Advocates protest ban on gay priests
Rallies denounce Vatican policy
Known primarily as a group critical of the Catholic Church's handling of the clergy sexual abuse crisis, the Voice of the Faithful took on a new issue yesterday, staging rallies in Massachusetts and across the nation protesting the Vatican's recently announced prohibition against gay prients.
Members of the advocacy group donned green ribbons yesterday in protest of the Vatican policy, congregating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, Fall River, and Boston to make their point
On a chilly evening, about 60 people stood in front of the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Washington Street, holding candles and listening to a series of speakers who castigated the policy on gay priests, often referencing the sex abuse scandal.
''The integrity of Catholics who are homosexuals is being questioned while the bishops have yet to question themselves," said Dorothy Kennedy, chair of the Boston area Voice of the Faithful council.
The protests inserted Voice of the Faithful into a debate that has roiled the Catholic Church in recent weeks.
On Nov. 29, the Vatican released an eight-page policy pronouncement stating, ''The Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture.' "
It was Pope Benedict XVI's first major policy move since assuming the Catholic Church's top position, confirming for many observers his concern about cultural issues and the erosion of Church tradition by Western secularism. Voice of the Faithful, after internal deliberation, decided to publicly oppose the pontiff's stance.
''That policy is almost a litmus test for acceptance of homosexuals into the clergy," said George Lee of Somerset, a member of South Coast Voice of the Faithful. ''We felt that was unfair. We don't have a comparable litmus test for heterosexuals. We don't really feel that homsexuality is an evil disorder, in and of itself, which the Church has stated in the past."
Though the group has consistently criticized the Catholic Church's handling of abuse allegations against priests, members said yesterday that protesting the Vatican policy fit with the group's mission of supporting quality priests. ''We're going to stand for what we consider great priests," said John Moynihan, a spokesman for the group. ''Gay or not gay, who cares? They're celibate."
But even with the emphasis yesterday on the Vatican policy, the abuse scandal was not far from the thoughts of some Voice of the Faithful members.
''The purge of gays is a diversionary tactic, steering us from facing up to the sexual abuse scandal," Kennedy said. ''It's another attempt to cover up with a false solution. Removing good men from the seminary and discouraging others from applying is another fallout from the scandal."
At the rallies yesterday, members pinned on green ribbons, a color Moynihan said was ''a symbol of hope in the Church."
In Fall River, about 35 Voice of the Faithful members gathered in front of a church chancery office, praying in opposition to the Vatican policy, Lee said.
The Boston rally got under way at 7 p.m. on the front step of the massive Holy Cross Cathedral, with Voice of the Faithful leaders taking turns attacking the Vatican policy, drawing frequent applause and cheering from those gathered. Later, many in the crowd echoed the speakers' sentiments.
''I think that it is absolutely outrageous that [Catholic officals] are trying to scapegoat homosexuals for the sex abuse crisis in the church," said Mary Ellen Siudut, 56, of Natick. ''The church should be a church that is of love, inclusion, and is nonjudgmental.
US Representative William Delahunt, a Quincy Democrat, attended the rally. ''I wanted to offer my support for all priests," he said. ''It's important to let them know that they are welcomed, loved, and that they are not alone."
Globe Correspondent Michael A. Busack contributed to this report. 