YouTube Witness to Bishop Gumbleton's Ministry
Detroit Bishop Tom Gumbleton was recently removed from his ministry as pastor of St. Leo's Parish in a move many see as retaliation for his outspoken witness for sex abuse victims, gays, lesbians and women in the Church, and for peace and justice. (NYTimes article)
Bishop Gumbleton's supporters created this video to highlight what his ministry has meant to St Leo's Parish. It is wonderful to see such a modern (not to say shallow) medium as YouTube used for this kind of witness.
P.S. Take action!
Labels: activism, Bishop Gumbleton, news, witness, YouTube
posted by Theologienne @ 10:55 AM
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3 Comments:
Hey Theologienne, I came over to your site to try and see the video and add a comment (see below).
It seems to me that Gumbleton is putting "his spin" on the situation and I would like to know the facts. E.g., the NY Times article reports that he said:
“I’m sure it’s because of the openness with which I spoke out last January concerning victims of sex abuse in the church. So we’re all suffering the consequences of that, and yet, I don’t regret doing what I did because I still think it was the right thing to do,” he said, as the congregation rose and erupted in applause.
Speaking out against the abuse is important and laudable, but is it also possible that the fact that he preached against the teachings of Christ, which he, as a successor of the Apostles has a responsibility to uphold might be a more likely reason? It seems like a good reason to me!!
Why it is that some keep insisting on reducing everything in the Church to a power struggle? Whatever happened to being faithful to Christ?
Ok, thanks to your site I finally got to see that great piece of propoganda and misinformation. A perfect example of the false idea that we can follow Christ without the Church. It seems to me, from what those interviewed said, that the church is simply a "social agency" for many people. If you read the entire Gospels and the Book of Acts you will find that there is both orthodoxy and orthopraxis - we need a balance of both. In this case, it seems like they are missing the former!
I want to share the exchange that RPJ and I had on the Buted Halo blog with your readers here because it clarifies my views:
Comment from: red pill junkie [Visitor]
Convert, I would like you to read this article and comment, it might add something to this discussion about the differences between what priests preach that differ from actual Church's dogma:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16901892
02/01/07 @ 16:05
Comment from: Convert_to_Christ [Visitor]
Hey RPJ - good to see you jump in. I read the article and I was glad they ran it. Regarding the Vatican’s comment’s, yes, the reporter “objectively” profaned the sacrament (although I am not sure of his/her subjective culpability) but I’d like to see the writer of the editorial address the greater problem – the bad advice received in the confessional!
Anyway, I don’t need an article to show me what they discovered; I have my own experience to look at. In fact, I have had to often (and sadly I might add) tell priests that what they told me was contrary to Church teaching (in fact one got so angry that I had remind him that I was the penitent not him.)
Look, I realize that a person’s culpability may be lessened by many factors – that’s why a REGULAR confessor is important – but I think it’s an insult to reduce the Truth and not state what is objectively sinful. For example, when I first became Catholic years ago I was involved with a married woman. Now, the priest told me that as long as I loved her he didn’t think I should confess it as a sin. What a bunch of B.S. Did he really think I was stupid? In fact, I am embarrassed to tell you that I told him (uncharitably unfortunately) that I was indeed violating one of the 10 commandments and that I felt that a good father would not water down the truth to avoid hurting my feelings and that I knew it was wrong and that's why I was seeking the grace to end the relationship. That, however, doesn’t mean that the other extreme (being yelled at) is better since I also experienced that too. I, for one, want to be given the entire truth in a gentle manner but if that's not possible at least the Truth! Yes, I may not want to convert but I definitely never will if I am not told that it’s necessary. I pray that the “I’m OK you’re OK” days that I suffered through are over – but, regrettably, maybe they’re not! Si, estoy enojado mi amigo!
02/01/07 @ 16:38
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