The Geriatric Gang of the Ir-Religious and the Disobedient of “Dignity USA” to Meet in Minneapolis, Masquerading as the “New Ways Ministry Symposium”

.

Hoping to Turn Back Clock To 1970

.

Heresy, Homosexuality, and Hubris

.

To Be the Words of the Day

Only geezers are expected to be in attendance.

New Ways Ministry will sponsor a its Sixth National Symposium entitled "Outward Signs: Lesbian/Gay Catholics in a Sacramental Church," March 16-18, 2007, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The symposium will highlight the essential role the sacraments play in the lives of lesbian/gay Catholics and how we understand ourselves as an inclusive Church. The symposium is especially designed for Church personnel administrators, diocesan and parish leaders, counselors and spiritual directors, formation and vocation personnel, Church workers eager to understand lesbian/gay issues, lesbian/gay leaders and their families and friends.

[The event, which will take place over St Patrick's Day weekend, an excuse for much more than the normally expected frivolity, will be be headquartered at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel on Normandale Boulevard].

Presenters in five plenary sessions will examine major sacramental themes.

Brian McNaught, a prominent gay activist, will address Baptism and the Experience of Coming Out. Designated “The godfather of gay diversity training” by The New York Times, McNaught, author of the book "Gay Issues in the Workplace", is the leading consultant on gay issues for corporate America.

Sister Margaret Farley, RSM, will speak about Matrimony and Same-Sex Relationships. She through her scholarship, pastoral leadership, and other activities, has helped to build bridges of justice and reconciliation between the Catholic Church and its gay/lesbian members. Sr. Margaret holds the Gilbert L. Stark Chair in Christian Ethics at Yale University Divinity School. She is a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Detroit Regional Community and has served on the faculty of Yale University Divinity School since 1971.

Fr. Richard McBrien, an ecclesiologist and well-known columnist, will analyze Ordination to the Priesthood and Gay Men. For some reason, McBrien is still allowed to teach at Notre Dame. In assessing McBrien's "understanding of contemporary theological insights," the Committee noted that many such are "admittedly of a hypothetical nature and some of which it seems difficult to reconcile with authoritative Catholic doctrine." [I think that an "ecclesiologist" is someone who takes responsibility for the vandalization of most of our churches these past 40 years].

Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ, will address Reconciliation, Liberation, and Lesbian/Gay People. She has become a leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. [She must have "minored" in other subjects].

There will also be a panel of retired bishops to speak about Healing our Wounds and Building a Eucharistic Community, including:

Archbishop Francis Hurley, Archbishop of Anchorage, AK, from 1976 to 2001, when he resigned at age 74;
Bishop Leroy Matthiesen, Bishop of Amarillo, TX, from 1980 to 1997, when he resigned at age 75;
Bishop Joseph Sullivan, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn, NY, from 1980 to 2005 when he retired at age 75.

A variety of individual focus sessions will occur twice during the weekend. Among the focus session speakers are:

Michael Bayly, Executive Director of Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities and organizer of blasphemous Rainbow events in the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis, on gay/lesbian parish ministry; He is currently believed to be in Australia, awaiting his green card approval.
Julie Madden, Member of St Joan of Arc Catholic Church, Minneapolis
on gay/lesbian parish ministry;
Sharon Casey, OP, on lesbian nuns: steps, stumble and strides;
Fran Ferder, FSPA, on sacraments, psychology and lesbian/gay people
Christine Gudorf on intersex and transgendered persons and the sacraments;
Diana Hayes on the sacrament of reconciliation and homophobia;
Luke Timothy Johnson on Scripture and homosexuality;
Anthony Kall, OFM Conv, on gay men in the priesthood and religious life;
Brenda Kirby on US Catholic attitudes toward homosexuality;
Daniel Maguire on conscience and same sex marriage
Gregory Maguire on gay parenting in a sacramental church.

Preceding the opening of the symposium, a special conference day will be held March 16, 9 am - 4 pm, for campus personnel, GLBT young adults, and parents of lesbian daughters or gay sons.
James Alison, a theologian from Great Britain, will address the theme "Faith and Coming Out" at the Friday conference day.

In addition to the host of speakers, the weekend will include table conversations, socials, open space, prayer services, and Eucharist.

[It is hoped and expected that local Catholics will be logging many hours of adoration time, saying plenty of Rosaries and offering up many of their Lentan penances to counteract this travesty to our Faith].