Comments on: Bishop wants to support gays https://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/2014/06/03/7009/ The New Zealand National Catholic Newspaper Fri, 02 Feb 2018 02:48:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.5 By: Leo https://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/2014/06/03/7009/#comment-4091 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 21:56:43 +0000 http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/?p=7009#comment-4091 No doubt Bishop Dunn has good intentions, but there are two disturbing issues here.
The one is his use of the word “gay” to mean homosexual. “Gay” in this context is not an objective, neutral term; it is supportive of homosexualism. Note the following:
Ally Packet

Developed by the Stonewall Center,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Becoming an Ally

How to Be an Ally to LGBT People

• Use the words “gay” and “lesbian” instead of “homosexual”. The overwhelming majority of
gay men and lesbians do not identify with or use the word “homosexual” to describe
themselves.

The Stonewall Center, UMass Amherst
Crampton House, SW; 256 Sunset Ave ..
http://www.umass.edu/stonewall
413-545-4824; [email protected]

http://www.massresistance.org/docs/gen2/14b/GLSEN-Conference-040513/middle-school-GSAs/Ally-Packet.pdf

It disturbs me immensely that a Catholic bishop would publicly identify as an ally of homosexualism, or, alternatively, be so unaware as to not realise that is what he is doing.

Also, it greatly disturbs me that Bishop Dunn has performed significant linguistic gymnastics to avoid calling sodomy a sin, but instead referring to it and other extra-marital sexual intimacy as falling short of the ideal. One is unlikely to experience great remorse and contrition for failing to reach an ideal.

This is just not good enough from Bishop Dunn.

]]> By: Michael Loretz https://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/2014/06/03/7009/#comment-4076 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 06:14:58 +0000 http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/?p=7009#comment-4076 May I congratulate Bishop Pat Dunn for his public comments in this sensitive area. It is always easy to resort to slogans and accusations of others when discussing the church’s authentic love for all sinners, and his is a voice not of condemnation but of hope. The Bishop is right to point to the need to support gay Catholics and indeed all Catholics and people of good will, as they struggle to live lives of true and chaste love. Following Jesus leads to the cross for all of us and for those people with the gift of faith, it is the scandal of the cross that redeems us and leads us ironically to our fullest happiness.

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