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Chronology
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January 1,
2002
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The homosexual activist
organization the "Horizons Foundation" funds
"Queer
Women of Color Media Arts
Project"
for the years, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, & 2007.
Executive Director of "Queer Women of Color Media Arts
Project." is
Madeliene
Lim.
Lim is also adjunct Professor of Advanced Media Studies at
the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco.
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April 21,
2002
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The (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco hosts seminar "New Jewish & Christian
Approaches to Homosexuality" Speakers include Fr. Donal
Godfrey, SJ, & Patricia Beattie Jung. Jung
is a speaker at the "Call to Action" 2004 National
Conference.
Co-sponsors include "Dignity/San Francisco" and Most Holy
Redeemer Parish.
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May 22,
2003
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Fr. Stephen A. Privett,
SJ, President of the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco
gives the 2003
Baccalaureate Homily.
Quote: "A student talked about the difficulties he faced
in coming to grips with his own homosexual orientation. He
feared the rejection of family members and the ridicule of
friends. He had to be as he was created to be by a loving
God. He came out. It is not easy for him. Blessed are they
who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness."
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January 8,
2004
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Fr. Stephen A. Privett,
SJ, President of the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco
gives
the invocation at
the inauguration of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. One
month later, Newsom directs County Clerk of San Francisco to
issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Article sub headline:
"Fr.
Privett bless Newsom Administration. USF President
forges close ties with new San Francisco Mayor."
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May 2004
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The
(Jesuit) University of San Francisco honors
Leo T. McCarthy at it's May, 2004 commencement. In his long
political career, McCarthy was an unwavering advocate for
the culture of Death. From "LifeSiteNews":
"During Senate candidacy campaigns in 1988 and 1992,
McCarthy pledged to write the Roe v. Wade ruling into
federal law, supported federal funding for abortions and
contraceptives and advocated for the distribution of the
abortion pill RU-486."
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December 12,
2005
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The
(Jesuit) University of San Francisco honors
Episcoplian Bishop William Swing at it's December, 2005
commencement. According
to one of his
priests, the openly gay Reverend John Kirkely: "Bishop
Swing has ordained more gay and lesbian clergy than probably
any bishop in the history of Christendom..."
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January 30,
2006
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Aware of upcoming "Is it
Ethical to be Catholic: Queer Perspectives" seminar (see
next entry) , dismayed San Francisco Catholic
sends
letter to
USF President Fr. Stephen A. Privett expressing
concern. Receives letter from subordinate with invitation to
attend seminar.
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February 12,
2006
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The (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco's "LBGTQ Caucus" and Lane Center for Social
Thought sponsor anti-Catholic seminar "Is
it Ethical to be Catholic: Queer Perspectives"
at Most Holy
Redeemer. Speakers include Theology Professors/Priests. For
Audio & video files of the event, go
here.
For an overview, go here.
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March 26,
2006
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The (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco's "LBGTQ Caucus" and Lane Center for Social
Thought sponsor anti-Catholic seminar: "Alienated
Catholics: establishing the Groundwork for Dialog" at
St. Agnes Church. Speakers include Theology Professors,
Priests, to be moderated by President of USF. For audio
& video of the event, go here.
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September 5,
2006
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Mayor
Gavin Newsom (of
same-sex "marriage" fame) speaks at The (Jesuit) University
of San Francisco on "Ethics in Local Politics" at the
University's "McLaren Complex."
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October 8,
2006
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
Executive Director of University Ministry at USF, gives the
homily at Most Holy Redeemer Church. The title is "Finding
God in the Erotic." The homily may be found online on the
"Gay
Catholic Forum."
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March 15,
2007
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The (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco online "USF News" reports
that a study by
student promoting "birth spacing" (contraception) has been
presented to, and adopted by, the Contra Costa County
department of public health.
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March 19,
2007
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From March 19-21, 2007,
the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco sponsors
"Human
Rights Film Festival."
Films support
abortion, contraceptive use, and same sex "marriage"
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April 29,
2007
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Most Holy Redeemer
celebrates Gay Service broadcast worldwide on
"BBC
Radio4."
