Catholic Church in Castro Neighborhood Told By SF Archbishop to Disinvite Gay Clergy Speakers
- Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:03am by
Christopher Santarelli
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(The Blaze/AP) A Roman Catholic church in San Francisco that canceled a series of pre-Christmas services featuring gay ministers from other denominations is being criticized for sending a negative message to its predominantly gay and lesbian congregation.
Pastor Steve Meriwether of Most Holy Redeemer Church late last month rescinded the invitations he had extended to the three ministers at the direction of San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday.
The story first was reported by the Bay Area Reporter, a gay newspaper.
Archdiocese spokesman George Wesolek told the Chronicle the archbishop felt the speakers were “inappropriate for the season of Advent, which should be a time to reflect on the coming of Christ.”
Wesolek said he was unsure how the archdiocese learned Most Holy Redeemer had asked Otis Charles, a former Episcopal bishop, Presbyterian Rev. Jane Spahr and Metropolitan Community Church Rev. Roland Stringfellow. An article in California Catholic Daily mentioned the Nov. 30 scheduled appearance by Otis, who came out as gay after he retired.
“It’s a very delicate pastoral situation,” Wesolek said. “There are a lot of wonderful gays and lesbians who attend Most Holy Redeemer, but there are parameters that must be followed.”
Stringfellow, a minister for the gay-oriented Metropolitan Community Church, had been scheduled to speak Wednesday. The cancellations were an insult to the clergy involved and sends a message to gay and lesbian Catholics that they are unwelcome within the Catholic Church, Stringfellow said.
“Most congregations invite speakers who can speak well to their community’s concerns,” he said. “We are all clergy within our own rites and denominations, and we were very disrespected by the idea that we can only give a talk that’s about gay rights.”
The archdiocese has stepped in before to draw a line when it felt Most Holy Redeemer’s support for gay Catholics has trespassed into advocacy for gay rights.
Niederauer ordered the parish in 2009 to cancel a performance of a play that explores the subject of adolescent sexuality in a Christian context, according to the Chronicle. The parish also was told to end its official participation in San Francisco’s annual Gay Pride parade.




















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Comments (69)
team1blazer
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:46pmThe “church catholic” (the followers of Jesus Christ (He is the foundation of the church)) has never abandoned the teachings of Christ. The western “church” however, has been attacked by the LGBT community in order to “validate” their deviant behavior; if the church says it’s OK to be queer, then it must be OK. The problem is, God will never bless sin. Homosexual acts are sin. God will never bless homosexuality. Any church that condones or “blesses” sin is not Christian. If any clarification is needed, read 1John:4-10. We ALL sin. It is only through repentance of our sin and belief in the redemption of the blood our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we are reconciled to God. If your “church” teaches that God blesses ANYthing that the bible condems, FLEE from that “church” NOW! If you are a “teacher” in such a church, know that you will be held to a higher standard (James 3:1). Peace to all God’s children.
Report Post »maroon67
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:09pmIf God wanted gay men or gay women… He would have created Adam and Adam or Eve and Eve… just saying… Stick to the basics people and you have ground.
Report Post »saltwater
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:10pmGod created Adam and Eve…not adam and steve.
Report Post »poverty.sucks
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:12pmGod created Adam & Eve, not Adam & Steve.
Roman Catholic Church fails direct it’s Priest to study the Holy Bible prior to entering the church. Queers have every right to be part of the Catholic fellowship.
Report Post »ScratInTheHat
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:44pmpoverty.sucks Yeah I remember reading that passage in the Bible about wanting abominations to fill the church. You are the clowns that can’t read! You pull this BS about forgiveness knowing that you are in sin now and are not rejecting it. Ply the Social justice garbage to the mindless fools that believe it! It’s about time someone put their foot down on this normalize perversion attack!
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:35pmRoman Catholic church trying to re-affirm its values….. That’s a good thing…The church is not about gays ..Its about God
Report Post »TAXEVERYONE
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 11:15amGlad to see the Archbishop has the guts to stand up to these people. San Francisco used to be wonderful city. Now everything smells like urine and the gays are in your face at every turn.
Report Post »jblovesAmerica
Posted on December 27, 2011 at 10:07amOther than humans-is there any species on this planet-that practice homosexuality.?????????
Report Post »MrSoul99
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:42pmThis whole Catholic coddling of gays would be similar to the Catholic Church affirming adulterers rather than working to put their lives right.
If you don’t want to accept the Catholic Churches teachings on issues of morality, go start your own church and stop trying to bring down theirs to conform to your lifestyle.
Report Post »mickey94558
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:54pmEveryone Is a sinner and everyone can be forgiven. If I am an alcaholic and stop drinking I am still an alcoholic bjt the sin of overconsumption has been forgiven. If I am a homosexual by birth and I find Christ and confess the sin of sodomy and live my life without sodomy, I am still a homosexual and a practicing Catholic. All of us can be saved. The Church does not promote same sex partners, but it does forgive sinners. If you have never sinned I’d love to meet you. God Bless and have a Very Merry Christmas!
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 3:33pmI think I understand you…
The official RCC stance on homosexuality is rather simply…sort of like DADT in the Military. The Church states that ANY sexual activity outside of marriage (defined by the Church and history as one man and one woman) is unacceptable and a sin, an affront to God. That would cover adultery, gays, pedophiles, bestiality, and polygamy.
The RCC does not condemn someone that is homosexual but does condemn them ACTING on their sexuality since it would involve them having sex outside of a Church sanctioned marriage. The Church does not stop homosexuals from being part of the clergy, priests or nuns, but again, once they take their vows they are FORBIDDEN to engage in ANY type of sexual activity.
I have known gays that have served as laymen in a Catholic Church and of clergy that were gay. They understood the Church requirements and respected them, they did not try and change the Church to match their lifestyle choices. Those that were not clergy wrestled with their homosexuality and found comfort in the congregation during hard times, like coming out to friends and family.
I accept that there are gay Catholics and Christians of all denominations. I welcome them into the Body of Christ but I do not condone their sexual behavior nor does the Word of God.
Report Post »Molaki
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 6:43amAmen……this would at the same time help with unemployment as we would need new priests; new buildings (construction); new uniforms; new curtains to match the stainglassed windows; etc. There is no end to how this would help the economy and free up the real churches to do their job and that is to allow individuals to worship their God in peace.
Report Post »pecopfc
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:51pm…Gay Catholic=Oxymoron….
Report Post »ZengaPA65
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:27pmWhat does Pedophile Priest equal?
Report Post »Paul -Indiana
Posted on December 25, 2011 at 3:08pmPedophile Priest = someone who got in when standards were lowered because the Church in America won’t allow married priests, or women priests. The standards were lowered in a effort to have enough priests. The simple solution is to have married, part time priests who live in the world and support themselves while working in their local parish on weekends. In that case, there would be a LOT of priests.
Report Post »The Gooch
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:34pmHmm, might this be an example of the Catholic church keeping (sexual) politics out of a service? Have fun, ya fruits! The Casto district sells itself on its “queerness”. Who will win? Who will care? The infighting of the homosexual demographic is mildly amusing. Hope no one gets stupidly violent. I’m a bit impressed the archbishop chooses to take a stand during Christmas. There will be much howling, gnashing of teeth… and possibly hissy fits. I‘m not Catholic and not gay so I admit I don’t see much in this more than amusing sideshow during the holidays, Merry freak-mas!
Report Post »AnaChris
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:48amI get a bit confused when dealing with this topic. On one hand we have the bible that declares what sin is and who should be a pastor/priest and on the other hand we have man telling us that some “sins” are really normal modes of behavior and even have special “rights”. Then i see a Catholic church, of which I am not a member btw, calling ministers from other congregations to speak? Now I am all for us all getting together but shouldn’t we be getting together under the scripture? Not in contradiction to It? Guess I better just stay in Oklahoma. :/
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:09pmANACHRIS, it is not confusing, although the homosexuals would like it to be. Homosexuality is a sin, you can be forgiven for it, however, you must repent. This Priest is misguided by asking these other ministers to speak there, it is like winking at evil. The Lord said you are either for me or agaist me, you cannot be luke warm (paraphrasing) But the church (like the Government) also has a form of checks and balances, namely the Arch Bishop.
Report Post »EM1956
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:53pmI am new to Christianity (on my third reading of the Bible). As I’ve learned and grown over the past year, the body of Christ resides in the people (believers) and the people in the body of Christ. And that Christ is the cornerstone of the Church and the people are living stones that assemble on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets to worship the Triune God (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).
That said, the Word (which is God) tells us that there are many false churches and false prophets in these times and they are anti-Christ.
The individuals within those false churches need to run from them quick and find a true independent fundamental church that teaches and preaches God’s Word, not a watered down version by mankind.
God has a direct link with each of us and we have the ability to communicate with Him. If one don’t seek Him, and recognize His voice when He calls then woe that one.
Report Post »Amos37
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:27pmEM1956 – very good, and i am very proud of you for studying the Bible. Make sure you do it EVERY DAY like God’s Word tells us to. In revelation it talks about the church ages, with the last one being the laodiceans. a lukewarm version of the Truth is preached that makes God want to “spit them out”. You’ll find that every church building you go to says they are the Way, but God tells us the Spirit teaches us all things. whenever two or more are gathered, Jesus stands in the midst. so finding a church building is not necessary, you can even study with most pastures (spelled that way on purpose) through the internet – an awesome gift God has given us the intelligence to maintain and use.
Report Post »Keep fighting the good fight, and thank God every day for giving us this life He has allowed us to live.
normbal
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:06amNow, if the catholic church would only disinvite (and remove) members who support abortion (starting with Pelosi), and root out and defrock homosexuals among the priesthood, they just might gain some of their credibility back. But for now, as a christian, I find the whole concept of Roman Catholicism totally incredible and understand why Italian culture gave the world both catholicism AND the mafia.
Report Post »LondoMollari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:48amWell, the Church shouldn’t necessary exclude (ie excommunicate) people just for being gay or for supporting abortion.
However, there is some discussion that politicians who continously support abortion should be refused Communion.
Report Post »annice77
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:30pmI will say this to you. Judge not less ye be judged. People likeness Pelosi or gay clergy have actually excommunicated themselves. By participating in the Eucharist an important part of the mass they damn themselves. So in other words we let God handle them.
Report Post »historyforgotten
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:16amBishops and Cardinals get away with Rapping children, yet, don’t let Fellow Priests speak, because they are ‘Different’?
Report Post »What ever happened to ‘Love thy Neighbors’? The Church has become something Darker, than Followers of Jesus. They have become a Conservative, Political Party.
JimmyP
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:34amYOU ARE CATHLOPHOBIC!!!
SHAME ON YOU
SHAME ON YOU
Everybody, now join me
SHAME ON YOU
Report Post »SHAME ON YOU
barber2
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:47amLefty Troll. Know you guys all hate rules, laws, conservatives, God, and churches. Ho hum…
Report Post »bigfatslob
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:07amCathofobic freak ! If you don’t respect their rules, get outta Dodge. The Catholic church feeds and cares for more poor on this planet than gays & lesbians will ever do. Merry Christmas.
Report Post »LondoMollari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:50amYeah, sure, that’s why Archbishop Timothy Dollen is concerned about unemployment benefits and why the USCCB has been writing to Paul Ryan (R-WI) about it.
And if it‘s raped children you’re concerned about, you might want to direct your attention to the public education system. I assure you that the Sandusky/Syracuse incidents are just the tip of the iceberg.
Report Post »pennswoods
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:53amOut of nealry 80,000 priests and monks in the USA less than 500 are or have been accused of breaking their holy vows and abusing boys under 18. That’s probably a smaller % than in any male population or group of 80,000 in the USA or elsewhere. These priests and any bishop who covered up for them are guilty, at the same time their sins do not in anyway take away from the goodness and the theology the Catholic Church teaches or the truth in the Gospels and who Jesus Christ was and all He did foer us. Thank GOD this archbishop had the courage to do this. Each year in San Francisco when Gay Parades pass Catholic Churches a large number of the marchers and people in the crowds take a special glee in mocking and jeering the Catholic Churches they pass. This kind of hatred of Christians, because of their moral values, happened in pagan Rome too. Our society and its dominate secular pop culture isn’t any less debauched than pagan Rome was at the time of the Roman Emperor Nero is it? Have a Blessed Christ’s Mass.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:56amMaybe they are reading their Bible (and maybe you should too) and pointing out a few individuals shortcomings does NOT justify other unacceptable behavior. While this is surprising I say good for the Arch Bishop that church is exactly where this needs to be done. Now they need to let the whole congregation have it on the evils of homosexuallity.
