Category: Faith & Sex

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CNS Director Tony Spence Forced Out

by Kevin Clarke

Tony Spence
Tony Spence receiving the St. Francis de Sales award in 2010 from the Catholic Press Association, the association’s highest honor.

Tony Spence has stepped down from his position as Director and Editor in Chief of Catholic News Service, a position he has held since 2004, after a series of comments on Twitter drew the critical attention of web-based fidelity watchdogs at the Lepanto Institute, LifeSite news and other sites.

An emotional Spence said this afternoon that critics went after him “full-court on the blogoshere” over the past few days. Spence was told yesterday during a meeting with  Msgr. J. Brian Bransfield, the general secretary of the bishops’ conference, that he had “lost the confidence of the conference” and was asked to submit a letter of resignation.

The web-based publications, which in the past have frequently targeted Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, began a drumbeat for Spence’s removal after he posted a series of tweets commenting on impending laws related to bathroom access and other rights for lesbian, gay and transgender people. The Lepanto Institute accused Spence of issuing “public statements decrying proposed legislation in several states that would protect religious freedom and deny men pretending to be women the ‘right’ to enter women’s bathrooms.”

Spence said that the web campaign provoked hate mail to his e-mail account, with messages urging his excommunication and calling him a traitor to the faith. Spence said he did not believe his Twitter comments would provoke such a backlash—“obviously”—but that he had been to his mind merely commenting on developing news on a subject frequently covered by CNS staff.

Spence said that he had anticipated ending his career at CNS. “Sixty-three and unemployed; not the brightest prospects,” he said with a grim laugh. “My plan now is to go home to Tennessee and start over,” he said.

He added, “My 12 years at CNS have been the best 12 years of my professional life; my staff is just amazing and I’ll miss it.”

In 2010 Spence was the winner of the Catholic Press Association’s St. Francis de Sales Award.

He said then that when Msgr. Owen Campion gave him his first Catholic press job at The Tennessee Register, diocesan newspaper in Nashville, Tenn., more than 30 years ago, “I thought I would give it a year.”

“It hardly took that long to realize it was much more than a job,” he added. “It was a vocation. And one I truly love.”

Spence thanked his colleagues in the Catholic press for sharing his “love of this vocation.”

Among other experiences Spence had been executive director for advancement communication at Vanderbilt University. He was editor-in-chief and general manager of the Tennessee Register Inc., publisher of the Tennessee Register, from 1989 to 1998. He also served as the diocese’s communications director in 1992-98.

He served as CPA president from 1994 to 1996 and oversaw the establishment of the Catholic Advertising Network and the Catholic Press Foundation. He also was a co-founder of the Appalachian Press Project of Kentucky and Tennessee.

Catholic News Service is an office of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Spence was a member of the conference senior staff. Though part of the bishops’ conference, the news service is financially self-supporting by “providing news stories, features and reviews to paying clients that are both secular and religious news outlets,” according to a notice on the conference website.

Complete Article HERE!

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Actor playing Jesus Fired from Sunday Parade for being ‘too gay’

File Under:  We don’t want no sissy Jesus!

By Kyle Zabawa

sissy jesus

The actor was accused of “ostentation and parody” after showing a bare shoulder…

Ramón Fossati – an actor famed for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in traditional Spanish Easter parades for the past 30 years – has been allegedly banned from playing the part because he’s gay.

The Junta Mayor de Semana Santa Marinera, the ruling powers which organize the Holy Week celebrations, accused Ramón of “ostentation and parody,” after he exposed  a naked shoulder and excitable behaviour. They also believed he was giving “false blessings” to the crowd.

Ramón himself says that his actions were not intended to be disrespectful in the slightest. Explaining that his ensemble was in keeping with traditional religious paintings portraying Christ bare shouldered. The Times reports that he also modified his costume so only bare one shoulder could be shown, over fears that exposing both could prove too risqué.

Religious authorities strictly moderate Easter processions in Spain, with women in particular being fined for showing cleavage or for sporting dresses above the knee.

Although Ramón’s sexuality wasn’t brought up at the time of the ban, the Jesus Christ superstar suspects that it was because he’s gay: “It could be jealousy. Or maybe it was punishment for being gay. But everyone where I live knows my sexual orientation and it is not an issue.

