1. Catholic and GAy
Presentation to
St Francis Xavier 6th Form College th November, 2017
Terry Weldon

2. My Story Catholic High School 1960’s Avoided facing up to being gay
Early marriage, children
Drifted away from Church
Marriage breakdown
Coming out as gay
Extensive study, to understand apparent contradiction
Blog – “Queering the Church”

3. 3 Key elements
Scripture
Conscience
Prayer

4. The “Primacy” of Conscience
Pope Francis:
“Priests must inform conscience, but not replace them”
stressed the distinction between one’s conscience— where God reveals himself—and one’s ego that thinks it can do as it pleases.

5. Papal Theologian, Father Wojciech Giertych, : "Conscience is the act of practical reason"
What we have to do, is to seek "the truth" of the matter by practical reason, and that means "taking all factors involved into account".

6. “Taking All Things into account"
Teaching
Bible
Catholic doctrine
Natural Science
“Born This Way” (evidence from genetics, brain studies)
Left-handedness
Animal homosexuality
Social Science
History
Cross-cultural, all continents (including Africa)

7. Prayer & Holy Spirit Ignatian spirituality balances head and heart.
In prayer, ask the Holy Spirit for guidance

8. My RETREAT
December 2002
La Verna retreat centre, Vaal River South Africa

9. Bible: “Practice safer texts”
Pontifical Biblical Commission:
Avoid cherry picking
Consider context of the passage
Consider the historical context
Careful linguistic, semantic analysis

10. Bible: Gospel = “Good NEWS”
Old Testament:
Creation as celebration of diversity
David & Jonathan / Ruth & Naomi
Song of Songs – celebrates love
New Testament
Emphasises inclusion
Jesus silent on homosexuality
&

11. CATHOLIC TEACHING Rejects attempts to change a same-sex orientation
“They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided”. (Catechism, §2358)
All forms of violence or malice, in words or in action, must be strictly opposed (CDF “Letter to the bishops”, 1986)

12. Pope Francis: “Who AM I to Judge?”

13. and seeks out the Lord and is willing………
Full quote:
“If a person is gay …..
and seeks out the Lord and is willing………
who am I to judge that person?" 

14. Catholic and GAy Questgaycatholic.org.uk
Queering the Church queerchurch.com