Report Post »diggyorange
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:14amis this church in communion with the Holy See ? If not than its invalid any way so who cares.(not Catholic)
and if it is (which I doubt) it wont be for long. The One Holy Catholic Apostolic Church is on the move and it will eradicate this nonsense and perversions and get back to tradition,Praise be to God.
This church is doing nothing but sending souls to hell.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:51amWhile I am not really a fan of the Catholic church, they have a right to keep people out of the church, who are there to mostly further the political agenda of gays or any other group with an axe to grind, that wants to use the church for propaganda purposes.
Report Post »Wayner
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:14amHoly See , ,Smoley See….. There is nothing in the Bible about a Holy See…. Putting that aside…. There is a lot in the Bible about twisting God‘s Word to suit one’s convenience…. Queers are filthy and no amount of twisting is going to change that.
Report Post »LondoMollari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:54amWell, they need to stick with Canon Law and the teachings and not make exceptions because some in the congregation don’t like it or might get their feelings hurt.
It’s unclear to me what the final fate of any of them will be, but homosexual acts do place one on the path to hell.
Report Post »diggyorange
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:07pm@TXPilot:
your absolutely right they have that right, no doubt.The point I was trying to say was that this my not be a “Catholic ” church as the title suggests. Unless they have the blessing and authority to operate by the Vatican, as a Catholic Church, they are not recognized as as Catholics. (I’m not sure if they are, I didnt check, but its easy to find out ) Other wise they are classified as heretics or schismatics.
@WAYNER: you need to get educated. The Holy Catholic Church compiled and preserved the Bible.Many GAVE their lives to preserve it (blood martyrs)
For the first 300 years there was no bible, and for over a 1000 more years lay people did not own them. The Catholic Church holds Sole authority of the bible interpretation.(ALL 73 BOOKS ! ) AND Yes the bible does say there will be The Holy See, when the keys were given to St.Peter.
Your simply blinded by Catholic bigotry.Let it go and learn the truth.
@LONDOMOLLORI : you couldnt have said it better , your right.
Report Post »MrMagoo
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:08amNobody’s perfect.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 7:23pmWhile nobody’s perfect, that doesn’t mean that we should try to justify sins.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:55amRemember that movie where Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder accidentally stepped on a bus full of KKK ?
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:55amA church is a hospital for the spiritually ill, all should be welcome. But the hospital should be sure to specify that if the “spiritual healing medicine ” ( faith in Christ Jesus and the evidence of that in lifestyle changes ) are not evident, then that person does not want to be healed and should be removed from the hospital as to not be contagious to those who have taken to their proper treatment and are healing.
Report Post »I‘ve no interest in attending a church that does not promote a Christ centered life with the expectation that it’s parishioners will comply, and have the courage to stand with Jesus on this issue.
Merry Christ-mass everyone, be at peace with all me if it be at all possible.
Rayblue
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:52amHomosexuals can have their own church services if they like.
Report Post »Only should not expect to be recognized as legitimate branches of the Catholic or any other denomination. If they want to be outsiders in society they should embrace being outside the church.
LondoMollari
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:52amThat’s a good point. There’s no problem with GLBTQ people coming to Church services, but it needs to be understood that homosexual acts are against God’s will and a mortal sin and do not merit reception of the Eucharist.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:47amWhen I was young, I remember hearing that Jesus taught that you should always love the sinner. but not the sin. Why did we go so far as to say that is you love the sinner, then you must also embrace the sin. Thus, the next step – there is no sin ? America has become so “PC” that now there are no standards, no competition, no grading, and unfortunately no ” class.” And with the Occupies, no rules or laws. We need a pendulum reversal. In both morality and in politics.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:15amYou are 100% correct. Christ told us to love everone, but he told sinners to go and sin no more. He didn’t come to change the law, but to set us a path of living and following in his foosteps the best we can.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:43amAgree. And notice how the Lefty Occupiers have hijacked Jesus’ message to love God and your neighbor and twisted that message into Love Big Daddy Government who will give them their “stuff ?” A complete material turn-around from Christ’s spiritual message. Such great Deceivers – especially for young people who have not had any moral training or history .