“I am deeply religious and this is the worst thing that could happen.”

Having originally been fined €300 [£237] following the parade last year, Ramón’s fine was, thanks to an appeal, reduced to €60 [£47]. His ban is expected to stand until 2019.

Complete Article HERE!

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I was a devout Catholic. Not being able to get birth control shook my faith.

By Sonia Guizar

birth control

My religion has always been a big part of my life. I was raised Catholic, received a Catholic education and taught at a religious school for years. My daughter is in Catholic school now. But the church’s attempts to block my access to health care have made me feel disillusioned. Frankly, I’ve lost a great deal of faith in its teachings.

As a teacher at a religiously affiliated school between 2007 and 2015, my health insurance was managed by the archdiocese. It didn’t cover contraception. We were told that the plan was in line with the beliefs of the church.

This wasn’t a problem for me until 2011, when my husband and I had a baby. We had little money and couldn’t afford to have another child. So I wanted to go on birth control. But I couldn’t afford to pay for contraceptive care on my own. My doctor advised me to get an intrauterine device (IUD), but that would cost nearly $1,000, a staggering expense at a time when I couldn’t even afford birth control pills out-of-pocket.

I didn’t know who to turn to. I was afraid to ask my HR department outright about contraception coverage because I worried that I might be seen as going against the church’s teachings. The HR person reported directly to my boss, and I worried that I might jeopardize my job.

I felt angry and frustrated. But I didn’t have a lot of options. So we tried using natural family planning. It didn’t work. Shortly after, my husband and I found out I was pregnant with my second child.

I love children. I teach primary education and now have two small kids of my own. It’s so rewarding to see how quickly they learn and to watch them interact with one another. They see the world with such innocence and are so happy with life’s simple pleasures. The truth is, I would have as many children as God would give me if I could afford to.

But I have to be responsible to take care of the family I already have. My husband has struggled to find steady employment. My son has developmental delays and must attend multiple therapies a week, for which I furnish a co-pay.

In short, I can’t afford to have more unplanned pregnancies. I need a job that will provide me the health care I need. So last year, I found a new job with a public school district. I’m making more money now, and I have contraception coverage.

In just a few days, the Supreme Court will hear from religious employers like mine about why they should be able to deny their employees contraception coverage that is otherwise guaranteed to employees under the Affordable Care Act.

The worst part is that religious employers aren’t in court to argue it’s against their religious beliefs to provide the coverage directly — they already have a free pass on that. They’re claiming it’s a burden on their religious beliefs to fill out a one-page form saying they don’t want to provide coverage. Once they fill out that form, the health insurance company directly provides the employees with the coverage. It feels as if they’re just trying to do everything they can to block women’s access to birth control.

The extreme measures the church is taking to block women’s access to common health care — including the 98 percent of Catholic women of reproductive age who have used a method of contraception other than natural family planning — is turning me away from the Catholic Church. I no longer celebrate Mass. They are out of touch with the people they claim to represent, and this time they’ve gone too far. I hope the Supreme Court recognizes that and protects my right to access the care that we’re promised under the law.

Complete Article HERE!

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Catholic charity group cancels gay singer’s North Carolina performance

by Sylvia Tan

‘This is the sad part they’re doing it in the name of God. And I’m having a problem with that… Discrimination needs to stop!’ Says blues singer Kat Williams

katwilliams

The organizers of a Catholic charity gala in Asheville, North Carolina cancelled a performance by an Emmy Award-nominated blues singer Kat Williams after learning that she’s in a same-sex marriage.

Williams was due to perform at the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s annual Gala For Hope, for which she has performed at twice before, on March 12.

The event supports impoverished families in the region.

According to the Charlotte Observer quoting the singer’s Facebook post, the organizers rescinded their invitation two weeks before the event after diocese’s Bishop Peter Jugis saw a 2013 magazine article in which she states that she and her wife had been married for seven years.

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Bishop Peter Jugis

Diocesan spokesman David Hains told WLOS-TV, ‘Marriage can only be between one man and one woman. Because Ms Williams chooses to be in a relationship that’s different from that, it really makes it inappropriate for her to perform for us.’

‘We, as a Catholic organization, have the right to represent our faith and what we’re doing essentially is exercising that right,’ Hains said.

