Memphis bishop wants gays and lesbians to return to church

[UrbScotty]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3781562#3781956

[CBHagman]

1. I much prefer this approach.

Sometimes I see people at church who appear to be part of a same-sex couple. While I don't know that the church I attend has made a huge effort to welcome them, I think it does welcome them and is certainly less judgmental than some other places I've been.

One of my co-workers, Roman Catholic and gay, used to go from parish to parish. It broke my heart that he had no real home that way. He was involved with Dignity at one point, though.


Here's an excerpt and the links, for those who don't want to wander to the other thread:

http://cdom.org/wtc/wtncatholic_splash.htm

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20050602.htm

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (CNS) -- Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib, writing in a column for his diocesan newspaper, urged Catholics in his diocese to welcome gay and lesbian Catholics into the church. The bishop said he recently met with gay and lesbian Catholics who describe their Catholicism as "at the core of who they are," but who also said they are unsure of their place in church. He also met with parents of gay and lesbian Catholics who expressed concern that their children were unwelcome at church and said they see their children's loneliness "as no one else sees it." The bishop wrote in the May 19 issue of The West Tennessee Catholic, "As I listened, I could not help wondering: How deep is our river of faith if we are not actively working to be sure that all are welcome in their own home -- the home given to each of us when we became members of God's family through baptism?" The bishop urged Catholics to realize they are "called to be church to one another, to be God's family to one another," and in that role they need to "help each other grow into the home we will share in heaven."

[4_Legs_Good]

2. Awesome!

We gotta get that guy to replace Ratzinger!

:)

david

[JohnKleeb]

3. Thats a nice story

and people are acting like the priest is the jerk here, I hate to get mad here but what the hell is their problem, he's being tolerant and they attack him still, I have never once at a Catholic mass heard a Mass condemning gay people, stupid anti Catholic bullcrap by too many in that thread.

[UrbScotty]

4. Nor have I heard homosexuality condemned.

I've heard a couple things about abortion, but not homosexuality.

[JohnKleeb]

5. Yep

I am sick of Catholics being attacked when you have priests well in this cases a bishop trying to be more tolerant. They have to realize, the priests and bishops dont take their orders from the Vatican. My grandmother's priest is a very tolerant man who urged his parishoners to conisder all issues while voting.