Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, Ohio got wind that the batty Sisters of St. Francis in Tiffin were planning a three day workshop by New Ways Ministry, a Maryland-based organization that describes itself as “a gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics.”
Ahem.
Bishop Blair sent a letter to Sister Jacquelyn Doepker, head of the religious order and told her (paraphrasing) I don’t think so.
As luck might have it, Bishop Blair was just appointed by the CDF to investigate the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. You know, these ladies.
According to NCR “The Vatican congregation informed the leadership conference officers of its new “doctrinal assessment” in a February 20 letter, which the officers received March 10. The letter came from Cardinal William Joseph Levada, the congregation’s prefect.Women Religious.” and Bishop Blair was appointed to the job.
So back to this current situation. New Ways Executive Director called the Bishop and tried the “Who us? You have us all wrong” defense even though New Ways Ministry openly supports Gay Marriage
Good afternoon. My name is Francis DeBernardo, and I am the Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, a national Roman Catholic ministry of justice and reconciliation for lesbian/gay Catholics and the wider church community. Our organization was founded by a priest and a nun in 1977 because they saw a great need to promote dialogue between these two groups. We are housed in Mount Rainier, Maryland.
I am here today to support House Bill 1055 and to oppose House Bill 913. I am here because I am a Roman Catholic, not in spite of the fact that I am a Roman Catholic.
Bishop Blair didn’t buy it. This all bodes well for the “doctrinal assessment,” it seems the Bishop is all warmed up and ready to play.
May 6, 2009 at 11:12 am
This is all well and good. And mega-kudos to Bishop Blair. But Levada “assessing” the situation is like putting Rosie O’Donnel in charge of assessing nuclear submarines. Levada is/was never any friend to orthodoxy or the traditional church. He left his archdiocese in shambles, scandals and snuck out like a thief in the night (thank you again, Karol). The only thing worse is his current successor.
The irony.
May 6, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE my Bishop?
May 6, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Someday, may Catholics in San Francisco be able to say the same!
Please, God!
May 6, 2009 at 3:29 pm
New Ways Executive Director called the Bishop and tried the “Who us? You have us all wrong” defenseHeh. I know it as the, “there’s no one but us chickens in here” defense. That is, people who like to cry, “slippery slope!” while hiding the fact that they are just peachy with where things slip to.
May 6, 2009 at 9:31 pm
But why did Pope Benedict appoint Levada? I have never understood this. Levada does seem to be doing just what Benedict wants him to do, but I fear that if the time should come when Benedict is gone, Levada’s true colors will show.
Susan Peterson
May 7, 2009 at 1:43 am
Benedict knew Levada when they worked on the revisions to the catechism. I think ABp Levada was a primary drafter. So, it would make perfect sense for him to be head of the CDF under Benedict, except for the state of the San Francisco diocese. Perhaps ABp Levada is better suited to the rarified air of the CDF than the intractable pastoral situation that is SF.
May 9, 2009 at 1:42 am
It’s wonderful that this good bishop is taking a firm stand. In the Boston area, there is a priest who promotes the New Ways Ministry openly on his website — note the “next steps” comment. This is an open letter published last April, aimed at the Pope.
http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2008/04/courage-and-caritas.html