On Friday, March 13, the Religious Education Congress, hosted by the Los Angeles archdiocese, gave a platform to Arthur Fitzmaurice, resource director for the Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry. Fitzmaurice’s positions have been well known to the archdiocese of Los Angeles for years. From his biographical entry on the Religious Education Congress website: “He formerly served as chair for the Los Angeles Archdiocese Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons. Dr. Fitzmaurice has spoken at national and diocesan conferences, including the Faith Formation Conference, the annual Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry, and the Gay Christian Network.”
Bondings, the blog of the homosexual activist New Ways Minstry, wrote:
“Arthur Fitzmaurice, resource director of the Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministry, spoke last Friday at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, one of the biggest gathering of Catholic ministers in the U.S. In an address to 800 religious educators, he criticized the magisterium’s damaging theological language and harmful practices with a special appeal to protect LGBT youth. Michael O’Loughlin of Crux reports:
‘The paragraph [in the Catechism] on homosexuality — which describes it as ‘intrinsically disordered’ while also demanding respect for gays and lesbians — is placed in a section of the catechism paragraphs condemning ‘pornography, prostitution, and rape,’ he said.
‘To keep this abusive language in the Catechism and other Church writings is, in itself, gravely evil,’ he said.”
Fitzmaurice complained that same-sex attracted Catholics are “held to different standards than other Catholics.”
Fitzmaurice sought to co-opt children to further his agenda, citing statistics showing higher rates of dysfunction among same-sex attracted youth. He did not include the astronomical rates of sexually transmitted disease among male sodomites.
Seminarians in attendance at the event told sources they “could not believe what they were hearing.”
Archbishop Jose Gomez is the responsible authority for the Religious Education Conference. He can be reached at:
Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Office of the Archbishop of Los Angeles
3424 Wilshire Boulevard, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010-2241
Telephone: (213) 637-7534
Fax: (213) 637-6510
Regarding Fitzmaurice – whether he likes it or not, – SODOMYis a MORTAL SIN.
Further he is a LIAR; rape and prostitution are not included in any paragraph with “homosexual” acts.
These lies by homosexuals are perpetrated to incite hatred of the Catholic Faith.
CCC: ” 2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. ”
Also see: CCC # 2357, 2358, 2359.
God Bless Kenneth Fisher who used to protest this “Religious Education” abomination. Ken may have stood alone in Anaheim but surely he was surrounded by saints and angels.
Fitzmaurice is a liar.
Homosexual persons are held to the exact SAME standard as ALL other SINGLE Catholics – no sexual activity.
There is no discrimination.
I am surprised that Fitzmaurice did not ATTACK SACRED SCRIPTURE as well – since most passages clearly state that Practicing “HOMOSEXUALS” are going to HELL (if they do not repent with the resolution not to sin again).
Sacred Scripture regarding homosexual acts:
Gen 19:1-29; Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:9-10; 1 Tim 1:10; Jude 1:7.
How many screen names do you have? Lol. What’s the logic there? Army of one?
Again, always good to post the handful of passages in the Biblical canon used to justify homophobia. It shows how weak the case is for it.
As a Catholic and a former Catholic school teacher, I am extremely dismayed and, frankly, upset that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles sponsors the Religious Education Congress and that the Diocese of Orange hosts this event every year.
For years, there have been speakers who contradict and belittle the Faith, only to be asked back to do it again, such as Arthur Fitzmaurice this year. Each year, the laity complains, each year they are ignored. How badly things have become is represented by the fact that 800 people attended his diatribe (this is another area where the bishops’ efforts obviously need to be directed)!
I have heard a priest say that he never heard of the Sins that Cry to Heaven for Vengeance, a priest changing desks where a “gay magazine” was found remaining in a drawer and a “straight” priest who estimates that 60% of the priests locally are gay.
Defending the Faith was never meant to be ignored. If these (and other) bishops can’t or won’t do anything, they should move on and take up some other profession because the Faith is suffering from their inaction.
When is Archbishop Gomez going to vet the speakers at the “Los Angelus Religious Education Congress” ?
The attack by Fitzmaurice on the Catholic Doctrine of the Faith (CCC) is an abomination. And his calling the teaching of the Church “gravely immoral”.
Apparently he has not read Sacred Scripture lately either – or will that be his next attack?
All Faithful Catholics should BOYCOTT the “LA Religious Education Congress”.
NO Bishop should allow any catechists or employees from his Diocese to attend.
Spread the word in all Catholic Diocese throughout the USA.
For teachers, they are often commanded to attend the REC. They must also obtain a number of hours of religious education that can’t be obtained elsewhere.
How hard is it to check these speakers out anyway?
Well, People, do you really think that Abp. Gomez is any differeent — really — than Cardinal Phoney-Baloney Mahony? Gomez is just a seat-warmer for the next bishop of LA, who will likely be much, much worse (perhaps an overt homosexual?).
And what is Cardinal Mahony doing these days? Well, he is leading those rapid-Catholic conservatives, the USCCB, in its Peition to the Vatican to enforce hand-holding during Mass. Of course, this is completely nuts, wing-nut Catholicism at its finest. But, Mahony does not really have much else to do these days, having pretty much done all he could to (1) eliminate any vestiges of Tradition from the LA Church; and (2) embrace pro-abortionists, pro-homosexual sexualists, pro-fornicators into the Church there.
And, Abp. Gomez is a lap-dog to this demented behavior. He does not object to the homosexual rantings of Fitzmaurce because the Archbishop pretty much believes what Fitz is saying (well, Abp. Gomez at least sees the writing on the Vatican wall on the sexual ethics stuff).
Do not be surprised Dear Seminarians, please find somewhere of Faith to complete your studies and obtain an ordination. You will not find it in LA.
St. Christopher please provide a link about the “hand holding” being recommended by Mahony (or the USCCB).
This needs to get out in the “Catholic” media with documentation.
It appears he does not want the Mass to be about worshipping God, but about a social gathering – touchy feely.
No one knows where another person’s hands have been,
or if a person is ill.
Getting people to think about those standing near, rather than God is an abomination – and in some cases may arouse pedophiles and rapists . :(
There are far too many abuses by Priests AND Laity already in relation to GIRM with adlibbing and silliness.
Is Mahony trying to drive more people away from God and His Church?
“Sylvia”: Here you go: http://www.eyeofthetiber.com/2015/03/02/u-s-bishops-petition-holy-see-to-mandate-hand-squeeze-following-doxology/. Actually, there are several, but this one is pretty good.
What an absolute joke. In fact, it seems so outrageous as to be a put on.
If it is legit, then all those involved with this should be sacked.
The Eye of the Tiber is a satirical publication- the story is meant as a joke.
As the blog noted that it might be, but thanks for the clarification “E says”. Unfortunately, this blogger has attended current masses where (1) the priest railled against people coming up to communion for genuflecting, saying it showed a “holier than thou” self-view (kind of parroting Francis); and (2) the priest saying mass insisted that people hold hands: “Come now, let everyone join together — no one holding bac — while we all pray to the Father together”; so, the fiction presented in the satire does not seem so far fetched.
I am the last one to defend Mahoney but a) Eye of the Tiber is a satirical publication that posts stories that are meant to be humorous; b) in Mahoney’s pastoral letter on the liturgy, he’s says people should not hold hands but should extend their hands in the “orans” position during the Our Father as depicted in murals of early Christians.
I believe the nun that has been managing the Congress is retiring. Gomez has kept her on since his episcopate began. I suspect there may be some vetting problems in defense of Gomez, and without knowing more it might be wise to refrain from accusing him. And on a final note, I knew Fitzmaurice several years ago when I directed a small music group at a parish. He stirred up a lot of trouble in the group trying to get me to co-sign his gay orientation and behavior. He was an agitator and thought he could pressure me into going against the church’s position on gays. I eventually asked him to leave as he because so troublesome, distracting the group from music and trying to focus on his gay agenda. He had a lot of “issues” back then.
Anonymous,
MAHONY was absolutely WRONG again – and based upon your post was trying to change the OF Mass to his own version in violation of “General Instruction of the Roman Missal” – GIRM as approved by the Vatican.
No wonder the “Mahony Church” has been such an un-Catholic mess.
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal/
Laity should NOT extend their hands in the “orans” position during the Our Father as depicted in murals of early Christians.
They are not Priests and should not be mimicking him.
Here is a written decree from a good Bishop regarding gestures.
https://www.praytellblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011-Pastoral-Letter-with-Decree-Bulletin-Insert.pdf
It includes: ” # 4 The gestures for the priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful be strictly carried out in accord with the rubrics of the Roman Missal,
for “the gestures and bodily posture of both the Priest, the Deacon, and the ministers, and also of the people,
must be conducive to making the entire celebration resplendent with beauty and noble simplicity,
to making clear the true and full meaning of its different parts,
and to fostering the participation of all.”
4.c ” Special note should also be made concerning the gesture for the Our Father.
Only the priest is given the instruction to “extend” his hands. Neither the deacon nor the lay faithful are instructed to do this.
No gesture is prescribed for the lay faithful in the Roman Missal; nor the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, therefore the extending or holding of hands by the faithful should NOT be performed. “
Anonymous, Abp Gomez has been the Abp for LA since 2011.
There are no excuses for not vetting the Congress properly,
or the other option of writing to each Diocese Bishop telling them NOT to send catechists until there has been time to vet properly.
Keeping your eye on something, and doing nothing is not the role of a Diocese Bishop who is supposed to be in charge of everything Catholic within his own Diocese.
If he has time to politicize the Mass by saying Mass at the border for the politics of ILLEGAL immigration, he has time to do his own job of vetting “Catholic” things from his Diocese.
I went to his LA Diocese web site, which shows in fact that
Abp Gomez was a “participant” in the Congress – in person.
https://www.la-archdiocese.org/Pages/default.aspx
in addition – if you hunt hard enough on his Diocese web site – you can find a 2012 reference to the CCC – for the Year of Faith.
However, the Abp makes no effort to PROMINENTLY promote the reading of the CCC and Sacred Scripture at home as requested by Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
Intrinsically disordered means that is not ordered to reproduction therefore it can never be a proper use of the sexual function.
And people wonder why 80% of Catholic school teachers don’t understand or support Catholic teaching. Many teachers are encouraged, given funding, or even REQUIRED to attend Apb. Gomez’s annual heresy-fest. The Congress also gave centerstage—and make no mistake, it’s definitely a stage—to Rev. Bryan Massingale:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltB_nHmngdE
…whose idea of Christian ethics is to simply remain silent on Catholic teaching he doesn’t agree with, while simultaneously lobbying Congress for gay marriage with his friend Sr. Simone Campbell:
https://cnsnews.com/news/article/catholic-group-pushing-gay-agenda-promoted-capitol-hill-priest-who-won-t-say-if-he
Bp. Vann is also a responsible party because the event occurs within the Diocese of Orange. The Bishop of Orange is always listed as one of the sponsors of the event.
Here is a link to the LA Congress on ABP Gomez’s Diocese Web site.
https://www.la-archdiocese.org/Pages/default.aspx
We must send the article ” Catechists hear Catechism dissed” to our own Diocese Bishop, and then as many other Bishops as possible.
This ATTACK on the DOCTRINE of the FAITH (CCC) from within has got to stop !
Abp Gomez is too concerned about ILLEGAL immigration, and partnering with the Federal Government – ie Grants for his charities,
to supervise his own Diocese and teach the Faith accurately and completely.
So they had the REC this year already? usually we hear about it because Kenneth Fischer used to post here before his stroke.
Does anybody know how he is doing?
Did somebody take over his protest outside the REC?
What’s new?, what’s new?, what’s new? I am so upset with those people that are running our Church. We shouldn’t have to read about these pathetic and disgusting situations that go on daily in our diocese. Where are our bishops that are supposed to be teaching sin and salvation? Where are the bishops that are supposed to be protecting parishioners from the barrage of opposing views and the assault on morality and the teaching of Holy Mother Church that go on and on every day. The assault is coming from, of all places, from within. We are being destroyed from within. We are sinking and mostly rudderless.
Be sure to also support the COURAGE and EnCOURAGE apostolate with your finances. They are moving slowly but surely in improving their media communications, and getting more and more chapters spread across the world. Plus they finally hired another full-time priest Fr. Philip Bochanski. There is a PayPal link on their website. And pray for them! Nonsense like what is going on with this MFGLC “ministries” that is active and well spread in my own Diocese of San Bernardino can only be defeated if the laity know the TRUTH.