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:49amThey did it to themselves by putting their flagrant qweer lifestyle on public exhibt to offend and pressure everybody into accepting their normalicy. They deserve to be locked out. They show no repentance or desire to change behaviour which God condems. If thiefs continued to steal would you still invite them into your house? Same way with a bunch of _ick suckers.
Report Post »psst
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:45amGay Clergy? Isn’t that phrase an oxymoron?
Report Post »If any in the clergy does not believe in the Bible, I can’t fathom why that person would choose this profession.
And what is this nonsense of calling homosexuals gay?
I thought today’s homosexuals are openly proud (in yer face)of who they are and of their lifestyles.
And yet! And yet, they seems to be ashamed of being called what /who they are,homosexuals. They prefer to hide behind Happy.
hillbillyinny
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:39amFrom the referred to newspaper article: “This isn‘t the first time the archdiocese has come down against what it saw as the parish’s breach of the fine line between support for gay Catholics and advocacy for gay rights.”
Love the sinner, hate the sin! To quote Jesus, “. . . Go and sin no more.”
Law of the land or not, according to the statues of the Bible (not necessarily the “stories” of the Bible), sex outside of a conventional man-to-woman marriage IS A SIN (any sex outside of marriage). Attend and learn at church, but if you’ve been active in this way, you cannot receive the Sacraments without first recieving the Sacrament of Reconciliation to bring you back into full communion with the Church (short of impending death).
I thank God for the strength of this Archbishop and will pray that other Bishops will follow his example. If they can’t stand up against this type of pressure, what are they going to do in the End Times when we are being forced into a “one world ‘religion’”–a “religion” of compunction?
Maranatha!
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:35amwhy would any religion allow a mentally ill person into the pulpit….Americans are deranged enough
Report Post »brother_ed
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:32amGod loves all of His children and Jesus died for them all, however there are some positions your behavior may disqualify you for.
Good for the Roman Catholic Church for upholding their standards.
Report Post »Wild911Call
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:29amCould it be that their church is starting to make a gradual stand? The current state of the catholic church in America is very poor and for very good reason. wickedness has been laid upon their door step and constantly invited in to their church.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:17amAnyone else notice how many men, (and I say that loosely) are pictured in the photo?
Report Post »JustPeachy
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:16amMy question is: if you’re withdrawing invitations now, why did you extend them in the first place?
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:27amThe Priest in this particular Church issued the invitations. The Archbishop of the Diocese said no no no, this violates Church Doctrine, take it back. The Priest got overruled by his boss….Just sayin’
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:15amColleges dis-invite Conservative speakers on Campus
Report Post »Churches dis-invite GAY ministers..
Seems fair to me…
Gay Ministers….. Disgusting
Nothing Christian about sticking your Richard up some other mans Uranus.
orthodoxc
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:28amDon’t you mean homosexuals. Gay means happy. I think that it is about time that we dispervert the word gay.
Report Post »randy
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:33amYou’re right
Report Post »Gay = Happy
Homosexual = Disgusting
Fa$%ot = Homosexual
They’ve polluted the minds of our young people long enough.
RightThinking1
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:22am@Orthodoxc
Report Post »I’m with you. We have lost a perfectly nice word. In short, it has been perverted. One can not mention, for instance, ‘The gay nineties’ without resulting sniggers. Moreover, it is used as justifying, pleasant term for something that is not. I, personally, have taken to correcting people when they use the word ‘gay’ when they mean ‘homosexual’. Reactions are interesting. As often as not, people are a little embarrassed when they use the latter term simply because, at heart, they know that it implies ‘abnormal’.
barber2
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:14amOh get ready for the Lefty Blowback. They’ll probably declare an Occupying Your Churches event soon. These bullies do not like the word “no.“ They will say that they are being ”discriminated” against. ( gosh, wonder what these guys think of the 10 Commandments ? let me guess ! ) Probably Call the Obama DOJ.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:07amA “predominantly gay and lesbian congregation”. Unbelievable.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:14amYeah, you can’t pick and choose which part of the bible you want to follow and go on as if everything is fine. But who would believe there are homos in San Francisco? Nancy, did you know this?
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:01pmJust like Fornicators and Adulterers the Homosexuals need to keep this to themselves, but they think by making it public and getting others to accept it, that this will somehow justify it. Sad and sick
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:06amAt last… someone to draw a Line and say: you shall not Pass!
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