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CPCSM's Awards

The Bishop Gumbleton Peace and Justice Award

Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton

The Bishop Gumbleton Peace and Justice Award was created in 1997 in honor of Bishop Thomas J. Gumbleton, retired auxiliary bishop of Detroit, and his tireless work as a advocate for peace and justice on behalf of GLBT persons and their families. The award also acknowledges his lifelong advocacy work against war and for social justice, especially in support of the human rights of other marginalized and voiceless groups throughout the world, many of whom are experiencing inhumane physical and psychological treatment.

The award is given periodically by the Board of CPCSM to a special person or group whose work on behalf of GLBT persons and their families reflects the same commitment to the Gospel call for peace and justice as exemplified by Bishop Gumbleton.

A dear friend to CPCSM, Tom Gumbleton first met the group in October 1994, when he responded to CPCSM's request to come to the Twin Cities and speak on the need for the Church and society to listen to the stories of GLBT persons and their families and to be more responsive to their needs and special gifts.

During his 1994 visit Bishop Gumbleton appeared at five different venues, including a workshop for Church ministerial professionals and as presider at a mass at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, to which the local GLBT community was invited.

Attended by about 1500 persons, the liturgy began with a procession to the sanctuary in which the Bishop wore a mitre embroidered with a pink triangle and rainbow colors, which was a gift from the CPCSM leadership. Following the service, Bishop Gumbleton responded for more than an hour to questions and comments via an open mike from the participants.

At his presentation during that visit, at St. Stephen's Church in Anoka, Bishop Gumbleton shared his own journey that had begun with his brother Dan's revelation to the family about being a gay, followed by his aging mother's question to the bishop, "Do you think Danny is going to hell." What began as an angry reaction to his brother's self-revelation, led the Bishop to re-examine his pre-Vatican training and his limited knowledge about GLBT persons.

That process eventually brought Gumbleton to gay Catholic leaders and writers, such as Brian McNaught and Andrew Sullivan, from whom he learned of the real issues confronting GLBT Catholics and their families, as well as their special gifts. One of the first Catholic officials to publicly denounce discrimination towards GLBT persons, Bishop Gumbleton had come to realize that the plight of GLBT persons was clearly another peace and justice issue that the Gospel calls the Church and society to address.

Despite pressure from higher Church authorities, Gumbleton has continued writing and speaking about the need to eliminate homophobia and to minister to GLBT persons and acknowledge their giftedness. In addition, he is a frequent speaker on the human rights of GLBT persons and the need for pastoral ministry at Call to Action events and similar social justice forums throughout the USA, and he has taken part in a national ad campaign advocating gay and lesbian civil rights.

Bishop Gumbleton has subsequently returned to the Twin Cities on two more occasions, in April 1996 and in April 2001, when he again responded to CPCSM's request to speak. In 1996 he addressed Catholic educators and students gathered at Totino-Grace High School, and in 2001 both he and the recently deceased Bishop Ray Lucker gave a presentation at a CPCSM Speakers Series event on their pastoral work with GLBT persons and on the special gifts they offer the Church and society. (See related stories in CPCSM's journal, the Rainbow Spirit Spring 2001, and Fall 2001.)

Prior to his work on behalf of GLBT persons and their families, Bishop Gumbleton had already become internationally renowned as an advocate for peace and justice. The former president of Pax Christi U.S.A, of which he is a cofounder, and Bread for the World, he is well known for his peace-making efforts.

In fact, his quest for peace has brought him all over the world to places such as: Vietnam, where he investigated a political prisoner situation; El Salvador, where he supported refugees returning from Honduras; Hiroshima, where he spoke to the Ninth World Congress of the Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War; and Iraq, where he served as a member of the "Coming Home" delegation for the release of American hostages.

Bishop Gumbleton has received numerous awards, including most recently, the Lifetime Achievement in Peacemaking from the University of Missouri in 2002. He has received honorary degrees from Seton Hall Law School, Marygrove College, Aquinas College, Anna Maria College, St. Joseph's College, and St. Edward's University. Over the years he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has spoken at countless national and international forums.

Thomas J. Gumbleton earned his master of divinity degree from St. John's Provincial Seminary in Plymouth, Michigan, and his doctorate of canon law at Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. He was ordained into the priesthood on June 2, 1956, and served as Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit from 1968 until his retirement in 2006.

