A small group of retired priests and a much larger groups of former priests are publicly opposing the Church’s stance on gay marriage.
This occurs in light of a major effort by Archbishop Nienstedt to ensure that Catholic voters vote to protect trraditional marriage.
Minnesota Public radio reports:
Catholics are not united behind the church’s official position, a point made clear today, when a group representing 80 former Catholic priests spoke out against the marriage amendment. They said the amendment violates Christian principles of love and justice.
Also coming forward to oppose the amendment were John Brandes, Tom Garvey and Tim Power, three retired priests who are still part of the church. They also came forward to oppose the amendment, putting them on a collision course with John C. Nienstedt, the Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who last year informed all priests that they could not publicly dissent.
Catholic bishops have made passage of the amendment a top political priority this year, even though Minnesota law already prohibits gay marriage. Proponents of the amendment say it is needed to block a Hennepin County court case that seeks to overturn state law and numerous attempts by Democratic state legislators to legalize gay marriage.
In a letter submitted to the Star Tribune, titled “Catholics of Minnesota you have a choice!” they wrote, “There is not just one way for Catholics to vote in November.”
Their letter describes gays and lesbians as brothers and sisters in Christ, who need allies.
Brandes, 85, served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for 61 years, including time at the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Rita’s in Cottage Grove and St. Mark’s in St. Paul. Brandes said he and the two other retired priests want to be respectful of those who hold other views, and at the same time encourage dialogue about the diversity of Catholic views.
Garvey, ordained in 1957, served the Archdiocese for 40 years including at St. Luke’s in St. Paul and St. Frances Cabrini in Minneapolis. He said his views on homosexuality changed decades ago after he watched an interview with a lesbian woman who described how she was different. “She began to cry convulsively and I said, ‘We’ve got the wrong position on this,’ ” Garvey recalled.
Power, ordained in 1966, served at St. Thomas the Apostle in Minneapolis and St. Timothy’s in Blaine before retiring after 24 years at Pax Christie in Eden Prairie. Power calls their letter “a small counterbalance” to the Church’s official position on the amendment.
Power said he was compelled to speak out by the collective silence of other priests.
“People [were] saying to me, ‘Where is the voice of the priests that believe the way we do? They can’t all believe the party line,’ “he said. “And I’m thinking too, ‘Yeah, where are they?’ That’s us.”
The one priest said he changed his mind on the issue because he saw a video with a woman crying. He reportedly said his views on homosexuality changed after he watched an interview with a lesbian woman who described how she was different. “She began to cry convulsively and I said, ‘We’ve got the wrong position on this,’ ” Garvey recalled.
Well, at least it was an intellectually based decision.
May 18, 2012 at 10:42 am
These priests who stand, in public, opposed to the long standing teaching of the Catholic Church should face whatever is the proper canonical action for the scandal and dissent they are supporting but so should every priest in every circumstance when they, in public, incite scandal and disobedience. If such is not done, across the board, then injustice reigns.
It is long past time for bishops to act. If the Church
chooses not act to clean itself up, it deserves to wither on the vine.
Karl
May 18, 2012 at 3:43 pm
The media should have learned from Jurassic Park–when you bring a dinosaur back to life, it will come back and bite you in the end.
May 18, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I looked at my neighbors dog and I cried profusely.
I'm now convinced that dogs should not be denied their rights to marry as well.
May 18, 2012 at 5:20 pm
@Tito Edwards: "I'm now convinced that dogs should not be denied their rights to marry as well." No more than women can espouse the Bride of Christ, can priests bring forth two husbands in union, or two wives. The sovereign personhood in their rational, immortal souls does not abide same sex assault and battery.
May 18, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Because, as we all know, ex-priests have the correct position on all things Catholic.
Unlike those priests who followed Canon law and stayed faithful.
May 19, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Shame on them.
May 20, 2012 at 2:10 am
So after you cried for your dog, did you two go off and bark about the good ol days? Btw how do say imbecile in dogonese?
May 20, 2012 at 2:16 am
Mary how do male and female souls look?
May 20, 2012 at 5:21 am
The party line????WTH?
May 21, 2012 at 2:58 am
To paraphrase both Jesus and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS:
"What does it profit a man to give his soul for the world — but for a vanity-mention on Minnesota Public Radio!"
— Mack Hall
May 21, 2012 at 12:32 pm
What is the basis for their hatred for the Church's teaching on marriage?
It would be interesting to know how many of these "former priests" are themselves active in the homosexual lifestyle.
May 21, 2012 at 9:04 pm
Mary how do male and female souls look?
Complementary.
May 21, 2012 at 11:47 pm
*Complementary*
In other words, NOT specifically "same" or "different". End of discussion!
May 22, 2012 at 2:08 am
I don't think they have to be active in the homosexual lifestyle to explain their position at all.
They simply need to be embracing the contraceptive lifestyle. It was the first and only necessary step.