The celebrant is
Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, now Executive Director of Campus
Ministry at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco.
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May 19,
2007
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Pro-abortion Speaker of
the House Nancy Pelosi gives
commencement address
at The (Jesuit) University of San Francisco. Archbishop
Niederauer also accepts award at the commencement.
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May 23,
2007
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The (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco hosts "Religion
and Sexuality: What's the
Connection"
(PDF 1.8MB)
seminar. This invitation-only event is sponsored by the
"Religious
Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and
Healing" and
includes as speakers the Chaplain of Planned Parenthood
Golden Gate and the President of the Clergy Network of
Planned Parenthood. Examine the agenda: this is an
activist's planning session masquerading as a seminar.
For the "Religious
Institute's "Open Letter to Religious Leaders on Abortion as
a Moral Decision" go here.
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July 22,
2007
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Most Holy Redeemer and The
(Jesuit) University of San Francisco's "LBGTQ Caucus" and
Lane Center for Social Thought continue their association,
sponsoring a seminar at MHR "How to Survive as a Thinking
Catholic."
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August 1,
2007
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
celebrant of "Gay Service" at Most Holy Redeemer on April
29, 2007, and author of "Gays and Grays: The Story of the
Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish"
is
appointed Executive Director of University
Ministry
at The (Jesuit)
University of San Francisco. Representative quotations:
"I firmly believe in a
new approach and a new vision in this area of ministry. In
this I do have an 'agenda.'" -"Gays and Grays "p132.
"The Catholic Church is
not a credible moral voice within the gay community."-"Gays
and Grays" p153
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August 21,
2007
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The website of the
"Celtic
Christian Church"
posts pictures of the ordination
of Vincent Pizzuto as
a Priest in that Church. Pizzuto is Assistant Professor of
Theology and Religious Studies at the (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco. The Celtic Christian Church is not in
Communion with Rome, and accepts the ordination of married
men as well as women. Their "Church
Statements" page
consist of two documents: "Homosexuality and Same-Sex
Relationships" and "Supporting Document on the
Question of Homosexuality and Same-Sex
Relationships."
It will be remembered that
Reverend Pizzuto, who is also a Member of USF"s
"LGBTQ Caucus" was a particpant in USF's
"Alienated
Catholics"
seminar. From his statement at that time:
"Thus, despite
coming up against Magisterial teachings to the contrary,
the alienation which homosexual catholics experience is
not rooted in that which they believe to be intrinsic to
Christian tradition itself, but rather, is associated
with an erroneous interpretation of tradition imposed by
the teaching authorities of the church. To put it
plainly, we simply disagree with the church's
interpretation of Scripture and Tradition which we
otherwise experience as affirming."
Update: Reverend
Pizzuto's continued teaching of Theology and Religious
Studies at USF may be in violation of Canon 833, no. 7.
Please
go here.
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August 28,
2007
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Lexington Books publishes
"Gays
and Grays: The Story of the Gay Community at Most Holy
Redeemer Catholic Parish"
by Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, Executive Director of Campus
Ministry at USF. For excerpts, go here.
For a review, go here.
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September 30,
2007
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The "24th Annual Folsom
Street Fair" takes place. S/M Street Fair, notorious even by
San Francisco standards. The cover of the 2007 catalog is a
blasphemous rendition of Da Vinci's "Last Supper." "Jesus"
and "Mary" dildos are sold at fair. Beverage partner for
fair is "Golden Gate Guards" who hold their annual
anniversary party at MHR. The fair is officially welcomed in
a proclamation by (Catholic) Mayor Gavin Newsom. Reminder:
as detailed above: Invocation at Mayor Newsom's inaugural
was given by President of USF; Mayor has spoken at Sacred
Heart Cathedral Prep; Mayor has spoken at St. Philip's
Church; Mayor has lectured on "Ethics in Local Politics" at
USF. "Fr.
Privett Blesses Newsom Administration. USF President
forges close ties with new San Francisco Mayor."
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October 17,
2007
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San Francisco Chronicle
runs story on Archbishop Niederauer's regrettable October 7
visit to MHR. His Excellency apologizes for giving communion
to the two Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at the Mass.
