Archbishop explains why he barred Mass at meeting on homosexuality

Published: 2007-03-22

ST. PAUL. Minn. (CNS) -- Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of St. Paul-Minneapolis said he barred celebration of Mass at a national meeting on homosexuality and Catholicism because the sponsoring organization dissents from aspects of church teaching. People with homosexual orientation "are children of God, not outcasts," but the truths of the Catholic Church need to be respected, he said in a March 19 statement given to The Catholic Spirit, archdiocesan newspaper. The statement came after the March 16-18 National Symposium on Catholicism and Homosexuality in Minneapolis sponsored by New Ways Ministry. "Although I recognize the sincerity of the efforts made by New Ways Ministry to serve lesbian and gay persons, on many occasions this group has openly contested aspects of the fullness of Catholic teaching in this area," he said. Given the organization's history and the titles of the presentations planned for the meeting, "it did not seem unrealistic to assume that presentations made at the symposium would reflect teachings which were contrary to that of the Catholic Church," said the archbishop. Allowing Mass at the meeting "would appear to give tacit approval to such teaching, and would lead inevitably to scandal and confusion among the faithful," he said.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .