“Drowning men, it is said, cling to wisps of straw.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky I don’t get it. Some people (especially abuse survivors) have been forced to leave the Catholic Church primarily due to the corruption
Above: "La Messa al Campo" By Emilio Rizzi (1938). “There is nothing so strong as gentleness and there is nothing so gentle as real strength.” – Saint Francis de Sales In 1999 I was alive;
Pictured above: In 1993, then Auxiliary Bishop George Pell accompanied predator priest Gerald Ridsdale to his court appearance – where Ridsdale was charged with 30 incidents of incident assault involving nine boys aged between 12
Above: "Study for a Head," by Francis Bacon, 1952. “When I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure; but then God himself led me into their company, and I had pity
Above: “The Icon Corner” by Vasily Maximov, 1869. “On our earth we can only love with suffering and through suffering. We cannot love otherwise, and we know of no other sort of love. I want
I have been interested in the life and career of actress Dolores Hart ever since I saw her in the 1961 film “Francis of Assisi.” I thought her performance as Saint Clare was exquisitely sensitive
The 1955 comedy film "The Private War of Major Benson" is often regarded by film critics and historians, if they mention it at all, as a forgettable little diversion that Charlton Heston shot while on
Above: "The Holy Family (detail)" by Rafael Flores, 1857. St. Junipero Serra was a Spanish Franciscan priest and Friar who founded a series of missions in what would later become the State of California. Throughout
I have no formal education in the fields of psychiatry or psychology – this essay is merely an exploration of my own experiences as a person with mental illness. A person who sprained their ankle
Above: From the St. Ignatius Parish published e-book, "Our Stories: Being LGBT and Catholic." On March 11, 2020, St. Ignatius Catholic Church in New York City will host a benefit concert for The Ali Forney
Above: From one of the many featured "Liturgies" offered at the 2020 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. On February 27, 2020, the Office of Worship in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the largest archdiocese in
Above: Dave Dwyer of the Paulist Fathers hosts Cardinal Timothy Dolan's radio show: "Conversation with Cardinal Dolan." On Ash Wednesday 2020, the LGBT ministry of Out at St. Paul announced that they will post a
In 2013, actor Mark Wahlberg was profiled in a lengthy article from "The Hollywood Reporter" in which he discussed his career and his religious beliefs; concerning Catholicism and same-sex marriage, Wahlberg came-out in support of
Above: "Un Patron," or "The Lesson of the Apprentice," (1888) by Jean-Eugène Buland. “Mastering a trade gives you a sense of competency, confidence, and completion. Something positive happens when you get good at doing work
On February 14, 2020, Gonzaga University opened its new Lincoln LGBTQ+ Rights Clinic on their Spokane, WA, campus. According Jacob Rooksby, dean at Gonzaga’s School of Law: “Gonzaga Law School is one of only a
At St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School in the Archdiocese of Liverpool, the school’s “inclusive curriculum” includes reading several pro-LGBT children’s literature books. Here are a few of the titles and a short description of each:
[Warning: Graphic links.] From February 21-23, 2020, during the annual Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (LA REC), the artwork of gay iconographer William Hart McNichols will be displayed in the “Arena Lobby” at the Anaheim
On March 1, 2020, a Catholic LGBT advocacy group in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Fortunate and Faithful Families, will offer a “retreat” entitled – "A New Heart." According to Fortunate and Faithful Families: Fortunate and
Pictured above: An "Episcopal Advisor" to Fortunate Families is Bishop Thomas Gumbleton. On April 25 – 26, 2020, the Catholic parishes of St. Thomas More and St. Francis of Assisi, both in the Diocese of
In 2012, when I was in the process of writing my first book, I stated that I had never been molested or sexually abused as a child. That wasn’t true, but it also wasn’t a
Above: Current Bishop (Since 2013) of the Diocese of Oakland - Michael C. Barber, SJ. In a “Letter” posted on the January 2, 2020 issue of the online edition of “The Catholic Voice,” the official
When I was a boy, I adored male television characters who were strong and assertive: James West in “The Wild, Wild West,” Steve Austin in “The Six Million Dollar Man,” and Lieutenant Starbuck in “Battlestar
(Pictured above: Which is more perverse? – I’d much rather hang out with two guys wearing black rubber body suits than step inside that church.) Over the past thirty-something years, I have attended the Gay
(Pictured above: Fr. Michael Holleran of the Archdiocese of New York) In his landmark 1987 book “The Homosexual Person,” Fr. John Harvey wrote: “I believe I have provided sufficient evidence…to state that Dignity has established
An often-repeated mischaracterization about St. Joseph, especially in films depicting the Holy Family, is that he initially thought that the Virgin Mary had committed adultery before their betrothal. According to St. Matthew: “When as his
[Warning: Some graphic descriptions and links.] Upon it’s release, the film “Call Me by Your Name” was almost instantaneously heralded by the majority of movie critics as “an erotic triumph,” and “a beguiling tale of
Recently, self-professed “gay” Catholic Eve Tushnet addressed the “Revoice” Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri. According to the event’s website, the Revoice Conference was an opportunity for “supporting, encouraging, and empowering gay, lesbian, same-sex-attracted, and other LGBT
If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. – St. Thomas Aquinas Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven. – St.
On March 30, 2019, Catholic priest James Martin will receive the Thomas A. Dooley Award from the Gay and Lesbian Alumni of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College (GALA-ND/SMC). The GALA-ND/SMC is
Of the roughly one dozen “Liturgies” that will be celebrated at the 2019 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (LA REC), the presiders at these themed masses include Archbishop Jose Gomez and Bishop Kevin Van. In
(Norman Rockwell, "Blacksmith's Boy." 1940) In her examination of feminist theory concerning the upbringing and education of young men, especially those espoused by Carol Gilligan, Christina Hoff Summers challenged their assertion that men are civilized
According to Seattle University’s “Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming and Non Binary Inclusive Housing Policy,” eligibility for student housing is determined not by biological sex but gender identity. In addition, students have the opportunity to: “Correct their
(Above: Bishop John Stowe of Lexington speaking before the annual New Ways Ministry National Symposium in 2017; Sister Jeannine Gramick is also pictured.) In a December 21, 2018 post to their official Facebook page, the
(Above: G.P. Paltz, "The Prodigal Son," early 20th century.) For this child did I pray, and the Lord hath granted me my petition, which I asked of him. (1 Samuel 1:27) When I was a
(Above: Roger Mahony addressing the USCCB on November 13, 2018.) Despite a 2013 statement from Archbishop Jose Gomez, the current head of the largest archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, Cardinal
(Above: Thomas Reese and Thomas Rosica, the English language media attaché of the Holy See Press Office.) On March 22, 2019, Jesuit priest Thomas Reese will speak at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (LA
(Above: Picture posted, June 23, 2018, to the official Facebook page of Fortunate Families.) On November 3, 2018, the Catholic pro-gay marriage advocacy group Fortunate Families posted a link on their official Facebook page to
At the Out at St. Paul Book Club, the topic of discussion will be Jamie O'Neill's novel "At Swim, Two Boys." O’Neill is a gay Irish author who was raised a Roman Catholic. Leaving home
On October 20, 2018, Jesuit priest James Martin spoke about “showing respect and welcome to LGBT people and their families” at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur, Georgia. Almost from the very beginning Martin
