Bishop intervenes to block lecture by Sister Jeannine Gramick in North Carolina
April 23, 2015
A Catholic parish in Charlotte, North Carolina, has cancelled a scheduled talk by a nun whose advocacy for homosexuals has drawn cautions from the Vatican and the US bishops’ conference.
Bishop Peter Jurgis of Charlotte intervened to block the appearance by Sister Jeannine Gramick, a co-founder of New Ways Ministry, at St. Peter’s parish. "We are not going to have someone who opposes Catholic teaching to be teaching in a Catholic diocese," a spokesman for the diocese explained.
In 1999, the Vatican issued a warning that New Ways Ministry, the organization founded by Sister Gramick and Father Robert Nugent, promoted “ambiguities and errors.” The Vatican ordered the two not to continue speaking and writing on the topic. Father Nugent obeyed that order; Sister Gramick did not. In 2010, the late Cardinal Francis George, speaking in his capacity as president of the US bishops’ conference, repeated the caution that New Ways Ministry denies “central aspects of Church teaching.”
Sponsors of the proposed appearance by Sister Gramick said that they were disappointed with Bishops Jugis’ decision, and would seek to find another venue for the lecture.
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Further information:
- Charlotte bishop cancels gay ministry talk at church (Charlotte Observer)
- US bishops leader warns: gay-friendly group not in line with Church teaching (CWN, 2/8/10)
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Posted by: Reuben Slife -
Apr. 27, 2015 9:13 PM ET USA
Bishop Jugis is my bishop, so I'd like to point out that there's no 'R' in his name: it's Jugis. We're proud of him!
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Posted by: [email protected] -
Apr. 23, 2015 8:27 PM ET USA
Good! This parasite is nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing. Time to fight back and throw these heretics out.
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Posted by: unum -
Apr. 23, 2015 7:30 PM ET USA
A nun ignores Vatican and USCCB orders about their presentations over a 16 year period and still a local bishop has to shut down a proposed presentation in his diocese. It sure sounds like the Church hierarchy needs some management training on how to manage!
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Posted by: nbeck -
Apr. 23, 2015 6:39 PM ET USA
I know that this is a matter of semantics, but we need to avoid phrases such as "advocacy for homosexuals." Every Catholic should be an advocate for homosexuals...to live holy and pure Catholic lives. Our words need to reflect the fact that it is not being homosexual that is the issue, but acting on those desires and encouraging others to do so. We should also bear in mind that lust is lust, whether gay or straight.
