A popular priest who published a book earlier this year encouraging a bridge between the LGBT community and the Catholic Church, has been disinvited from giving an address at Catholic University’s seminary.
The Washington Post reports that The Rev. James Martin has become the target of attacks from right-wing sites since his book “Building a Bridge” was published in June. Martin was not planning on speaking about LGBT issues.
“My provincial asked me not to talk about my sexuality, and I’m okay with that,” said Martin, referring to his religious superiors.
Martin wrote his book in response to the 2016 mass shooting at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub.
“The fact that only a few Catholic bishops acknowledged the LGBT community or even used the word gay at such a time showed that the LGBT community is still invisible in many quarters of the church,” Martin wrote in the book. “Even in tragedy its members are invisible.”
In a statement, the university’s seminary, Theological College, said that it had received negative feedback on social-media sites and that its rector, the Rev. Gerald McBrearity, made the decision to rescind Martin’s invitation to speak in October. “In no way does this decision signal approval or agreement with the comments or accusations that the various social media sites have made over the recent weeks,” the college’s statement said.
Read more here.
I can’t think of anything more confusing than the actions taken by Catholic University. As an institution of higher learning, it is difficult to justify their failure to recognize opportunity to expand discussion rather than shelve it. Regardless of what p.o.v.’s and topics are expressed in speech, the Catholic Church and its clergy have many ways to offer insight and guidance. “Sorry LGBT and catholic communities” is an understatement and, it sounds like the same old shameful rhetoric in disguise.