After Fr. James Martin, SJ, spoke at a Philadelphia university, the Archbishop of Philadelphia urged caution about the priest’s message, especially regarding the possibility that Catholic teaching on sexuality might change.
“Father Martin has sought in a dedicated way to accompany and support people with same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria. Many of his efforts have been laudable, and we need to join him in stressing the dignity of persons in such situations,” Archbishop Charles Chaput wrote in a Sept. 19 column published on his archdiocesan website.
“At the same time, a pattern of ambiguity in his teachings tends to undermine his stated aims, alienating people from the very support they need for authentic human flourishing. Due to the confusion caused by his statements and activities regarding same-sex related (LGBT) issues, I find it necessary to emphasize that Father Martin does not speak with authority on behalf of the Church, and to caution the faithful about some of his claims,” Chaput added.
The archbishop credited Martin for the priest’s insistence that he has never directly challenged Catholic teaching.
“But what is implied or omitted often speaks as loudly as what is actually stated, and in the current climate, incomplete truths do, in fact, present a challenge to faithful Catholic belief. When people hear that ‘the Church welcomes gay people’ or needs to be more ‘inclusive and welcoming’ without also hearing the conditions of an authentically Christian life set for all persons by Jesus Christ and his Church — namely, living a life of chastity — they can easily misunderstand the nature of Christian conversion and discipleship,” Chaput noted.
“For this reason, Catholic teaching always requires more than polite affirmation or pro forma agreement, particularly from those who comment publicly on matters of doctrine. Faithful Catholics who are same-sex attracted need support and encouragement in the virtue of chastity. They deserve to hear – as all people do – the truth about human sexuality spoken clearly and confidently. Anything less lacks both mercy and justice.”
Chaput’s column addressed other concerns about Martin’s work.
Among those concerns is Martin’s collaboration with New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group that has been criticized by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for “ambiguities and errors” in its teaching. The organization gave Martin its 2016 Bridge Building Award.
The archbishop noted that “Father Martin suggests that same-sex attracted people and those with gender dysphoria should be labeled according to their attraction and dysphoria, calling for use of the phrase ‘LGBT Catholic’ in Church documents and language. But while the Church does teach that the body is integral to human identity, our sexual appetites do not define who we are.”
“If we are primarily defined by our sexual attractions, then, in order to be fulfilled, it would follow that we must identify with and act on our attractions. Anything calling for the denial or restraint of our sexual appetites would logically amount to repression and even cruelty. This is the opposite of the Gospel’s clear teaching that our identity is found in Jesus Christ, created in the image and likeness of God and called to be sons and daughters of God,” the archbishop said.
The archbishop also lamented that Martin “suggests that Catholic teaching on same-sex attraction as ‘objectively disordered’ (for example, in CCC 2358) is cruel and should be modified.”
That suggestion “misrepresents Catholic belief,” Chaput said.
“It’s worth recalling here that the Catechism also describes lust, extra-marital relations, and contracepted sex (2351), masturbation (2352), and even non-sexual sins such as lying and calumny (1753), as intrinsically ‘disordered.’ The suggestion that the wisdom of the Church, rooted in the Word of God and centuries of human experience, is somehow cruel or misguided does grave harm to her mission. Families have been destroyed because of this misperception, and Father Martin regrettably contributes ambiguity to issues that demand a liberating biblical clarity,” the archbishop added.
Chaput’s column, which explained that he was unable to prevent Martin from appearing at a Catholic college overseen by a religious order, also criticized “bitter personal attacks” against the priest from other Catholics.
“As I’ve said previously, such attacks are inexcusable and unChristian.”
Full story at Catholic News Agency.
I urge all CCD readers to click on the link at the bottom of this article and read the CNA article in its entirety.
Better yet, read Fr. Martin’s facebook response, his letter of response to Archbishop Chaput, and the Archbishop’s original letter. They are a model of respectful dialogue.
Finally, I’d urge everyone to go to the link that Father Martin provided in that response, which disproves the premise of this article and of Chaput’s letter. Father Martin has written quite clearly about the teachings. See for youreself:
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/04/06/what-official-church-teaching-homosexuality-responding-commonly-asked-question?fbclid=IwAR2xIz9yh1ckwKvu7OLySMOlJDJo8sYBPuxDVB5n7t8lx5Wdhd2GPCuvRI4
YFC, I couldn’t be more comfortable about Fr. Martin knowing that the approbation comes from that fountain of truth and clarity, America magazine. Now I am at peace.
Dan, perhaps you didn’t go to the article? Father Martin wrote it. Please go to the link. Read the article.
Chaput unable to prevent Martin appearing at a religious college? Even if he lacks direct authority, he certainly has persuasive influence. If he wishes, the next time the college needs a ‘favor’, Chaput can say something to the effect ‘Remember when . . .?’
The odious Martin has gotten way too big for his Bridges.
Thanks be to God for the clarity and wisdom of Archbishop Chaput. And, let us continue to pray and work for all of our brothers and sisters, including ourselves.
Why has it taken so long for anyone in the hierarchy to condem him ? he has been doing this for too long , look up his profane tweet of Our Lady of Guadalupe , and his equally profane rainbow rosary . He gives priests and jesuits a bad reputation , he is using the church as bully pulpit and banker for his heresy.
“Hem versus Haw” should be the headline.
“pattern of ambiguity in his teachings” that undermines the faith and confuses the faithful–the same is true for Pope Francis.
What if Pope Francis names James Martin as Archbishop Chaput’s successor as bishop of Philadelphia when Chaput very soon submits his resignation letter? I can see that happening. I’m serious. That would be a way for Francis to stick it to Chaput on his way out.
