before age 75 if they’re found to be unfit for office.

Photographs of the encounter were broadcast on television last week and have been circulating on the Internet.

via Huffington Post

Argentine bishop quits over racy beach photos – report (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
Argentine Bishop Resigns In Light of Beach Photo Scandal (hispanicallyspeakingnews.com)
Argentina: Press Says Bishop Resigns After Admitting Relationship (eurasiareview.com)
Catholic bishop faces Vatican’s wrath after he’s busted cavorting with a scantily-clad beauty on the beach (but he insists she’s just an old friend’) (mumbailaity.wordpress.com)
Photo of Monsignor Raising Eyebrows (huffingtonpost.com)

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