Previous recipients of the Bishop Gumbleton Peace and Justice Award have included: Paula Ruddy and Jacob Reitan in 2006; State Representative Karen Clark, Kathy Itzin, and Mary Lynn Murphy in 2004; Frank Reilly, PhD, and Craig Barrett in 1999; Tom and Darlene White in 1998; and the Cretin-Derham Hall High School Safe Staff, the Hill-Murray High School Safe Staff, and Sister Mary Ellen Gevelinger, OP, Director of Personnel and Planning in the Schools Program of the Catholic Education and Formation Ministries Division of the local archdiocese, in 1997.

More About Bishop Gumbleton
(from Wikipedia.org)

The Most Reverend Dr. Thomas J. Gumbleton is a retired Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 26, 1930.

Contents

* Education and Career
* Controversy
* Awards
* Links

Education and Career
Born in Detroit in 1930, Gumbleton has been a Roman Catholic throughout his entire life. He attended Sacred Heart Seminary High School, and later Sacred Heart Seminary. Gumbleton then went on to study at St. John's Pontifical Seminary in Plymouth, and also the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome.

Gumbleton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1952, a Master of Divinity degree in 1956, and then later earned a Doctorate of Canon Law in 1964. He was ordained into the priesthood on 2nd June, 1956.

After this Bishop Gumbleton held a number of pastoral positions. He served as Associate Pastor to St. Alphonsus, Dearborn, and then held position as Assistant Chancellor and Vice Chancellor.

In 1968 Gumbleton was made the Vicar General for the Archdiocese of Detroit, and was later named Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit on March 4th, 1968. From then he served as the pastor to a number of parishes, including St. Aloysius, Holy Ghost and also St. Leo's, where he is currently still serving as pastor. To this day Gumbleton remains the longest serving bishop in the United States.

Bishop Gumbleton has been awarded a number of honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from a number of Education Institutions. He holds degrees from:

* Seton Hall Law School (New Jersey)
* Anna Maria College (Paxton, MA)
* Marygrove College (Detroit)
* St. Joseph’s College (Philadelphia, PA)
* Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI)
* St. Edward’s University (Austin)
* Ohio Dominican University (Columbus, OH)
* St. Norbert College (Du Pere, WI)

Bishop Gumbleton was the founding president of Pax Christi USA in 1972. Pax Christi is an organisation devoted to promoting peace, and Bishop Gumbleton remains one of the organisation's "Ambassadors for the Peace".

He is also a member of the following organisations:

SHARE; New Ways Ministry; Triangle Foundation; Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance; Religious Leaders for Justice at the Detroit Newspapers; Call to Action; Institute for Public Accuracy; Pastors for Peace.

The bishop has also frequently travelled the world promoting a message of peace, and has most recently returned to Iraq to view how the war has affected the country. Gumbleton also sparked some controversy over travelling to Ireland to defend a priest in court over prosecution for breaking the law.

Bishop Gumbleton has participated in prayer vigils and television and radio appearances. He has given countless public speeches. Gumbleton's Sunday homilies from St Leo's parish are documented by the National Catholic Reporter, a Catholic newspaper, in which he often publishes articles.
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Controversy
Bishop Gumbleton is often thought of as one of the most controversial American Catholic bishops due to his views on a number of Church topics. He is recognised as a pacifist and one of the most liberal prelates in America. Most notably Gumbleton has spoken out on the need for change on church teaching in regard to homosexuality.

The bishop has written extensively on the need to reconsider Roman Catholic attitude towards homosexuality, and has called for Theological reform and intelligent thought in that field. In his call for change Gumbleton often draws from his personal experience of having a homosexual brother [1] His brother Dan revealed to his family that he was a homosexual through a letter. Gumbleton has discussed how he had previously ignored the topic, however his brother's revelation forced him to consider the matter.

Gumbleton's personal involvement with the topic has given him insight to the matter, and he has often discussed his past and how he came to his current beliefs in regard to homosexuality at conferences. Bishop Gumbleton has consistently been a supporter of New Ways Ministry and has also called for homosexual priests and bishops to "come out" and be truthful to themselves and others.

Gumbleton caused some controversy in 2005 when he revealed that he had not submitted the mandatory letter offering resignation. Upon reaching 75, all bishops must offer a letter of resignation to the pope, however Bishop Gumbleton did not, instead claiming that he wrote a letter asking to continue his work, on the topic Gumbleton said:

"“It’s so arbitrary, some of them they ignore, but if you are the least bit progressive, they accept it immediately.”

