Express Your Outrage over Continuing Antigay Rhetoric from
Catholic Leaders
On Friday, April 26, 2002, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, Archbishop of Philadelphia,
made the following statement:
"We feel a person who is homosexual-oriented is not
a suitable candidate for the priesthood even if he had never committed any
homosexual act."
Bevilacqua added that when a heterosexual man accepts celibacy
to become a priest "he's giving up a very good thing, and that is
a family and children," Bevilacqua said. "That would not be
true about a homosexual-oriented candidate... By his orientation he's
not giving up family and marriage. He's giving up what the church considers
an aberration, a moral evil."
These remarks come on the heels of statements made by US
Catholic Bishops Conference President Bishop Gregory, Cardinal George
of Chicago, Cardinal Maida of Detroit and Vatican spokesman Dr. Joaquin
Novarro-Valls, all blaming the US clergy sexual abuse scandal on gay priests.
These comments are outrageous and represent the worst kind of bigotry.
They are not consistent with authentic Catholic teaching. They are dehumanizing
and could incite some people to antigay violence.
EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE!
Here's what you can do to let Catholic officials know
this kind of homophobia will not be tolerated:
1) Call the Archdiocese
of Philadelphia at (215) 587-3800, and/or send email to webmaster@adphila.org and let Cardinal Bevilacqua know what you think of his comments. Demand
an apology and a retraction of these statements, and an end to the policy
barring gays from seminary
admission in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
2) Call Bishop Wilton
Gregory, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops at (202) 541-3000,
or send email to kschrage@diobelle.org.
Let them know what you think of Cardinal Bevilacqua's statements. Repeat
demands for an apology, and insist that the Bishops stop blaming the Church's
sexual abuse scandal on gay priests.
3) Call your bishop. For
contact information for Catholic dioceses in the US, go to www.usccb.org.
Demand that the bishops accept responsibility for their own role in the
cover-up of clergy sexual abuse,
and demand an end to the scapegoating of gay priests.
4) Spread the word. Ask
your friends, family members and coworkers who share your outrage to join
you in these actions.
The Catholic Church should stand for love and justice, not
hate. End the bigotry now!
**Sponsored by Dignity/USA, the nation's
oldest and largest organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
Catholics, our families, friends and supporters.
For more information, contact:
Dignity/USA
202-861-0017
www.DignityUSA.org
Dignity@aol.com
*** This ACTION ALERT E-MAIL is from the Women's Ordination
Conference. Send comments or information for future ACTION ALERTS to Joy Barnes,
WOC Program Director at grassroots@womensordination.org.
For more information about WOC and how to become a WOC member, visit www.womensordination.org.
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