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Quebec bishops respond to dissenting priests

Comments: 10

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Quebec City, Canada, Mar 13, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- In response to 19 dissenting priests, the Quebec bishops have issued a press release calling for mutual understanding and unity in the Church.

The 19 priests published a letter of dissent regarding Church teaching on same-sex marriage and the ordination of homosexuals. The bishops’ call also responded to a document by the Canadian Religious Conference that is critical of Church teaching as well.

The priests’ open letter appeared in La Presse, the largest Montreal newspaper, in late February. The priests are from five dioceses; five of them minister in the Archdiocese of Montreal.

In their communiqué, dated March 9, the bishops expressed openness and a need for dialogue in the Church. However, they said, they regretted that they were dragged into “a confrontational dynamic” with the clergy and religious by the way in which these issues emerged in the press.

The priests’ letter “raises a complex question in our society” about sexuality, said the communiqué. “Faithfulness to the Gospel also invites all Christians to critically look at certain currents of thought that run through our culture,” it continued.

The province’s two cardinals, Jean-Claude Turcotte and Marc Ouellet, and the president of the Quebec bishops’ conference, Bishop Gilles Cazabon, held a press conference in Trois-Rivieres that same day.

Cardinal Turcotte, archbishop of Montreal, told journalists that such dissent within the Church is not unprecedented. He said each local bishop would meet and speak with the priests who signed the letter.

Cardinal Turcotte said the Church welcomes and ministers to homosexuals but it cannot condone or bless behaviors that run counter to the Gospel. The same rule applies to heterosexuals, he said.

Cardinal Ouellet of the Archdiocese of Quebec agreed. He defended the Church’s teaching on same-sex marriage. He affirmed that the Church must remain faithful to the message of the Gospel and could not bless same-sex unions or same-sex marriages.

The document of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC), which was to remain private, was leaked to La Presse at the beginning of March. Among the CRC’s concerns, which include the need for faith education and outreach to the poor, it asked the Canadian bishops to review the Church’s position on women’s ordinations and abortion.

The document was the result of a survey of religious congregations in Canada; not all congregations responded. It was submitted to the bishops in view of their upcoming Ad Limina visit.

In their communiqué, the Quebec bishops said they intend to discuss “the questions and concerns of the Church in Quebec”—including the priests’ letter and the CRC document—during their visit to Rome in May, “with the conviction that this will contribute to strengthening the links of communion with the universal Church.”

Comments: 10

Subscriber comments:

Published by: William
Salem/OR/USA 03/14/2006 01:49 PM EST

It is Cardinals Turcotte and Oulette and the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith who demonstrate uncommon courage. Pray for them.

Published by: Antonio A Badilla
Simi Valley, California, United States 03/14/2006 01:19 AM EST

"The Canadian priests who are dissenting about same sex marriage show uncommon courage when the culture around them tries to quell dissent by accusing them of “Cafeteria Catholicism.” Cafeteria Catholics is exactly what those priests are since it is easy to dissent from Church teaching but very difficult to proclaim the Gospel in season and out of season. How can any priest teach what Catholicism teaches when he, himself, does not believe what the Church teaches? How is that "uncommon courage?" Uncommon courage is what the Canadian bishops need to deal strictly with recalcitrant and scandalous priests not deserving of their ordination. They can all join the Anglican church that believes the way they do.

Published by: Monthro
Canada 03/13/2006 11:25 PM EST

First of all, the truly great saints in the Catholic Church were first and foremost, obedient to church teachings. The path to salvation and holiness is through obedience. This is an unquestionable truth that has stood the test of time in church history. The nineteen Canadian priests that are dissenting to church teaching, are in fact causing scandal and uncertainty in the Canadian Catholic Church, which if left unchallenged, would lead to a major schism. Do we really need or want to go there? Sadly, in Canada these days, the ones showing uncommon courage are those that are standing up for the traditional marriage in the wake of a very hostile media, and judicial system via the so called Human Rights Commissions across the country, that have become nothing more than kangaroo courts to prosecute and fine those that have the courage to defend the traditional family. Just ask B.C.'s Chris Kempling, who was persecuted before a Human Rights Commission for simply writing a letter to the editor denouncing same-sex marriages. Mr. Kempling is thousands of dollars in debt defending himself. Or Toronto's Scott Brokie, who had to face the Human Rights Commission for simply refusing to print pro-gay literature in his print shop, because it was against his religious beliefs. Then there is the case of Calgary Bishop Fred Henry who also faced the Human Rights Commission, although charges were dropped. These are the true heroes that showed uncommon courage in Canada!

