Homosexual Activism in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Part II: The (Jesuit) University of San Francisco

A USF Chronology

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Scroll down for a chronology of events that have been held at USF. Please follow the links from each entry. Some entries link to PDF's. Some entries also include audio/video links.

USF not only promotes the homosexual agenda but also hosts speakers and seminars that actively oppose Church teaching on "non-negotiable" issues:

They have invited Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who is pro abortion, pro embryonic stem-cell research, and pro same-sex "marriage"--all issues that the Church teaches are non-negotiable.

They have invited San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom (after he had instructed the county clerk of San Francisco to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples) to give a lecture on "Ethics in Local Politics."

They hosted the "Religion and Sexuality: What's the Connection" seminar, whose speakers included the Chaplain of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate and the President of the Clergy Network of Planned Parenthood.

It will be good here to remember the guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops set forth in "Catholics in Political Life":

"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."


USF and Most Holy Redeemer Parish share an agenda. MHR was one of the sponsors of the "New Jewish and Christian Approaches to Homosxuality" seminar which was held at USF on Janury 1, 2002. Also, the "Is it Ethical to be Catholic: Queer Perspectives" seminar sponsored by USF, was held at MHR on February 12, 2006.

On August 1, 2007, the University of San Francisco appointed Donal Godfrey, SJ to be Executive Director of University Ministry. Godfrey is a fixture at MHR, and is author of "Gays and Grays: the story of the Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church." Fr. Godfrey's mission seems to be to convince the Catholic Church to accept the homosexual orientation as just another valuable gift from God.

The homosexual activist funding group the "Horizons Foundation" is also involved with USF. From 2002-2006 they have funded the "Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project" whose executive director is Madeliene Lim. Lm is also Adjunct Professor of Advanced Media Studies at USF. Horizons also funds the George Choy Memorial/Gay Asian Scholarship at USF.

 

 

Chronology

January 1, 2002

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.


April 21, 2002

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.


May 22, 2003

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."


January 8, 2004

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."


January 30, 2006

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.


February 12, 2006

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.


March 26, 2006

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.


September 5, 2006

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."


October 8, 2006

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."


March 15, 2007

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.


March 19, 2007

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"


April 29, 2007

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.


May 19, 2007

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.


May 23, 2007

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.


July 22, 2007

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."


August 1, 2007

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


August 21, 2007

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.


August 28, 2007

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.


September 30, 2007

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."


October 17, 2007

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."


October 20, 2007

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)


November 15, 2007

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."


November 29, 2007

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."


November 30, 2007

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.


December 6, 2007

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.


February 7, 2008

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."


March 3, 2008

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.


March 5, 2008

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."


March 9, 2008

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."


March 10, 2008

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."


March 14, 2008

"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.


April 22, 2008

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.”


May 12, 2008

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.


May 16-17, 2008

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


June 13, 2008

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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