Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu has put a stop to St. Ann’s in San Antonio weekly gay/transgender Mass that has been held there for 15 years.
Now, Dignity/San Antonio is saying they’re shocked and disappointed. Fred Anthony Garza, president of Dignity/San Antonio, said “Of course it was hurtful and disappointing…Many people in the community felt rejected, so part of our responsibility is meeting the needs and the pastoral needs of those people that are hurting.”
KSAT reports:
Deacon Pat Rogers, communications director for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, said there were conflicting messages about the group’s official teachings.
“The fact that this was an advocacy group that represented publicly and in their own way, a position that was outside of Catholic teaching in regards to homosexuality,” Rogers said. “And, the fact that we understood there was irregularities in the liturgy, itself.”
Rogers said the letter from the auxiliary bishop also extended an invitation to the group to join other Catholic parishes without a segregated mass.
But instead the group held a ceremony without a priest at a nearby Presbyterian Church. So maybe they’re more serious about being gay than Catholic.
The group’s leader Garza said they’re pinning their hopes on “opening a dialogue” with Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller which typically means that you do what they want or they’ll call you names in the press.
CMR commends Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantu’s actions here. He has invited them to be non-hyphenated Catholics. He asked them to instead of being gay Catholics or transgender Catholics how about just giving being a non hyphenated Catholic a try. Let’s hope they hear him.
October 26, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Its all about being gay, if it wasn´t, they wouldn`t need a segregated mass. Imagine the ruckus if they HAD to have a segregated mass…
A friend of mine said : " If it gets compulsory, I have a BIG problem…
October 26, 2010 at 5:06 pm
I'm confused here. I thought "Dignity" was a legitimate Catholic ministry across this nation? Does this undermine the affiliation of the entire organization of Dignity? Or is it just this particular parish? I've recommended Dignity to many faithful Catholics who are looking for a ministerial approach to the Faith and their sexuality (or a loved one's). I don't know what to think about this.
Obviously if there were liturgical abuses, then I commend the Bishop for putting a stop to it. And it looks bad that they went Church shopping instead of being obedient and submissive and humble, all the marks of orthodoxy in our Faith. Still…Just because homosexual activity is banned from the Church, that doesn't mean that homosexuals should be excluded. It's the same stigma a lot of divorced Catholics feel. They want to be Catholic, but where do they fit in? Just my thoughts here…
October 26, 2010 at 5:16 pm
My sexuality does not define who I am. Part of what I love about the Catholic church is it's not segregated–we are all the same church. I'm just as opposed to "family masses," "singles masses," "married without children masses," "African American masses," as I am opposed to "gay masses."
The very definition of "catholic" is "universal," so to segregate parishioners and give different groups a difference experience/sermon based on their individual identities is perverse.
Churches need to focus on accepting ALL Catholics at ALL of their masses, regardless of each individual's lifestyle choice.
October 26, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Patty, are you thinking of Courage? From what I've read, they're the good one and Dignity is the bad one.
October 26, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Yes, Courage is the organization that is in accord with the beliefs of the Catholic Church. It's ministry was created at the start of the AIDs crisis, in which support gay man to remain chaste and focus on friendships.
October 26, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Wish +Vincent Nichols of Westminster, England, would do something similar.
October 26, 2010 at 6:28 pm
These people are definitely more about being gay than about being Catholic. Cheers to Bishop Cantu for inviting them to Mass with the rest of us, where they can learn and follow the wise and wonderful Church teaching with the rest of us.
October 26, 2010 at 6:30 pm
P.S. What is most shocking about this is that this segregated "Mass" has been going on for 15 years with no one stopping it!
Welcome, new Presbyterians.
October 26, 2010 at 6:42 pm
Dignity is not a bona fide Catholic organization. When and why did their members accrue the privilege of a special Mass?
-Theo
October 26, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Dignity absolutely is not an approved Catholic organization. Long ago, they broke communion with the Church by denying fundamental Catholic doctrine on human sexuality and other issues, and they have also long been part of alliances that deny or challenge Church teaching.
People with same-sex attraction should be referred to Courage, which is faithful to Church teaching.
October 26, 2010 at 7:09 pm
"They want to be Catholic, but where do they fit in?"
In precisely the same place as all of the rest of us sinners. We all of us are called to conform ourselves to Christ and His Holy Church, not to agitate for the Church to mold itself to us. The Extraordinary Form is a splendid way to do just this: as it has done for generations of saints.
October 27, 2010 at 1:41 am
If they want to be treated with "Dignity" demanding special treatment is a bad place to start.
October 27, 2010 at 2:25 pm
On a different note, I wish ya'll had a "like" button for comments. I would have "liked" William's comment so fast….
October 27, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Thanks everyone for the clarification! Sorry for the mix up, I got it;)
October 27, 2010 at 9:37 pm
part of our responsibility is meeting the needs and the pastoral needs of those people that are hurting
And how, exactly, aren't those needs met already in Catholic teaching?
Why is it Catholic teaching must compromise (i.e. stop being Catholic or moral) to make people feel good?
October 27, 2010 at 10:39 pm
"They want to be Catholic, but where do they fit in?"
In the pew. Either side of me. I won't ask and prefer if they not tell (me anyway).
October 28, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Confused. What is a 'Gay/Transgender Mass'? Extra -Extraordinarily Extra form?
Not be obtuse, but there are no particular liturgical forms for people based on who they want to sleep with, right? What is this???
October 31, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Obviously non of you have don't your research. And after a few days, Dignity will just be part of your past. I am a current member of Dignity and can hold my hand to a Bible while saying this… It's more accepting to any person, no matter gay strait black white or republican… God teaches us to love and respect all. The organization didn't ask for attention, didn't bother anyone for more than 20 years in San Antonio! We are looking for a place to learn our catholic beliefs. Again, today you think Dignity is YOUR PROBLEM, but in reality. The local and National Organization have to put up with your metaling. Lets see what you say when a man with a beard in a dress wants to sit next to you or your kids. As long as he lives a chase lifestyle it seems to fit YOUR rules… But man's rules aren't always GOD'S. Lets see how Christian you really are… Lets put the spotlight on you now…
November 1, 2010 at 4:42 am
I think the common word here is Dignity and Respect. The Catholic church has its own bad background and they want their followers to just face forward and move on, but when their own followers who are just asking for respect just as the church once did with all the scandals do it, they get shunned. Then where do they turn? If they turn their backs they are bad and if they continue on with their beliefs they are bad, then where is the respect all humans desire, isn't this what the Catholic church speaks of??