ARTICLES
November 2003 ARTICLES
Contents © 2003
by Jim Holman.
All rights reserved.
No Dignity to be Seen
A Chastened "Gay" Ministry Conference Meets in Palm Springs
By Iwana Wu
Glaring differences separated the 1997 National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries conference, held in Long Beach, and the 2003 conference, dubbed "Out in the Desert: A Wellspring of Hope," which was held in Palm Springs the weekend of September 25-28.
The 1997 conference, sponsored by the Los Angeles archdiocese's ministry to gays and lesbians, was loud and proud. It had scores of archdiocesan personnel taking part. During the Saturday evening Mass, celebrated by Cardinal Roger Mahony, a long procession of priests accompanied the cardinal to the altar. The Mass itself was peppered with members of Dignity, a homosexual rights group which has been condemned by the Vatican. They were readily recognized, since all of them sported tee shirts with Dignity logos. Cardinal Mahony freely handed out communion to all to came up to the altar that had been set up in the ballroom. After the Mass, while Bob Hurd and his orchestra played, a large group of conference attendees began line dancing throughout the hotel ballroom. With Carmelite father Peter Liuzzi dressed in a full length cassock with a monsignor's sash and hat (reminiscent of Saturday Night Live's Father Guido Sarducci) leading the festivities, the band then started playing Gypsy Rose Lee's famous strip-tease tune. According to one Los Angeles priest, Liuzzi is no longer a Carmelite. The Los Angeles archdiocese's ministry to gays and lesbians was shut down last year.
The air was electric at the Long Beach conference. There was a feeling that the Church would soon embrace the homosexual lifestyle. One priest, Father Kenneth Waibel of Richmond, Kentucky, told his audience that homosexuals were on the brink of outright acceptance by the Church. In his talk, "Gay and Lesbian Spirituality," Waibel said that the "only authentic spirituality is gay spirituality." Waibel then praised the tactics of the feminist nuns who "went out and got Ph.Ds and challenged the bishops and changed things." In 2000, Waibel was arrested for exposing himself in a park and masturbating. In an interview with the Kentucky Herald-Leader, Waibel questioned the Church's teaching on priestly celibacy. This past September, the diocese of Lexington, Kentucky excommunicated Waibel. After this announcement, Waibel said that he would be joining the Orthodox Catholic Church of America. At the 1997 Los Angeles conference, Waibel had told participants that the church was on "a collision course with itself because," in dealing with homosexuality, "it made a big boo boo" in the Catechism.
By contrast to 1997, this year's Palm Springs conference was a mild affair. There were no visible signs of Dignity; although one fellow did say he was from the San Diego chapter, he was not, however, wearing a Dignity tee shirt. Though the prayers that were composed especially for the conference were telling of the mindset of the group, the former flamboyance was starkly absent. In the "Litany of Hope, Pride and Gratitude," prayers were offered for "A Welcoming Church; an Inclusive Society; Accepting Families; for all lesbians and gay men who have made a difference in our world; for loving partners and visionary Bishops."
At the Long Beach Mass, leavened bread was used instead of hosts, with Cardinal Mahony denying one young woman communion on the tongue. "No, this isn't done here," he told her. The Mass in Palm Springs, over which Bishop Gerald Barnes presided, was not on the liturgical cutting edge; for instance, Barnes consecrated unleavened hosts. In his homily, Bishop Barnes told the participants that he was sorry for the "strife they had endured," according to the inland Southern California Press-Enterprise. "I know your particular ministry is not easy. Some would say you don't belong. But we know that's not true because the Lord Himself says that."
The strife Bishop Barnes may have been referring to was the fallout after the 1997 conference in Long Beach. The protests then held outside of the Long Beach Sheraton and the press accounts of the wildness that marked that conference gave rise to protests at numerous conferences that the National Conference of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries held in subsequent years. For example, last year, members of Catholics for Traditional Values protested the conference in Cincinnati.
The diocese of San Bernardino provided numerous resources for this year's conference. Father Eliseo Lucas, a member of the diocese's ministry to gays and lesbians, gave a presentation, "Is It Possible to be Gay or Lesbian and Catholic?" Fathers Paul Granillo, Howard Lincoln, and Martin Diaz of the diocese of San Bernardino were all present. In addition, Bishop Jaime Soto, auxiliary of the diocese of Orange, gave a talk. Most of the participants were older to elderly.
The first featured speaker at the conference was Father Jake Empereur who is author of the book, Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person. At the beginning of his book, Empereur writes, "Homosexuality is one of God's most significant gifts to humanity. To be Gay or Lesbian is to have received a special blessing from God." Empereur belongs to the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus but is currently a liturgist with the cathedral in San Antonio, Texas. The California Province of the Society of Jesus was a sponsor of the conference, according to literature distributed at the conference.
In spite of the tame nature of the conference, the conference's web site cautioned that all members of the press had to represent themselves as such. "Persons attending this conference as reporter (either staff or freelance) are required to identify themselves and the media outlet(s) they are representing at the time of registration," said the website. "NACDLGM reserves the right to control access to the conference or portions of the proceedings to media representatives. Failure to disclose media affiliation may result in violation of libel laws." The sole person manning the registration table did not ask if conference goers, as they picked up their name tags, were members of the media. The conference, which was held at the Palm Springs Hilton, was easily accessible to the public.
Perhaps the most telling session was the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries membership meeting, held on Friday afternoon. The various committee reports that were distributed showed that membership has been declining. Overall the group is losing membership and is struggling to get more members. By its own figures, "membership has decreased since September 2002." According to the strategic plan, the National Association is in a "period where there exists formal and organized opposition to raise the gay and lesbian banner in some Church groups and parishes." At one session, which was led by Terrie Iacino of the diocese of San Jose, the issue of child sexual abuse was addressed. The participants admitted that the high profile molestation cases made their mission more difficult.
The most telling document passed out at the membership meeting was a "Report on Bishop Advisors," prepared by National Association founder, Father Jim Schexnayder. The background notes discuss the need for "diocesan bishops, auxiliary bishops and retired bishops who would be recommended to serve as unofficial advisors" to the group. According to the notes, Monsignor John Strynkowski, executive director of the United States bishops' Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices, reviewed the list and made comments. The National Association made contacts with bishops across that country with the hope of finding support. The results were as follows: Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany declined because of other commitments. Bishop Dale Melczek of Gary, Indiana, did not respond to inquiries. Bishop Walter Sullivan of Richmond will soon retire, and Bishop Joseph Imesch of Joliet had not been contacted when the report was written. Auxiliary Bishop Carl Moeddel of Cincinnati, as well as Auxiliary Bishop Peter Rosazza of Hartford, both declined. Bishop Thomas Costello of Syracuse did agree to act as a consultant, although it was noted that he is about to retire. Retired bishops who were contacted included Bishop John Snyder of St. Augustine, who said he declined because the new bishop of St. Augustine decided to disband the ministry. Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco also declined. Strynkowski indicated that Bishop Leroy Matthiesen of Lubbock and Bishop Charles Buswell were "problematic."
One conference participant said bishops were hesitant to have their names linked with the national diocesan gay and lesbian group, especially in the conservative Catholic press. "It's not a career builder," was the conclusion she offered.