Story quotes
Fr.
Jim Bretzke, SJ,
Professor of Moral Theology at the (Jesuit) University of
San Francisco, who disagrees with the Archbishop: "While
I can see Bill O'Reilly and others might be offended, the
sisters do not meet the criteria the church has for denying
Communion. Over-accessorizing and poor taste in makeup is
not an excommunicable offense."
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October 20,
2007
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USF Faculty Julia
Dowd, Associate Director of the Lane Center; Lorrie Ranck,
Board Member of the USF
GLBTQ Caucus;
Vincent Pizzuto, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
& Board Member of the LGBTQ Caucus; & Shirley
McGuire, Member of the USF Department of Psychology and
President of the LGBTQ Caucus all attend the 2007
"Out
There Conference"
at dePaul University. They speak about the "Queer
Perspectives" and "Alienated Catholics" seminars. This is
another example of an activists' planning session,
masquerading as an academic meeting. Go
here
(PDF 1.75MB)
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November 15,
2007
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
Executive Director of Campus Ministry at the (Jesuit)
University of San Francisco, speaks
at Boston
College.
His topic is his book "Gays and Grays." The address
is sponsored by the Theology Department, The Jesuit
Institute, St. Ignatius Parish, and the "Lesbian Gay
Faculty Staff Administrators Association at Boston
College."
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November 29,
2007
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
Executive Director of Campus Ministry at the (Jesuit)
University of San Francisco, addresses the weekly
"Lavender
Lunch" at the
Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. The
event is sponsored by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies
in Religion and Ministry. From the event listing "Fr.
Donal will present case studies of Most Holy Redeemer parish
in The Castro and the University of San Francisco. These two
very differing institutions are Catholic examples of best
practice with regard to the LGBTQ community." Another
example of the integrated
nature of the homosexual activist
network--the
Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry
receives funding from the "Horizons
Foundation."
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November 30,
2007
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
Executive Director of Campus Ministry at the (Jesuit)
University of San Francisco, speaks
at the University on his
book
"Gays and Grays: The Story of the Gay Community at Most
Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish" The talk is sponsored by
the Lane center for catholic Studies and Social Thought.
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December 6,
2007
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The Lane Center of the
(Jesuit) University of San Francisco is "delighted
to announce that
Fr. James Keenan, SJ, moral theologian at Boston College,
will be the Lane Center Scholar-in-Residence during the
summer of 2008 and deliver a series of public lectures on
his current research in the area of HIV/AIDS." On April 28,
2003 Keenan, speaking before the Massachusetts legislature
"as a Catholic moral theologian," opposed
Massachusetts Bill H. 3190, which would define marriage as
between one man and one woman.
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February 7,
2008
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The Presentation Players
of the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco present
"The
Vagina Monologues"
on February 7, 8,
9. According to Catholic World News "The V-Monologues is
a sexually explicit show that includes favorable treatment
of lesbian relations and the seduction of a young
girl."
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March 3,
2008
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Fr. Donal Godfrey,
Executive Director of University Ministry at USF, plugs his
book "Gays and Grays" in a publication called
Eurekastreet.com/au. The article is titled "Towards
a church apology for gay
prejudice."
Godfrey quotes Patrick Mulcahey, past Vice-President of the
Most Holy Redeemer Pastoral Council: "For us, Most Holy
Redeemer is the Church we can go and just be Catholic."
To see what that means at MHR, go
here.
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March 5,
2008
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Homosexual activist priest
Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, Executive Director of Campus Ministry
at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco to speak and
preside at Lenten
Vespers Service at
Most Holy Redeemer. Godfrey is author of "Gays and Grays:
the story of the Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer
Catholic Parish." Quote: "The Catholic Church is not a
credible moral voice in the gay community."
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March 9,
2008
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Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ,
Executive Director of University Ministry at USF, gives the
homily at Most Holy Redeemer Church. The title is "The Call
to Come Out." The homily begins:
"Joshua
Gamson, Professor of Sociology at the University of San
Francisco, writes in his book, The Fabulous Sylvester,
that by 1975 San Francisco was to gay men and lesbians
what Israel was to Jews, only with fewer wars and more
parties. San Francisco was where you went to come out and
be gay...
