Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities

News Archives

The Dignity Coalition's Response to the
National Courage Conference, August 7 - 10

August 7th: Welcoming Conference Participants

Darlene White (left) and Mary McDonough (right), CPCSM members and mothers of gay and lesbian adult children, were among the Dignity Coalition's group of parents welcoming arriving Courage Conference attendees and inviting them to the Coalition's Alternative Forum on Saturday, August 9th. After being told by campus security to cease this activity, the parents gathered with others at the Dignity Coalition encampment in front of Murray Hall where they greeted passing conference attendees with posters expressing what they believe is wrong about Courage and what is right about their children and other GLBT persons.

August 9th: Procession and Rally

On August 9th Coalition advocates (left photo), led by Coalition Coordinator Michael Bayly (wearing the mournful puppet costume) processed around the southeast perimeter of the UST campus and through the Summit Ave. arches up to the front steps of Murray Hall (UST student union building) .

David McCaffrey (right photo), another Coalition organizer, holds a poster identifying the primary target of the August 9th Coalition's advocacy activities -- the presentation given that day to priests, deacons, and those in priestly and diaconal formation, by Peter Rudegeair, psychologist and a primary proponent of change therapy for GLBT persons.

Rudegeair is a member of both the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), which hold theories about homosexuality and change therapy that have been discredited by the vast majority of professional associations of mental health, medical, counseling, and educational professionals. Therefore, Rudegeair's prominent role at the conference supported the Coalition's contention that Courage -- although it insists it is only a pro-chastity support group -- actually is based on flawed and outdated science and offers false hopes to its members that a lasting change to a heterosexual orientation is possible. Furthermore, by encouraging its clergy and those in formation to attend Rudegeair's lectures, the Archdiocese continued to perpetuate among its ordained ministers the same climate of dysfunctional and uninformed sexuality that has led to the far-reaching evils of the Church's current clergy sex abuse scandal.

Paul Fleege and Mary Jean Mulherin, members of Spirit of
the Lakes UCC, hold a banner expressing a major belief of the Dignity Coalition, as they listen to open-mike speakers.

The message on the poster (above photo) ironically sums up what is needed to advocate for change within the Church regarding its teachings and pastoral care in the area of human sexuality.

In the photo to the right, Coalition coordinators (l to r), Mary Murphy, a PFLAG leader and the proud mother of a gay son, and Michael Bayly, lead the group of supporters in the spontaneous singing of some old favorite peace songs.

Following the procession to Murray Hall, members of the Dignity Coalition (upper and lower left photos) surrounded the front entrance of the building, to listen to speakers, via an open mike held by Michael Bayly (upper right photo).

Among the speakers were Dignity Twin Cities' president, Brian McNeill (upper right); David McCaffrey, a CPCSM cofounder; and Mary Murphy (lower right photo), a PFLAG leader and the proud mother of a gay son.

The speakers passionately shared their personal reflections about GLBT persons taking their rightful place at God's table as God's children. As supporters chanted "We are the Church," speaker after speaker reiterated the belief that GLBT people are not intrinsically disordered but are unconditionally loved by their Creator.

David McCaffrey presented a brief history of CPCSM's 25-year history working within the local Church. He then expressed a sense of great frustration and loss that many of the strides CPCSM has made with archdiocesan leaders and within parishes and schools have been slowly rolled back due to the pressure exerted on the local hierarchy by reactionary fringe groups such as Catholic Parents Online.

Brian McNeill (left photo), a Dignity Coalition organizer and local coordinator of the Rainbow Sash Movement, who had planned a Rainbow Sash presence at the conference Masses, was informed by the UTS administration prior to the conference that those without participation credentials would not be allowed to worship in the UTS Chapel at the daily Masses during the conference. After prayerful discernment, Brian decided to give witness to the plight of GLBT persons who feel locked out of full Church participation by the hierarchy, by pitching a tent and keeping vigil during the 4 days of the conference in the UTS quadrangle. There he remained day and night as he prayed and fasted. Brian also reported a number of mutually respectful discussions as he dialogued with conference participants who had sought him out during his vigil. (Brian is also the president of the local Dignity chapter.)

The UTS's security rules regarding the Coalition's activities (e.g., the group was given the UTS quadrangle area for their advocacy activities) were communicated to the Coalition by Doug Hennes, UTS's Vice-President for University Relations, who represented the UTS's interests during the Coalition's activities. Mr. Hennes is pictured (left photo) speaking with Phil and Randi Reitan, conveners of the local SoulForce chapter and parents of a gay son.

Staff and volunteers from the GLBT youth program, District 202 (lower left photo), showed their support by providing free refreshments to Coalition advocates and supporters who gratefully welcomed the relief from the hot summer weather

Meanwhile, during the Coalition's rally in response to Peter Rudegeair's lecture, the young son of two of the Coalition's supporters searched for a deeper meaning regarding the day's events.

August 9th: Alternative Forum

Leanne Watkins, Pastor of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, which hosted the Coalition's Forum, welcomes the Forum's participants to St. Mary's.

The Dignity Coalition's presenters at the August 9th Alternative Forum on Homosexuality (l to r): Tom Murr, Simon Rosser,
Gretchen Murr, and David Murr

For the Forum's first presentation, internationally renowned sexologist and psychologist, BR Simon Rosser, PhD, MPH (right photo), reprised his CPCSM's Speakers' Series Lecture from May, entitled The Church’s Continually Evolving Understanding of Human Sexuality.

A life-long Catholic and former major seminarian, Dr. Rosser discussed the little known fact that official Church teaching on homosexuality has varied widely across time and culture. He also emphasized the need for the Church to bring its teachings on human sexuality -- especially homosexuality -- in line with recent findings in the biological and behavioral sciences if it is to speak meaningfully to the spiritual and psychological needs of its members and if it hopes to become a healthier and less dysfunctional organization itself.

For more information about Dr. Rosser and the Murr Family, please see the following link.

For the second half of the Forum, entitled A Catholic Family's Personal Journey with Their Gay Son, David Murr (lower left photo) shared his story about dealing with his gayness and coming out to family and friends in his late teens.

David's parents, Gretchen and Tom Murr (lower right), then told their story of how they struggled to love and support their son by studying about homosexuality and seeking out their own support from professionals and close friends.

Unfortunately, Gretchen and Tom did not find their Church to provide helpful guidance on their journey, and they had to follow their hearts rather than what they had learned from their church as they came to accept and embrace their son's sexual orientation and his need for love and companionship. Tom and Gretchen Murr are excellent role models for all parents who learn about a GLBT child and want to express their love and support of their child as the family journeys together during such a challenging time.

Local Media Coverage of the Dignity Coalition's Activities

For gay Catholics, diverging paths
by Maria Elena Baca
Star Tribune Staff Writer
Star Tribune, August 8, 2003

Advocates for gay Catholics and their families were turned away from a mass at a conference for fellow Catholics struggling to suppress homosexual impulses.

Photograph by Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune

Theresa O'Brien, far left, was among the advocates for gay Catholics asked to leave the
University of St. Thomas chapel area Thursday by university official Doug Hennes. The
advocates were protesting a conference for Catholics struggling with homosexual impulses.

For the complete Star Tribune story click here.

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