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Contents © 1997
by Jim Holman.
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The 'Outmoded' Cross of Christ

CATHOLIC PARENTS OF HOMOSEXUALS NETWORK IN ORANGE

By Alcibiades Sanchez

New Ways Ministry is currently under investigation by the Vatican for promoting views that are in conflict with official Church teaching regarding the practice of homosexuality and ministry to homosexuals. Founded in 1977 by Sister Jeannine Gramick and Father Robert Nugent, New Ways Ministry has paved the way for homosexuals to believe that one can practice a homosexual lifestyle while continuing a member in good standing with the Church.

After the Vatican forbade Gramick and Nugent from participating in New Ways Ministry, the pair began a new undertaking called Catholic Parents Network, a support group for the parents of gay and lesbian Catholics. Catholic Parents Network's membership, for the most part, comprises parents of adult homosexuals who are trying to grapple with their children's sexual orientation.

The Nugent/Gramick team held a seminar on September 10, 1997 in Orange, entitled "Voices of Hope." This Mission reporter attended the conference, which drew mostly older, white, middle class parents whose homosexual children decided to "come out of the closet." The term "unconditional love" was often used at this conference. It is a concept that lends support to Gramick and Nugent's view that one should overlook the official teachings of the Church regarding homosexual practice in favor of providing a welcoming atmosphere to practicing homosexuals. The official teachings of the Church with regard to homosexual practice were not treated at the conference. Nugent explained that when confronted with their child's homosexuality, many parents tend to become very protective of their children. The implication is that they are more than willing to become advocates of their children's lifestyle.

Father Nugent and Sister Gramick seem to sense this. The name "Catholic Parents Network" disarms one; what can be more innocent than a group of Catholic parents meeting over coffee to discuss their children's role in the Catholic Church? Even the terms used at the Voices of Hope conferences sound quite innocent; Father Nugent refers to the practicing homosexual as the "child," thereby disguising the fact that this "child" is actually a grown man or woman fully accountable to God for his or her actions. Conference speakers completely shunned the word "sin." Father Nugent marveled at fundamentalists who, he said, universally hold that homosexuality is sinful. Jeannine Gramick quoted ex-Catholic priest Matthew Fox who states that we ought not to talk about "Original Sin" but about "Original Blessings."

At the conference, Nugent and Gramick stressed that we derive meaning from social settings. They explained that if our environment leads us to believe that homosexual lifestyles are sinful we will be conditioned to espouse that view. Thus, if the way people view homosexuality is changed it will no longer be considered as sinful and the Church will accept practicing homosexuals.

Vatican-approved "Courage," a group which attempts to bring homosexuals into the Church while promoting chastity, was an important topic at the seminar. Over and over again the battle cry was heard against Courage and in particular its founder, Father John Harvey, because Courage promotes the idea that homosexual inclination is a cross and not to be acted upon. Nugent and Gramick stated that the theology of the Cross is an outdated concept. Instead, they advocated membership in Act-Up, the activist homosexual group with its "theology of social action."

Catholic Parents Network often utilizes the Los Angeles Archdiocese's video, "A Journey for Understanding" and presented it at the seminar. Made in response to Act-Up's highly publicized "Stop the Church" program where homosexuals invaded St. Patrick's Cathedral during Mass to protest Church teachings, "A Journey for Understanding" manifests the care the church in Los Angeles has for homosexuals. It showcases practicing homosexuals voicing their opposition to the Church's teachings that homosexuals should practice chastity. The video featured the former mayor of West Hollywood, a militant homosexual, as a voice of the homosexual community to whom the Church ministers.

Seminar participants discussed an upcoming American Bishop's pastoral letter to the Parents of Homosexuals. The drafting committee for this pastoral letter includes Father Nugent, Father Liuzzi, director of the Archdiocesan Ministry with Gays and Lesbian Catholics, and such other notables as the Rev. Jim Schexnayder, executive director of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. Father Nugent expressed concern that the bishops may get cold feet and decide not to release this letter if there is a groundswell of opposition prior to its release.

Father Nugent reviewed the contents of the draft pastoral letter at this seminar. The pastoral letter is an attempt to offer encouragement to the parents of homosexuals. He stated that there are several ways in which the letter can be issued. It can come directly from the committee or it can be sent to the floor at the upcoming U.S. bishops' meeting in November where the letter will be debated. Given the controversial nature of the letter, Father Nugent warned his audience that influential bishops can kill the letter if it goes too far. He urges that the best way to get the letter published is to take the middle road, conceding that people like Courage founder Father Harvey would criticize the letter if it is too radical.

According to Nugent, the draft of the letter addresses the concerns and feelings that a parent may have upon learning that his child is homosexual. The letter states that there may be feelings of anger towards the child, towards the other spouse or towards oneself. In the alternative, the letter states that the parent can become overly protective and overly accepting of the child's lifestyle. The letter states that fear is often a factor in the reaction a parent may have. This fear may include the fear of AIDS or of general welfare and safety for the child. Parents may be fearful that the child would attempt suicide due to guilt and loneliness. There is no emphasis on receiving professional help, especially the kind that would stress controlling one's actions or that would attempt to alter one's orientation.

The language of the first draft of the letter, according to Nugent, was more adamant than later versions as it stated that sexual orientation is unchangeable in a person. This statement has been modified in the current draft which states that there is no obligation to believe that an orientation will change. The letter is careful to stay in "the middle between Dignity and Father Harvey." The letter advises parents of homosexuals to reach out to other such parents and join support groups. Given the fact that the only parent support groups formed thus far espouse the view that homosexual practice should be seen as acceptable makes one wonder where one is to go if they wish to hold to Church teachings.

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