Bill Huebsch sees
the process by which LGBTQ Christians journey to greater
and deeper union with God as similar to Jesus raising
Lazarus from the dead:
'Lesbians and gay
men will tell you that the truth is this: sexuality is a
gift from God and homosexuality is one expression of that
gift. That’s the truth that has set so many lesbians
and gay men free at last. And in this coming out gay men
and lesbians often say that, for the first time, it is
now clear how God touches us with eternal truth.'"
The entire homily may be
read
here at "Gay
Catholic Forum."
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March 10,
2008
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The "Presentation Theater"
at USF Hosts "Human Rights Film Night Co-sponsored by
the USF Lane Center, Media Studies Department, the LGBTQ
Caucus, and University Ministry (Executive Director: Fr.
Godfrey).
Featured film is "For
the Bible Tells me so." From the announcement:
"Can the love between
two people ever be an abomination? Is the chasm separating
gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the
Bible an excuse to hate? Winner of the Audience Award for
Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival,
Dan Karslake's provocative, entertaining documentary
brilliantly reconciles homosexuality and Biblical scripture,
and in the process reveals that Church-sanctioned anti-gay
bias is based almost solely upon a significant (and often
malicious) misinterpretation of the Bible."
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March 14,
2008
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"Catholic San Francisco"
newspaper publishes column
by USF President Fr. Sephen Privett, SJ, attempting to
defend Fr. James Keenan, USF 2008 Summer Scholar-in
Residence from charge he "testified in support of gay
mariage." Facts easily found, documented
here
and here.
Fr. Privett also chooses
to cite, as evidence of USF's commitment to Catholic
Education, the "Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social
Thought." The Lane Center has:
Sponsored "Queer
Perspectives"
seminars in 2006;
Sponsored "Alienated
Catholics" seminar
in 2006;
Hosted the
"Religion
and Sexuality" seminar,
(PDF 1.8MB) featuring guest speakers from Planned
Parenthood in 2007;
Co-sposored the screening
of
"For the Bible Tells Me So"
in 2008.
Welcomed Fr.
James Keenan (PDF)
as "Scholar-in-Residence" in 2008.
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April
22, 2008
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Sometime not long before
this date, a
new
entry appears on
USF's "Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought"
events calendar: "Northern California Call to Action
Conference April 25-27, 2008, San Jose" with a link to the
"Call
to Action"
website.
Giovanni Battista Cardinal
Re, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, on "Call to
Action": "The Vatican has determined that “the
activities of ‘Call to Action’ in the course of
these years are in contrast with the Catholic Faith due to
views and positions held which are unacceptable from a
doctrinal and disciplinary standpoint,” Cardinal Re
writes. He concludes: “Thus to be a member of this
Association or to support it, is irreconcilable with a
coherent living of the Catholic Faith.”
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May 12,
2008
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Fr.
Vincent Pizzuto, a
priest of the Celtic Christian
Church
and Professor
of Theology at USF,
is a guest speaker on "The Independent Catholic" show on
BlogTalkRadio. Father Pizzuto speaks on "Homosexuality and
Biblical Interpretation." The full discussion can be heard
by going here.
Especially
interesting is the segment from 9 minutes in to about 11
minutes, where Fr. Pizzuto states that he was specifically
asked by USF to engage in outreach to the
"LGBT Community" both in the Church and in the
surrounding community. The issues USF wanted addressed
included adoption and unspecified "gay rights."
For more
on Fr. Pizzuto's ordination, and his questionable teaching
role at USF, visit our entry for August 21, 2007,
above.
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May 16-17,
2008
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USF honors openly
homosexual Ambassador Mark Dybul with an honorary degree at
their 2008
May Commencement ceremonies.
From LifeSite
News:
"Dybul
is the United States’ Global AIDS Coordinator, a
position that carries the rank of ambassador. He has the
role of leading the implementation of President
Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Dybul was
sworn in by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice October
10, while his homosexual “partner”, Jason
Claire, held the Bible."
