Homosexuality -18

Catholics at Symposium on Gay Issues Celebrate Mass Over Vatican Opposition

Published: Mar 9, 2002

 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Catholics attending a conference examining issues of faith and homosexuality celebrated Mass on Saturday over the objections of the Vatican.

At least 550 people attended the Mass during the New Ways Ministry's fifth national symposium, "Out of Silence God Has Called Us: Lesbian/Gay Issues and the Vatican II Church."

The group discusses issues like accepting homosexuals in the church, what the Bible says about sexuality, and same-sex marriages.

Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, a representative of the Vatican, wrote a letter to Archbishop Thomas Kelly of Louisville asking that the archbishop forbid the celebrating of the Eucharist by participants in the symposium.

Retired Bishop Leroy Matthiesen led the liturgy.

"They have the right to be parishioners and not to be condemned," Matthiesen said. "There needs to be more openness in the church."

Matthiesen, the retired bishop of Amarillo, Texas, said he does not make judgments about the participants in the conference.

"I'm here to celebrate the Eucharist. This doesn't imply judgment," he said.

With clasped hands and bowed heads, the participants joined in the modern liturgy as the elements of bread and wine were brought to them after a blessing by Matthiesen.

New Ways Ministry was founded in 1977 by Sister Jeannine Gramick and the Rev. Robert Nugent as a nonprofit group devoted to gay and lesbian concerns in the Catholic faith.

Frank DeBernardo, executive director for New Ways, said most participants reacted to the decision to celebrate Mass in one of two ways.

"They were excited or blase. For some it was like water off of their backs," DeBernardo said.

Joseph and Mary Byers, of Broomall, Pa., said the ministry helped them learn about homosexuality. The couple have three gay sons, and said the ministry was trying to let everyone worship freely.

"They were not out to defy anyone," Mary Byers said. "This is a ministry of love and enlightenment."

AP-ES-03-09-02 2036EST


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