Williams told WLOS-TV, ‘This is the sad part they’re doing it in the name of God. And I’m having a problem with that.’

Williams, who is an Asheville resident, wrote on Facebook on March 5, ‘I’m hurt and saddened!’

‘My entire career is gratefully connected to important causes or charities that I wholeheartedly believe in. This is the first time I’ve been fired from a performance solely based on who I chose to love.’

‘There are two things in my life I didn’t choose, to be Black and to be gay! I am proud to be both and want our North Carolina religious community to stand with the teachings of Christ—love, forgiveness, tolerance and inclusion.

‘I don’t want people to retaliate or put forth any negativity. I’d like us as a community to approach this issue with Love, Compassion and Grace. This didn’t happen in San Francisco or New York or DC , it happened right in our own backyard and discrimination needs to stop!’

Williams said she is still receiving a check for her canceled performance.

She has asked fans to respond with forgiveness and grace and donate to inclusive groups such as Campaign for Southern Equality and Western North Carolina AIDS Project. She has also invited the bishop to visit her church.

Full Review HERE!

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The Catholic Church in Michigan just made an important concession toward gay couples

By Peter Holley

rosary

For years, the Catholic Church has been in the throes of a heated debate over how accepting it should be of gay relationships.

The church teaches that gay behavior is sinful; however, no institution is immune from changes in the world around it.

The Michigan Catholic Conference — which oversees health care for Catholic employees in the state — announced in a letter last week that it is modifying its coverage in a way that will make it possible for gay employees of the church to get health benefits for their partners and spouses.

It does so in a way, however, that doesn’t affirm gay marriage, but simply redefines who qualifies for health coverage in a way that could include same-sex couples.

The move comes less than a year after a deeply divided Supreme Court delivered a historic victory for gay rights, ruling 5 to 4 that the Constitution requires that same-sex couples be allowed to marry no matter where they live.

The letter, sent to pastors and church employees, said health care coverage will be expanded to include legally domiciled adults. A person is considered an LDA, the letter notes, if they’re 18 or older, are financially interdependent with the church employee, and have lived with that person for at least six months.

Under the previous arrangement, a same-sex spouse would not be covered by health insurance because the Catholic Church defines a spouse as someone of the opposite gender, according to the Detroit Free Press.

A person’s sexual orientation or behavior will not factor into the church’s decision to provide employees with health care, according to Dave Maluchnik, director of communications for the MCC. Instead, he said, the church’s primary consideration will be residency.

“The church’s teaching on marriage and human sexuality is not changing,” Maluchnik told The Washington Post. “Our health benefit plan is expanding its eligibility to include a legally domiciled adult and, as such, the benefit is not dependent upon the relationship. It’s dependent upon residency. As long as the qualifications are met, then the benefit can be extended.”

The letter does not include the words “gay” or “same-sex relationship” and Maluchnik said projecting homosexuality into the letter was “a narrow reading” on the eligibility change. He pointed out that the rule change could just as easily apply to a friend, cousin, sibling or parent who lives with the employee.

But gay rights advocates celebrated the change nonetheless.

“The Catholic Church prides itself on being about families, so it’s good to see them taking a step that will actually protect families,” Stephanie White, executive director of Equality Michigan, told The Post.

She said the eligibility change is particularly important in Michigan, where there is no state law that protects LGBT people from discrimination. White believes the change also highlights the benefit of having federal agencies take a lead on “issues of fairness” and predicts that in time, people will realize there’s no reason not to outlaw discrimination.

“The policy also shows that even groups and businesses that are resistant to basic non-discrimination protections can find a way to follow the law and treat everyone equally,” White said.

Maluchnik noted that the decision to expand eligibility came after lengthy discussions among church officials. The alternative to expanding eligibility —removing spousal coverage entirely — would have hurt employees, he said.

“This decision was made following extensive consultation with the National Catholic Bioethics Center and also with our legal counsel to help us ensure that the health plan is compliant with federal and state laws and at the same time being consistent with Catholic teaching,” he said.

He told The Post that the modification to the church’s health plan occurred because of the federal government’s decision to “redefine marriage and the definition of a spouse.”

“It complies with federal law, as it is, in 2016,” Maluchnik told the Free Press. “This is the world in which we now live.”

Complete Article HERE!