-Lifesite
News.com
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June 13,
2008
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USF's Lane Center for
Catholic Studies and Social Thought and "Voice of the
Faithful" hosts
Bishop Geoffrey Robinson,
Retired Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Australia as he speaks
on "Confronting Power and Sex in the Catholic Church:
Reclaiming the Spirit of Jesus."
Because of what the
Bishops of Australia referred to as "doctrinal difficulties"
in his Bishop Robinson's writings, Cardinal Roger Mahoney
denied
him permisssion to speak
in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
In his letter,
Cardinal Mahony said he had recently learned of the
Australian bishops’ statement about the
bishop’s book. He also said he had learned that
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Prefect for the
Congregation of Bishops, has urged Bishop Robinson to
cancel his U.S. visit.
Cardinal Mahony
requested Bishop Robinson to cancel his visit, citing
Canon 763 of Canon Law. The canon pertains to a
bishop’s duty to safeguard the teachings of the
Church in his diocese.
“Under the
provisions of Canon 763, I hereby deny you permission to
speak in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles,” the
cardinal wrote. He also urged Bishop Robinson to cancel
his entire speaking tour and to work with the Australian
bishops’ conference, saying he would expect him to
“follow exactly” their recommendations.
Archbishop George
Niederauer of San Francisco asked Bishop Robinson not to
speak in the Archdiocese as well. From the Los
Angeles Times:
"I hereby deny
you permission to speak in the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles," Mahony wrote to Robinson last month, citing a
bishop's authority under canon law that was repeated in
separate letters from Bishop Tod Brown in Orange County
and Archbishop George H. Niederauer in San
Francisco."
Bishop Robinson ignored
this, and USF, in defiance of Archbishop Niederauer, allowed
the on-campus event.
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July 18,
2008
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Father
Donal
Godfrey,
Excutive Director of University Ministry at the (Jesuit)
University of San Francisco visits World Youth Day in
Australia.
He is
attending an "Acceptance" forum. "Acceptance"
--"gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgender
Catholics"--is a sort of Australian version of
"DignityUSA." The Acceptance folks were not allowed to
attend the official World Youth Day events. ABCNews.au
reported:
"The
organisers of the forum had tried to have the event included
in the event's Youth Festival but were told it did not fit
within church policies."
Fr.
Godfrey was also interviewed
on the air.
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July 24-28,
2008
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California
Catholic Daily
reports that the (Jesuit) University of San
Francisco
will
host the North American Interfaith Network's
"NAINConnect
2008 Conference."
Conference attendees include witches (Wiccans) and people
from something called the Urantia Fellowship, which teaches
that Jesus Christ is one aspect of a being called "Michael
of Salvington."
Another
workshop presenter is Episcopalian Bishop William Swing.
It's not the first time USF has hosted Bishop Swing. They
honored
him at their
December, 2005 commencement.
According
to one of his
priests, the openly gay Reverend John Kirkely: "Bishop
Swing has ordained more gay and lesbian clergy than probably
any bishop in the history of Christendom..."
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September 6,
2008
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(The
Jesuit) University of San Francisco: USF hosts "Call to
Action" front conference? They call it the "Northern
California Lay Convocation" but it sounds like a "Call to
Action" front.
•
The
organzing person is Lisa
Striebing.
She's who you register with and pay.
•
Lisa
Striebing is a Call to Action Regional Contact. It's right
there on CTA's Chapters
& Regional Contacts"
webpage:
Northern
California Lay Convocation
Lisa Striebing (650) 697 6156
llstax@ix.netcom.com"
•
Ms.
Striebing also gave
the opening prayer
at Call to Action of Northern California 2008
Conference.
•
One
of the two "Expert
Speakers"
is Sr. Eloise Rosenblatt. Sister Rosenblatt was also a
presenter at the 2005
West Coast Regional Call to Action
Conference.
And who's
the requesting "client" for the usage of USF space for the
conference? None other than the office
of the President of the
University.
PDF's documenting the
above can be found
here. (1.6MB)
Back in
April 2007, St. Mary's Cathedral hosted the first "Northern
California Lay Convocation." It was a Call to Action
conference in all but name (a minimum of three members of
the steering committee were CTA regional contacts;
another member of the steering committee was a presenter at
CTA's 2008 West Coast Conference; Sr. Rosenblatt was a
featured speaker). The event went on, but maybe they learned
a lesson and that's why this year's event is being held at
USF.
On
November 4, 2006, Cardinal Re had this to say about "Call to
Action":
The Vatican
has determined that “the activities of ‘Call to
Action’ in the course of these years are in contrast
with the Catholic Faith due to views and positions held
which are unacceptable from a doctrinal and disciplinary
standpoint,” Cardinal Re writes. He concludes:
“Thus to be a member of this Association
or to support it, is irreconcilable with a coherent
living of the Catholic Faith.”
"...to be a member of
this Association or to support it, is irreconcilable with a
coherent living of the Catholic Faith.”
"Irreconcilabilty with a
coherent living of the Catholic faith" is not a problem for
USF.
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October 18,
2008
|
|
On November 4, 2008,
Californians were to vote on Proposition 8: "Only
marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in
California." The Catholic Bishops went all out in
support of this. The actvists opposed it. On October 18, the
San Francisco Chronicle published an article
"S.
F. Catholic Church Walks Fine Line on Prop.
8,"
which interviewed,
among others, Fr. Donal Godfrey:
Fr. Godfrey attempted to
undercut the position of the California Bishops:
"The bishops
must feel pressure to go along," he said. "There aren't
that many going around campaigning for (Prop. 8). I think
they signed off on (the e-mail) and hoped it ends
soon."
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October 30,
2008
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On October 30, USF's Lane
Center for Catholic Studies and Social Thought will host a
lady named Sylvia Marcos. From
the USF webpage:
"Sylvia
Marcos: Feminist Theology and the Zapatista Movement: A
Report from Chiapas
Thursday, October
30, 2008
12:00 noon
Handlery Dining Room 100, USF Lone Mountain Campus
Co-sponsored with the USF departments of theology and
religious studies, Latin American studies and
Latina/Chicana studies and the USF Center for Latino
Studies in the Americas (CELASA).
Internationally
recognized professor of religion and sociology, Sylvia
Marcos, will discuss Catholic pastoral activism and
feminist theology in the woman-centered leadership of the
Zapatista movement in Chiapas, México."
Ms. Marcos also happens to
be one of the signatories to this
document:
"A
Faith-Filled Commitment to Development Includes a
Commitment to Women’s Rights and Reproductive
Health
Religious Reflections on the Millennium Development Goals
Prepared for the 2005 World Summit 14-16 September
2005"
The document includes the
following paragraph:
"Women must
have access to comprehensive reproductive health services
and information to prevent unplanned and high-risk
pregnancies, which often lead women to abortion, even
where abortion is unsafe and illegal. Unsafe abortion is
a public health concern and where abortion is
illegal governments and health systems should work
together to change their country’s abortion laws and
make safe abortion legal and accessible to those women
who voluntarily choose to have one."
(emphasis added).
The signatories of this
document are arguing, on the basis of religion, that a woman
has the "right" to kill her child. This might be a good time
to remind the University of San Francisco of
these
words, from our United States Catholic
Bishops:
"The Catholic community
and Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in
defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should
not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest
support for their actions. "
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November 4,
2008
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On November 4, the people
of California vote. They pass Proposition 8 by a 52-48%
margin. The Catholic Bishops worked very hard on this issue
and encourgaed all Catholics to volunteer, contribute
financially.
Eight faculty and staff of
USF donated
$2,050 to oppose the Proposition.
One staff
member donated in support of the proposition.
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November 7,
2008
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On November 7, 2008, three
days after the passage of Proposition 8, the USF Law School
actually honored those who directly and actively sought the
destruction of marriage.
This
story
is from the website of
USF"s Law School:
"USF
Fundraising Event Honors Work of LGBT Rights
Advocates"
Nov. 14, 2008 -- On
Nov. 7, the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) Fifth
Annual Gala Auction and Award Ceremony raised money for
students to intern in the public sector, while honoring
the work of Shannon Minter, legal director of the
National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Therese Stewart,
San Francisco's chief deputy city attorney. Minter and
Stewart successfully argued before the California Supreme
Court this year that same-sex couples have the right to
marry.
