Monday, June 7, 2004

Update on Arizona's Defiant Priests

In the piece it mentions all but two have removed their names, but only one is being punished? Perhaps the other is the religious brother?



From Bishop Olmsted Suspends Priest for Refusing to Remove Name from Gay Document:



"Following Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted's April order that nine priests and one religious brother remove their names from a document by an activist organization for homosexual clergy, all have complied except for Fr. Andre Boulanger. Last week bishop Olmsted suspended Fr. Boulanger from priestly ministry.



The document, No Longer Silent: Clergy for Justice, stated 'Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a choice, and not a sin. We affirm that GLBT persons are distinctive, holy, and precious gifts to all who struggle to become the family of God.'



Within two weeks of bishop Olmsted's order, eight of the ten had removed their names; last week, the ninth, but Fr. Boulanger defiantly persisted in his stand.



A suspension means a priest may not celebrate Mass, preach or hear confessions. Olmsted told Fr. Boulanger his suspension stands 'until such time as I have assurance from you that you do indeed believe and teach what the Church teaches about the call to holiness for homosexual persons,' according to an Arizona Republic article."

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