At least three gay and lesbian clergy members were disinvited from participating in Advent services at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Castro, the Bay Area Reporter has learned.
The call for the gay clergy not to attend came from the Archdiocese of San Francisco, sources said.
George Wesolek, spokesman for the archdiocese, confirmed that Archbishop George Niederauer made the decision.
“The basic reason is that Archbishop Niederauer felt the themes for vespers should better reflect the themes of Advent,” Wesolek told the B.A.R.
Wesolek said the decision came shortly before November 27, the first Sunday of Advent. [Source]
Well that is good news, though I certainly wish the statement would have been less politically correct and more specific. Though of course the real problem is not with the speakers themselves, but the fact that the parish would invite them in the first place. Dis-inviting them does nothing to solve the real problem of this infamous parish.
9 comments
When they refer to “gay clergy,” I presume they are referring to clergy who are in violation of their celibacy oaths? Otherwise, I’m not sure what it would mean, since “gay” is ultimately defined by behavior and not by hypothetical proclivities.
Archbishop Niederauer. Isn’t he the bishop self-described, “ardent, practising Catholic” Nancy Pelosi? Looks like His Grace could use Dr. Lee’s Press-On Spine!
‘Nuff said, me thinks.
Saint Thomas Beckett, pray for our bishops!
How do you get “lesbian clergy”? Isn’t that an oxymoron?
It’s an ecumenical service, which they probably shouldnt’ have anyway. “The Reverends Jane Spahr and Roland Stringfellow were among those asked not to participate, as was retired Episcopal Bishop Otis Charles. All three were scheduled to take part in Most Holy Redeemer’s Advent vesper services.
Spahr, a retired Presbyterian minister, is well-known for her advocacy of marriage equality. She has repeatedly been brought up on church charges related to her marrying same-sex couples. A church court in August 2010 found her guilty of officiating the weddings of 16 same-sex couples. But at the same time the tribunal praised Spahr’s ministry over the years and her compassion. She founded a church group in the 1990s for gay Presbyterians.” check the source
Why doesnt Abp Niederauer tackle this scandal head on? We need to take back our Catholic city!
“disinvite” is not a word.
I know the “disinvite” isn’t a perfect solution, but it is certainly a beginning. Perhaps the “measuring of the sanctuary” mentioned in revelations is starting now. The Church has gone through the spanking and now those who dissent will have the choice of converting to the faith or leaving. The “room for dissent” is shrinking.
disinvite (third-person singular simple present disinvites, present participle disinviting, simple past and past participle disinvited)
1. (transitive) To cancel an invitation to.
(Source: Wiktionary.)
No need to put it in scare quotes; disinvite is a legitimate word.
Well, that’s a start. However, I still wouldn’t want to be at Holy Redeemer parish, or anywhere near San Francisco for that matter, when the Lord returns.