Published by: Charles Wadlow
Kirkland, WA 03/13/2006 07:12 PM EST

There goes Mike McCaffrey in Yarmouthport again! The Church is infallible in Faith and Morals, end of subject. They can make mistakes about science, without effecting the dogma of the church. Do us all a favor Mike, and all the other Cafeteria-Catholics from MASS., and leave the church. You have nothing in common with us Catholics who are orthodox in our beliefs. Become an Episcopal, they have a nice Gay bishop you can cozy up to and discuss how unevolved the Catholic Church is. God's laws are timeless. The Catholic Church will stay with the teachings of Christ before they allow the gates of Hell to overcome them, like Satan has already overcome the Episcopal Church, Mormons, Jehova Witnesses, etc, etc. The Holy Spirit only guides one Church from error, and one Church only in an indefectable way, as Jesus promised Peter.

Take a Theology Class or something Mike. I'll pray for you, because your salvation is at risk with your heretical opinions.

Published by: John Healy
Washington, DC 03/13/2006 06:47 PM EST

The 19 priests are just trying to bring Catholic moral teachings up to a twentieth century level. There is nothing anywhere in the Bible that forbids priests from having homosexual tendencies. It is true that when Europe was Christian, homosexuality was banned and homosexuals were tortured and killed. But this is not a teaching of Catholic Church.

Published by: Rafael Icaza
Sacramento, California, USA 03/13/2006 03:11 PM EST

I don't think the Canadian priests are courageous at all. They're taking a stand that makes them popular and celebrated with fellow dissenters at no risk to themselves, given the timidity of the Canadian bishops. Although it's true that the Gospels don't say anything about homosexuality, that's because that wasn't an issue with the Jews of Jesus' time, so why would he bring it up? He also didn't say anything about bestiality and infanticide. Does that mean those practices are OK? St. Paul did have to deal with a culture where homosexuality was practiced, and he spoke against it (as does the Old Testament and the church fathers). Loving one's neighbor as oneself has never meant to love their sin as oneself. I'm not aware of any recent Pope who has spoken uncharitably against homosexuals; they simply have condemned sex outside of marriage, whether by homesexuals or heterosexuals. The relatively few clerics who try to teach their personal beliefs as opposed to what the church teaches are guilty of false advertising. In my opinion, if they had the courage of their convictions, they would leave the Catholic priesthood --where they're pushing their heterodox views on the dime of the Catholic faithful-- get regular jobs and promote their views on their own dime. It's because they lack such maturity and courage that they are treated as wayward children.

Published by: Mr. Bridges
Phoenix, Az. USA 03/13/2006 01:50 PM EST

You know there's a church that holds all the ideals of the (CRC).. it's called the Anglican Church, maybe they would be happier there. Dogmas are revealed truths, they don't evolve with societys popular view, they are there to remind us what happens when are ego's take over.

Published by: John Pfiff
Irvine, California, USA 03/13/2006 01:38 PM EST

(a) The Church asks priests to imitate Jesus Christ, who was poor, obedient, and chaste. If a man does not practice chastity, whether homo- or heterosexual, then he does not imitate Jesus. The teaching of the apostles and the Church regarding homosexual conduct has always been clear (e.g. 1 Corinthians 6:9, 1 Timothy 1:10, the Didache), whether or not a particular Gospel mentions homosexuality.
(b) Great saints and teachers of the Church were obedient to the teaching of the Church regarding faith and morals. Specifically, having Faith in God means that we have faith in His Church. Otherwise, “evolution and adaptation of thinking” will be a purely human enterprise. This has nothing to do with the rebuking of Galileo because of his arrogance as a scientist.

Published by: Richard Poletti
Portland, OR 03/13/2006 12:44 PM EST

It is a relief that these bishops remember thair confirmations vows, the "believe everything the Catholic CHurch teaches" in the areas of faith and morals. There is a attitude, born from charity no doubt, that we should not discriminate against those who choose to engage in sinful behavior. Some evan (erroneously) claim that there is no basis for calling these activities "sins".

It is a relief that the Quebec Bishops are correctly stating and promoting the core teachings of the Church.

There is no such things as a "Cafeteria Catholic", only Catholics and those who reject the teachings of the church.

Published by: Mike McCaffrey
Yarmouthport, MA 02675 03/13/2006 11:17 AM EST

The Canadian priests who are dissenting about same sex marriage show uncommon courage when the culture around them tries to quell dissent by accusing them of “Cafeteria Catholicism.” The church’s statements on homosexuality call into question the notions of Catholic doctrine and dogma. Must we obey all communications by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith? If so, church thinking will have a hard time evolving and adapting. Surely the great saints and teachers of the church have pushed against this envelope. History has vindicated people like Copernicus and Galileo.

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