There is a secret plan to spread pro-LGBT ministries in the Raleigh Diocese New Walden has learned. NW received an anonymous tip in late January about an LGBT Lenten Bible study at St. Andrew’s in Apex. What is unusual about this is that St. Andrew’s doesn’t have an LGBT ministry. After investigating, NW learned that the program is being coordinated through St. Francis of Assisi parish in Raleigh. They have a very active ministry, one that has been active with the Raleigh Gay Pride Parade.
According to emails from a coordinator of the Lenten program, the goal at St. Andrew’s is to establish a permanent pro-LGBT ministry at the parish. The hope for the Lenten program was to identify people who could lead the ministry. Parishioners at St. Andrew’s have told NW that they were unaware of these events. It is difficult to obtain information about the Lenten program because organizers vetted participants before allowing them to join the meetings.
New Walden has also learned that St. Andrew’s is not the only parish to be invited to participate in this LGBT Lenten event. At this time we don’t know many other parishes are involved. There is at least one more.
The Bigger Picture
If you have been paying attention to Catholic news in the past month, you will notice that headlines have been dominated by pro-LGBT themes. In Brazil for example, it was reported that a Lenten study guide promoted by their bishops contained pro-LGBT themed literature. So what is going on exactly, and why all of a sudden during Lent? Answer? What’s going on is Amoris Laetitia. Remember Pope Francis declared this to be a “Year of Reflection on Amoris Laetitia.” And this “year of reflection” kicked off during Lent, last Friday to be exact. As I have stated elsewhere, this is NOT a year of reflection, but, rather, a year of promotion and implementation. More on that angle of the story to follow in an update.
Update
Here is a screenshot of the St. Andrew’s bulletin that advertised the LGBT Lenten Bible study. Yes, in fact, this actually happened. The parishioners were not informed or consulted beforehand. Additionally, the meetings were not open to all parishioners. Participants were vetted before being allowed access to the the Zoom meetings.
Maria
The diocese of Raleigh published this on twitter:”https://greensboro.com/news/state-and-regional/new-vatican-position-on-same-sex-marriage-is-old-but-troubling-for-some-n-c/article_013c0f6a-8964-11eb-8640-df889983cfce.html”
“Bishop Luis Zarama of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh said the statement from Rome may have been disappointing to some because they saw the welcoming way Pope Francis relates to people as individuals and heard him endorse civil unions for same-sex couples. Because of that, they built “false expectations” that he also would support gay marriage.
“The church is the church,” Zarama said. “It’s a mother. The mother is looking for the best for the children. Sometimes love is a challenge. It’s nothing against the person at all.”
Why doesn’t he explain what the Holy Church he represents teaches?
Maria
Have you notified Bishop Zarama?
John Gravino
Maria, I have not. It is no longer a reasonable assumption to believe that bishops are unaware that pro-LGBT programs are operating in their dioceses. To understand the deeper context of the Raleigh situation, I suggest you read the new posts on “The Year of Reflection on Amoris Laetitia.”
Maria
Thank you. I would assume you are aware by now of St. Francis of Assisi (Raleigh Diocese) Pastor’s Column by Msgr. Michael Clay : https://www.stfrancisraleigh.org/2021/03/28/st-francis-of-assisi-pastors-column-march-28-2021/
” I was asked last week for my reaction to this CDF statement. As a priest of 40 years, I have learned to take the long view of things. Nothing is perfect on earth and the Church is no exception. 100 years ago we were a Catholic Church quite different than we are today. I have no doubt that we will look different in another 100 years. In what ways remains to be seen.
I say this not to belittle the real pain and disappointment the CDF statement has caused many people nor to dismiss longstanding doctrinal traditions of the Church. I say this simply to note that we are a Church that has changed, in little and large ways over the centuries, and will likely continue to do so. As examples, the Church has changed its doctrinal teaching on freedom of conscience, slavery, usury (lending money for a profit), and divorce. Some of us remember the changes brought by Vatican II wherein abstaining from meat every Friday under penalty of committing serious sin was changed and shifting the liturgy back into the languages of the people was approved, things that would have been unimaginable 100 years ago. There is currently a commission of scholars appointed by Pope Francis exploring the possibility of ordaining women to the diaconate, something that would have been inconceivable back when I was ordained a deacon..”