The bishop retired one year later at the age of 76.

During his time as bishop, Gumbleton also caused further upset, as he wore a mitre at a church service on which were symbols of the cross, a rainbow and a pink triangle. The pink triangle caused particular complaints by some due to its history as a symbol of gay rights, after it's use to identify homosexuals in Nazi Concentration Camps [2]

In the past the bishop has caught attention due to his public protesting towards violent actions. In 1999 he was arrested outside The White House along with eleven other anti war protesters for disturbing the peace [3] Bishop Gumbleton has more recently been a very vocal opponent of the war in Iraq [4]

As well as this, Gumbleton also came into the public eye before the Vatican's Instruction in Regards to the ordination of homosexual men was released, arguing against Fr. Baker's article on the issue in America (magazine) [5]

More recently Gumbleton attracted media attention when he revealed that he was sexually abused by a priest as an adolescent in seminary. Gumbleton stated; "I don't want to exaggerate that I was terribly damaged. It was not the kind of sexual abuse that many of the victims experience," further adding "They are intimidated, embarrassed, and they just bury it. I understand that," explaining that "I never told my parents. . . . I never told anybody." Gumbleton spoke out as a measure to encourage Catholics who have been abused to make complaints through the official channels [6]
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Awards
Bishop Gumbleton has been presented with a number of awards during his lifetime:

* Isaac Hecker Peacemaker (1975)
* Metro Detroit Council of Churches (1976)
* Pacem in Terris (1979)
* Public Citizen of the Year Natl. Assoc. of Social Workers (1980)
* Institute for Peace and Justice (1981)
* Justice and Peace Medal - St. Bonaventure University (1981)
* Jewish National Fund - Trees for Israel (1981)
* American Personnel & Guidance Assoc. (1981)
* Life Achievement Award - Interfaith Peace Ministry (1987)
* Groundwork Discipleship Award (1989)
* The Institute for International Peace - University of Notre Dame    (1990)
* Palestine Aid Society (1990)
* University of Notre Dame Peacemaker (1991)
* Pope Paul VI Teacher of Peace - Pax Christi USA (1991)
* Pax Christi MI Purple Ribbon Award (1992)
* Pax Christi Ambassador of Peace (1992)
* Joseph C. Wilson Award - Xerox Corp. (1992)
* Pax Christi N.Y. Peacemaker Award (1992)
* Certificate of Appreciation - Dignity Detroit (1992)
* Honorary Chaplaincy Aids Award (1994)
* Outstanding Service & Witness Award Dignity/USA (1995)
* Bridge Building Award - New Ways Ministry (1995)
* Lifelong Honorary membership - In Pax Christi International (1995)
* Call to Action Leadership Award (1995)
* San Damiano - Madonna U. Press Symposium (1996)
* National Peace Foundation - Award of Peacemaker/Peacebuilder    (1997)
* The Francis House Award (1997)
* Spirit of Detroit Award (1998)
* Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (1998)
* Bishop Dozier Peace & Justice Award - Christian Brothers    University (1998)
* Humanitarian Award, MI Coalition for Human Rights (1998)
* 1998 PHD Award, Harambee, Core City Neighborhoods (1998)
* 1999 Peacemaking Award - Nebraskans for Peace (1999)
* 1999 Washington Theological Union - Distinguished Service Award    (1999)
* Prophets of Peace Award - Benedictine Sisters of Erie (2000)
* Faithful Revolutionary Award - St. James Justice Action Ministry    (2000)
* Civic & Humanitarian Award - Arab-American & Chaldean Council    (2000)
* Lou Kousin Award - New Jersey Peace Action (2001)
* Humanitarian Service Award - LIFE for Relief & Development    (2001)
* Lifetime Achievement Peacebuilder Award - Peace Action of    Michigan (2002)
* Lifetime Achievement in Peacemaking - University of Missouri    (2002)
* Dignity USA (2003)
* Sadako Peace Citation - Disarmament and Economic Conversion    Committee of Sisters & Co-members of the Loretto Community    (2003)
* Reconciler Award - National Franciscan Federation (2003)
* Theresa Maxis Award for Social Justice - Marygrove College,    National Franciscan Federation (2003)
* Philip A. Hart Award - Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame (2003)
* Community Peace Maker Award - Wayne State University (2003)
* 2005 Global Peace Award (2005)

Links
* Bishop Gumbleton's Biography from the Archdiocese of Detroit
* Bishop Gumbleton's article on the ordination of homosexuals

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The Father Henry F. LeMay Award

Father Henry F. LeMay 1919 - 1981

The Father Henry F. LeMay Award was created in 1984 to honor the memory of the late Reverend Henry F. LeMay, a priest of the Diocese of New Ulm and previously of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who co-founded Dignity/Twin Cities and was a local and national leader in the creation of a ministry to gay men and lesbians and in championing their human rights.

