In All Things
Uh oh
Here’s news from Fresno, California, courtesy of the local news station there, about Father Geoffrey Farrow, who opposed California’s Proposition 8, and also revealed that he is gay, in a homily on Sunday.
From the local media: "Father Geoffrey Farrow of the Saint Paul Newman Center in northeast Fresno shocked parishioners Sunday morning when he came out against Proposition 8, an initiative that would eliminate the right for same sex couples to marry in California. After 23 years as an ordained Catholic Priest, Father Geoffrey Farrow has likely given his final mass. Sunday morning he invited us to hear his message, a message that shocked many parishioners. 11 o’clock mass began as usual Sunday. Father Geoff led parishioners through prayer and communion. The homily taught of acceptance, love and rejection. But it was his closing remarks that left some parishioners stunned. ’What most Catholics hear about being gay or lesbian at their parish is silence.’"
And from the homily: "In any event regardless of what I or anyone else does in their life, one day you die, and on that day were you true to your conscience, were you true to what you believe. And I think that’s the question each of us has to answer. If the answer is no, hell already began before you died."
Here’s the link to the local news coverage.
James Martin, SJ
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I don't care if he's gay or straight. To take the focus of parishioners off of Christ during Mass and place that focus of oneself is arrogant and unworthy of a minister of the Gospel, ordained or lay.
Like many prophets and saints before him, Fr. Geoffrey Farrow now faces persecution by the hierarchs of the institutional church who demand obedience to their authority rather than obedience to conscience.
The hierarchs will claim that his conscience is in error, that they alone hold the truth on this issue. Yet Fr. Farrow’s conscience is fully informed by medicine and science as well as by Spirit and Scripture -- far more wholistically formed than their assertions which rely mostly on fallible tradition.
Thomas Aquinas was right, and Fr. Farrow is in good company. Fr. Mychal Judge, 'the Saint of 9/11”, often asked, 'Is there so much love in the world that we can afford to discriminate against any kind of love?!' Fr. Mychal also reminded us, 'Don’t let the institutional church get in the way of your relationship with God.'
http://SaintMychalJudge.blogspot.com
Could they have meant ''John Newman''??
Just wondering.
Like the bishops of medival days that preached paying large sums of money to the church would guarantee you a spot in heaven? Bishops aren't God, they're human, and make errors in judgement just like everyone else.
'I don't care if he's gay or straight. To take the focus of parishioners off of Christ during Mass and place that focus of oneself is arrogant and unworthy of a minister of the Gospel, ordained or lay.'
If you want to hear about Chirst and only Christ, I suggest reading the Bible...over...and over. In my opinion, that's what the liturgy of the word is for, focusing on Christ. I think what Fr. Farrow did is exactly what a good sermon is made of...taking God's message from scipture, and putting it in context of real world current events, so parishioners can truly examine their conscience and beliefs.
The homilies that just focus on God said this, Jesus said that...over and over are the ones that put people to sleep, as we've heard them over and over. The ones where a priest puts forward a thought provoking issue, and presents it with a stance as what he beleives are Catholic and human morals (not the political opinion of the bishop) those are the sermons that get me thinking whether I'm really 'loving my neighbor as myself' as Luke 10:27 eludes to.
Why is Father Martin an 'idiot'? Most of his message simply quotes local press reports--note the quotation marks.
Having 'gay' tendencies is not inherently evil and a cross that is provided to bear. It’s part of our flawed nature as fallen human beings. Each one of us is charged to carry our cross as we struggle with our human nature, while struggling towards sainthood. Problems arise when we discard our cross in favor of “moral relativism” in assuming that a minority of individuals have more collective wisdom than all the great saints who came before us. That our own, selfish desires and ideals are more realistic than the church’s teaching.
Anyone who supports 'gay marriage' is directly opposed to God’s plan for us, as displayed in his creation and his church.
Personally speaking, it is hard to follow the church’s teaching; however, not impossible. If we ground our lives spiritually, placing God at the center and not ourselves, he will provide each one of us with knowledge, insight, family, and friends to guide us along our journey. I once arrogantly assumed that the modern world was correct, but this only brought me pain and agony, and kept pushing me further away from God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Once I discovered the liberating freedom that God’s teachings provide, I started to understand my true role, my true purpose, my true happiness. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible.
God Bless,
John S.
--Since the Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman is not yet a canonized saint it probably would not be 'St John Newman.' However, many Catholic centers at secular colleges are called Newman Centers, and many of these are named for St Paul as their patron. Perhaps because Paul was considered a well educated man, or perhaps because many Newman Centers were once staffed by Paulist priests. But the location in question is indeed the St. Paul(,) Newman Center.
I saw this story last night and was saddened to read it.
Medicine and science have come long ways since Leviticus. The reason homosexuality was removed from the medical lists of disorders is because medicine now recognizes it as a natural occurrence not associated with mental illness.
Homosexuality is about much more than sex. It is often associated with broader personality characteristics. For example, gays tend to have higher creative, healing, educational, and spiritual sensitivities, and they disproportionately fill those vocational fields.
Being homosexual is indeed comparable to being an ethnic minority because it is an intrinsic characteristic at birth, and because of irrational discrimination around it.
Stop stereotyping your gay brothers and sisters and come to know them as people. The most beloved gay Catholic of our time, Father Mychal Judge, was closer to the Kingdom of Heaven than a hundred who keep themselves locked in ignorance in the name of unquestioned orthodox ‘truth’.
2. "Newman Center" is the term often used for the Catholic student center at a public university (the equivalent of the campus ministry office at a Catholic university). John Henry Cardinal Newman was a proponent of the creation of Catholic student centers at secular universities. And while it is true that the Paulist Fathers are heavily involved in campus ministry, the fact that this Newman Center is named after St. Paul may or may not have anything to do with that. Newman Centers are often named after saints in the same way that local churches are.
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