Archbishop bans Mass at pro-gay event; others undermine him

Archbishop bans Mass at pro-gay event; others undermine him

Some belated good news out of Minneapolis. This past weekend, the dissident Catholic group New Ways Ministries had planned a symposium on homosexuality and the Catholic Church in that city. New Ways openly promotes a belief on homosexuality contrary to the Church’s teachings, and its founders have received censures from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for their heterodox teaching. The theme for the event was “Outward Signs: Lesbian/Gay Catholics in a Sacramental Church”.

Many Twin Cities Catholics were concerned that the the mass media would portray this as a mainstream Catholic gathering, confusing other Catholics on what the Church actually teaches about homosexuality, so they petitioned Archbishop Harry Flynn to take action, which he did.

Flynn sent a letter to New Ways expressing his concern over heterodox speakers and celebration of the Mass at the event to prevent a scandal to the faithful.

Archdiocese spokesman Dennis McGrath said the reason for prohibiting the Eucharist at the symposium was simple: “There’s certain rules of the church that are inviolate. The Eucharist is the heart of our faith. There just isn’t much elbow room there.”

Meanwhile, you have to wonder about the three US bishops who had been planning to attend this event. Considering that New Ways promotes heterodoxy, that its founders had received Vatican censure, and that the archbishop of the place where the symposium was being held had expressed his concern at scandal, why were retired Archbishop Francis Hurley of Anchorage, Alaska, and retired auxiliary Bishop Joseph Sullivan of Brooklyn attending? (Retired Bishop Leroy Matthiesen, of Amarillo, Texas, bowed out of the conference at the last minute.)

Does he know what orthodox means?

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