Another “brave” Bishop who is months away from retirement and has realized that he will not get a red hat.
James Martin has been saying all of these things for YEARS!
So, NOW you say something? Look at the souls that this man has led into Hell over the years.
Your sudden outrage is not impressive.
Francis, Archbishop Chaput spoke out now because Rev. Martin recently spoke in his archdiocese. That’s the context. Read Archbishop Chaput’s previous statements. Also, because of Archbishop Chaput, Bishops Thomas Paprocki and Rick Stika are also speaking out about Martin. You could blame them all for speaking out now. Would you prefer they remain silent, in light of Martin’s confusing message?
Martin’s message is not confusing and never has been.
You clergy love to put out this nonsense to cover your inaction and possible agreement with him.
He clearly says that same-sex marriage is acceptable. He clearly says that 2 men or 2 women may have a sexual relationship. These may receive Holy Communion with a clear conscience.
How much more clearly do you want it, Deacon?
Francis, First, you don’t know me. I have spoken clearly about marriage being one man and one woman and have been criticized for that. I disagree with Martin. Second, you never answered my question. Do you think Archbishop Chaput and other bishops now warning about Martin’s teaching should not say anything, simply because they did not say enough earlier? And, third, your “You clergy love…” isn’t helpful because we are not all the same and you don’t know what I love. I love Christ, His Church and the truth it proclaims and love it lives.
“To the Church at Philadelphia” This letter of Archbishop Chaput is so much like that of the early Church Fathers that I believe it will go down in history as one of the great letters of the latter Church Fathers.
God bless Archbishop Chaput for fulfilling his holy duty, and many we all take heed.
Correction: and may we all take heed.
I read the article in America magazine. Fr. Martin quoted the catechism at length. I have not read any of his books or other articles. Based on this article, I was impressed by how much he quoted Church writing, explained Natural law, and why same-sex attraction is disordered. He supported Church teaching emphatically. Now, if someone finds homosexuals to be bad people, they will not like what Fr. Martin wrote. The point, however, is that he did not argue for anything against Church teachings, and in fact, supported them strongly. If the rest of his writings are this clear, there isn’t any ambiguity in his teachings. What am I missing?
What you are missing Bob One (and YFC) that Martin is allowed to run around the Church implying that everything gay is OK, including sodomy. Martin lies by this implication now I know cosmopolitan and sophisticated Catholics like you 2 ignore or don’t accept the message of Fatima that more souls fall to Hell because sins of the flesh. I will put house money on that Martin doesn’t believe in Hell (nor do Bob One or YFC believe in it) or thinks only traditional catholics go there because were “rigid”. In any event I will take the Queen of Heaven over this severely disordered excuse for a priest.
Bohemond, thanks. Your one of the few who would accuse me of being sophisticated. First, I believe in the message of Fatima. Second I believe in hell; the door is narrow. I pointed out that I had not read Fr. Martins volumes of comments, just this article. It doesn’t contain anything that goes against the teachings of the church.
Bob One if you honestly believe the door to Hell is narrow then you stand in direct contradiction to Christ Himself ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7: 13-14.
Bohemond, I heard Father Martin speak about his book shortly after it was released, to a group of about 100 mostly young and mostly gay catholics. He REALLY does not say that everything gay is OK. He acknowledges, in fact, that he doesn’t go as far as most gay people would like for him to go. He challenges LGBT people in his book to engage with Church teaching and not reject it. If you haven’t seen him, read his book, or engaged him on a detailed level, you should. You owe it to him if you are going to criticise him. There is a massive right-wing catholic media hatred for Martin and his message, which even Archbishop Chaput acknowledges when he calls on people to not engage in ad hominim attacks on him or on gay catholics.
The most “controversial” thing he advocates is for the Church to find another word for “disorder”, because it has a secular connotation in English that the philosophical Latin doesn’t have within it. He hasn’t called for a change in the underlying doctrine.
First off YFC I owe this false priest nothing. This man is lionized throughout the Church and favored by the gay mafia currently running things. Secondly when you say doesn’t go far enough, I can guess to what that means. the blessing of false marriages known as gay marriage more still I would go as a far saying as to make sodomy a new sacrament or by saying homosexuality in and of itself has special gifts to offer the rest of the Church.
You’ve gone overboard bohemond. He is not a “false priest”, whatever that means. He is a validly ordained catholic priest in good standing. If you do not listen to what some one says, yet you criticise him for what you THINK he said, you are liable to be bearing false witness against your neighbor. The things you say he said in your post: HE NEVER SAID. You don’t have to guess.
YFC, as admitted homosexual who refuses to say whether or not you are celibate, please don’t tell me that I am bearing false witness, remove the plank from your eye. Martin supports and promotes homosexuality as a good in and of itself. He is misleading souls which will lead them to dammnation. But lets face it YFC we are in different Church’s under the same roof ie a functioning schism…
The fact that you bear false witness is completely unrelated to my sexual orientation, by the way. As we’ve said many times, and as the catechism says, homosexuality is not a sin. It does not “lead souls to damnation.”
“Father James Martin, S.J., acclaimed by the people mentioned above, in particular Cupich, Tobin, Farrell and McElroy, appointed Consultor of the Secretariat for Communications, well-known activist who promotes the LGBT agenda, chosen to corrupt the young people who will soon gather in Dublin for the World Meeting of Families, is nothing but a sad recent example of that deviated wing of the Society of Jesus.” —Abp Vigano, from his Aug 2018 statement
Hymie, if anyone knows it’s Vigano! Perfect quote. If Martin was preaching church teaching all those heretics wouldn’t be praising him along with the gay media and America Magazine.