Note the date of the
event: November 7, three days after the election. The
preparations must have been going on for at least a couple
of months--at the very time our Bishops had asked Catholics
to volunteer for, contribute financially to, and vote for
Proposition 8.
The story
continues:
"The evening's
highlight was the award ceremony for Minter and Stewart, who
Dean Jeffrey Brand and PILF Co-Chairs Jeff Kaloustian 3L and
Freeman exalted as people that make a difference."
Photos of the event can be
found here.
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December 13, 2008
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In an
article in Catholic San
Francisco,
Fr. Donal Godfrey, SJ, Executive Director of University
Ministry at USF, had this comment:
"Jesuit Father
Donal Godfrey, executive director of University Ministry
at the University of San Francisco, said that while he
'personally opposed Prop 8 which is a matter of
conscience,' he "did not feel that this was the right
occasion for a speech such as this."
Emphasis added. In case
anyone has forgotten, here is the text of Proposition
8:
"Only marriage
between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in
California."
Here we have the Executive
Director of University Ministry at USF, charged with the
spiritual welfare of Catholic students on a Catholic campus,
defending "as a matter of conscience" (whatever that
means) dissenting from the teaching of the entire
Magisterium of the Church on what the Holy Father has called
a non-negotiable issue.
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February 22,
2009
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Fr.
Richard Rohr, OFM hosts a seminar called "Contemplation
(and Action) in the 21st
Century"
Fr. Rohr
has a number of affiliations with homosexual
activists.
• On
October 8, 2000, Fr. Rohr sent a letter to "Soulforce,"
commending them for their opposition to Church
teaching:
"At last we
have a group of dedicated Christians who are willing to
use disciplined and Christian means of nonviolent protest
against its church's failure to live the Gospel.
Christians outside the mainstream did this in the
abolitionist movement against slavery, in the civil
rights movement against racism, and in the antiwar
movement. Eventually, in each case, the church, like
Peter running late to the tomb, acknowledged that these
were indeed Gospel positions.
SOULFORCE must take
the role of John the Beloved, who runs swiftly to the
tomb, because that is what love always does. But both of
us will find there the Risen Christ who always reigns and
transforms human history, but never without our "let it
be." Our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
brothers and sisters have been left outside of his realm
of grace for far too long. We can do so much better, and
we will. I thank SOULFORCE for its courage, dedication,
and proclamation of Christian nonviolence in the pursuit
of justice and truth.
Yours in Christ
Jesus,
Fr. Richard Rohr,
O.F.M."
Just who or what is
"Soulforce?" They are a group of homosexual activists
committed
to changing Church teaching on the
homosexuality. And
less than a month after Fr. Rohr sent the above letter,
Soulforce (teaming up with "Diginity USA") issued
this
press release
attacking Catholic teaching, and publicizing a direct action
in front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in
Washington DC. That press release cited Fr. Rohr's letter of
support.
Further,
on September 11-13, 2009,
Fr. Rohr will be the Facilitator of a "retreat for former
male religious and resigned priests who are gay" to be held
in Marriotsville, Maryland. The event is listed on the "Gay
Catholic Forum," a site which also feature homilies
by USF's Executive Director of University Ministry, Fr.
Donal Godfrey.)
The retreat is being
sponsored by New
Ways Ministry.
From their "Next Steps: Developing Lesbian/Gay
Ministry" action
plan:
"This weekend
of prayer, presentations, dialogue, and planning is
designed to assist those seeking ways to
include lesbian/gay people and issues in their home
parishes, schools, or other ministerial settings."
Emphasis added.
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March 9,
2009
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On March 9, 2009,
USF’s Lane Center for Catholic Studies and Social
Thought hosts an event presented by Professor James
Nickoloff:
“'Intrinsically
Disordered': The Role of the Despised in Establishing the
Holiness of the Church. A community conversation
exploring gay marriage and Catholic identity in light of
Proposition 8. Sponsored with the USF LGBTQ
Caucus.”