Having "come out" as a gay man by the age of 50, Henry developed friendships with other gay priests and lay persons in San Diego and Los Angeles in the late 1960s and a became a member of the group of gay Catholic leaders who eventually founded Dignity/USA.

Henry later met Father Herb Hayek, OP, another openly gay priest who was on the Newman Center staff at the University of Minnesota (who would later also cofound CPCSM); and in 1974 the two of them, along with a small group of other gay men, founded the Twin Cities chapter of Dignity. (For more information about CPCSM's historical connection to Dignity/Twin Cities, see the following link on this web site.)

In the early years of Dignity/Twin Cities, Henry and Herb were the only local priests willing to preside at the semi-montly Dignity liturgies. Consequently, once a month, often braving blizzards and other inclement weather, Henry would make the 130-mile trip by car from his parish in Granite Falls, MN.

In his own simple and folksy style, Henry would bring his profound message of hope and healing to his gay brothers and lesbian sisters who, feeling unwelcome and unwanted in their own parishes, would gather for the biweekly Dignity liturgies and fellowship, at first, in their own homes and later at the Newman Center.

Henry preached the need for GLBT persons to help heal each other's hurts by reflecting God's unconditional love for one another and their need to see that their gayness is a special gift from God. Further, he taught them that in their giftedness, they had a calling to go forth from Dignity and show their specialness to the greater society. They would do this, he asserted, by loving others, even those who would fear and hate them and discriminate against them -- thereby helping to heal the brokenness in the Church and society.

Another hallmark of Father LeMay's ministry was the courage he showed in his willingness to speak out publicly on behalf of the human rights of GLBT persons. In the early 1970s he was the only priest, and sometimes the only ordained clergyperson, willing to testify each year in support of GLBT human rights legislation before the Minnesota Legislature -- in spite of being the pastor of a parish in the conservative climate of rural southwestern Minnesota.

In his final years, Father LeMay also played a major role in developing Dignity/Twin Cities' outreach effort, which later resulted in the formation of CPCSM.

Father Henry F. LeMay was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1919 and attended St. Matthew's Grade School and Nazareth Hall, the former local archdiocesan minor seminary, before entering the St. Paul Seminary and later St. John's University, Collegeville. He was ordained April 2, 1945; and his first assignment was Immaculate Conception Church in Faribault, where he also served as the chaplain at the State School for the Deaf.

Henry left Faribault in 1953 and served the following Minnesota parishes: St. Barnabas in Barry; Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Glencoe; Holy Redeemer Church, Marshall; and finally St. Andrew's in Granite Falls, where he passed away on August 26, 1981.

At the Dignity/Twin Cities' memorial celebration for Henry, held on September 11, 1981, at the Newman Center with Herb Hayek as presider, the GLBT persons in attendance experienced Henry's beautiful message one last time, reprinted in their liturgy programs, from the homily Henry had presented at an earlier Dignity/TC liturgy on April 11, 1980, celebrating his 35th anniversary as a priest.

Reflecting on the theme of the children's book that contained his favorite message -- The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real, by Margery Williams -- Henry said the following:

At first, the LeMay Award was presented yearly by the CPCSM Board at its annual meeting to a person or persons who excel in carrying out the pastoral ministry to GLBT persons begun by Father LeMay. More recently, it is has been given only periodically.

Previous recipients of this award have been: Joan Bednarczyk and Marty Dohmen in 1999, Chuck and Alice Rice in 1998; Bill Hunt in 1992, Paul Fleege in 1991, Beverly Barrett in 1990, Sue Marks in 1989, Rev. Leo Tibesar in 1988, Jim Maurer in 1987, Bill Kummer in 1986, Roger and Donna Urbanski in 1985, and David McCaffrey in 1984.