James Nickoloff is an
Emeritus Professor at Holy Cross University and a Bannan
Fellow at Santa Clara University. He was in the news this
past November when Holy Cross held a “Rainbow
Alliance Week.”
The Cardinal Newman
Society of Holy Cross covered “Rainbow Alliance
Week.” Among other things, the event included a series
of panel discussions. According
to the Cardinal
Newman Society’s website, one of the panels
was:
"Tuesday,
November 6th: ABiGaLe
panel at 7:30 pm in Hogan Suite A. The panel is on
homosexuality and the Bible, featuring Prof. Nickoloff
who is a former Jesuit, openly homosexual and married to
his homosexual partner in Massachusetts…”
The Society’s page
also
says:
“Prof.
James Nickoloff, of the Religious Studies department, is
a former Jesuit priest who told a student group in
November that he was personally engaged in homosexuality
and 'married' in the state of Massachusetts to another
man.”
We were unable to find
independent confirmation that Nickoloff is same-sex
“married” in the state of Massachusetts. But we
did learn:
• On May 14,
2004, Nickoloff was signatory
to a document
by a group of Catholics addressing the court imposition
of same-sex marriage on the people of Massachusetts.
Although ambiguously worded, given the context the
document can only be read as an endorsement of same-sex
“marriage.”
• In September,
2006, Nickoloff led
a Focus Group
(PDF) at the 13th Annual Conference of the National
Association of Diocesan Gay and Lesbian Ministries in
Brooklyn, NY;
• On April 11,
2007, Nickoloff was a signatory to the “Fortunate
Families” letter to the United States Catholic
Bishops. To learn about “Fortunate Families” by
going
here.
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March
31, 2009
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This
week's Catholic San Francisco newspaper included this item
in the "Lenten Opportunities" section:
"Following
in the Footsteps of St. Paul, A Tuesdays of Lent series
at St. Rita Church, 100 Marinda Dr. in Fairfax. Soup
supper at 6:15 p.m. precedes 7 p.m. . . . March 31:
Pauline Christology in New Testament hymns with
Vincent Pizzuto, Ph. D." (Emphasis
added)
Reverend
Pizzuto is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious
Studies at the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco. Neither
his biographical
page,
nor his CV
page
on the USF website mention that in 2007 the Reverend Pizzuto
was
ordained
by Bishop Joseph Grenier, an ex-Catholic priest, into the
"Celtic
Christian Church."
This is also not mentioned in the notice that was printed in
Catholic San Francisco.
That the
Reverend Pizzuto was moving away from, or had already moved
away from the Catholic Church was indicated in a statement
he made at the "Is
It Ethical to be Catholic?: Queer
Perspectives"
seminar held on February 12, 2006 at Most Holy Redeemer
Church:
"Similar
questions of ethics have also driven faithful Catholics
beyond the confines of the Roman church where they might
more faithfully live out their catholic faith elsewhere.
And I count myself among them."
(Emphasis added)
Reverend
Pizzuto confirmed his alienation from the Church's teaching
on sexuality in another statement he made on March 26, 2006
at the "Alienated
Catholics" seminar,
hosted at the (Jesuit) St. Agnes Church in San
Francisco:
Thus,
despite coming up against Magisterial teachings to the
contrary, the alienation which homosexual catholics
experience is not rooted in that which they believe to be
intrinsic to Christian tradition itself, but rather, is
associated with an erroneous interpretation of tradition
imposed by the teaching authorities of the church. To put
it plainly, we simply disagree with the
church's interpretation of Scripture and
Tradition which we otherwise experience as
affirming." (Emphasis added)
On
December 2008, Reverend Pizzuto published
an essay
entitled: "God has made it plain to them: an indictment
of Rome's hermeneutic of homophobia."
In the
essay, Reverend Pizzuto claims to have identified:
"An
identifiable and systemic homophobia pervasive throughout
the Roman Catholic hierarchy."
Reverend
Pizzuto continues to teach theology at the University of San
Francisco.
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