The only speakers vetted from the congress are true believers, who are orthodox and who proclaim the truth. Teachers are required to teach the truth, not fiction. If a math teachers were to argue that 2 X 2 is 7, then that teacher would be exposed as a fraud. Jesus Christ commanded His disciples to teach the truth, and so all those phony CCD teachers are liars, and not real teachers. No wonder the average Catholic knows nothing about the faith, and that so many Catholics leave the church, and either become Protestant or agnostic. When heresy is planted, the result is heresy. This is in complete disobedience to Our Lord, and it is a mortal sin..
Have each of the posters on this thread sent this article to their own Diocese Bishop and Abp Gomez (Los Angeles) and Bp Vann (Oakland) ?
CCC: ” 907 “In accord with the knowledge, competence, and preeminence which they possess, [lay people] have the right and even at times a duty
to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church,
and they have a right to make their opinion known to the other Christian faithful, with due regard to the integrity of faith and morals
and reverence toward their pastors, and with consideration for the common good and the dignity of persons.”
Natural law teaches that homosexual acts are unnatural. The Catechism does not teach evil; it tells the truth: homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity and intrinsically disordered.
A major waste of effort to write to Abp Gomez.
He has no leadership spine. Not very manly or even very Catholic in his shepherding.
Let the Abp know we know what is going on. Ask him to vet speakers or stop any support for this so called Mahony “Congress”.
We must take care of our own responsibility to tell him. CCC 907.
If Abp chooses not to do anything about it – that is his sin, – and if not repented of and a resolution not to commit the sin again – – – – – – he will have to answer for any lost Souls relating to his Congress.
He was there. He knows what goes on. This is not the “Mahony Congress.”
When James Francis Cardinal McIntyre was archbishop of Los Angeles, none of this was permitted. Thirty-five years ago, my sister and I who were CCD teachers were commanded to attend the congress in Anaheim. The garbage we were taught was disgusting. One presenter continually made fun of and ridiculed Pope John Paul II, calling him a stupid Polish peasant. And we had to pay to listen to this stuff. Rumor had it that many participants were so drunk, that they walked into the fountains at the Disneyland Hotel. And as a result, there were no more conferences at the Disneyland Hotel. This is just one of the many scandals that occurred during this so called ‘Catholic’ event. For years THE WANDERER and Ken Fisher have informed us of this heretical conference, but still it is held, turning devoted Catholics into pagans. I tell you, God is not amused, and He will judge severely all those who have corrupted the minds of faithful Catholics, especially the minds of the youth.
Herman, do you know how Kenneth Fisher is doing? He had a stroke several months ago.
I do recall attending an event at the CCD Congress many years ago where the speaker made fun of Pope John Paul II. Most of the workshops and convocations mandated by the dioceses around America are just plain silly, and a total waste of time and money. Listening to the radio, about once a week I hear pro family messages from the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons), but I never hear such commercials from the Catholic Church. Guess which church is gaining members, and which one has decreasing membership. Since Vatican II the Catholic Church has been in a tail spin, heading downward, while some Protestant and non-Christian sects (Jehovah Witness) are gaining members who are fallen away Catholics. Since none of the Church leaders wants to improve the CCD congress, I hope Catholics who are faithful to the traditional magisterium of the Church, will continue to boycott it, and will offer up prayers and sacrifices so this wicked event will cease. In the spiritual life we either get holier each day, or become more perverse and demonic each day. Look at the evil this congress has produced, and for well over 40 years! The souls that have been lost because of its heretical teachings are legion. I am praying daily also that Kenneth Fisher recovers from his stroke, so he can continue to be a light among the darkness here in southern California. Ave Maria Purrissima
The infamous, so-called “Religious” Education Congress, has been shamefully heretical and immoral, for many long years! I do not think either Abp.Gomez or Bp.Vann, have any sincere interest, in their tragic, CORRUPT Church! Sadly, lay people have no real ecclesiastical power, to truly change things. When questioned, most bishops will simply say that the Church committed many evils, with past abuses of power, and the present-day society is too corrupt— so, if they assumed their Christ-given powers, and correctly ran the Church— all the laymen would be angry with them, and leave! Laymen, they say, will have to fix their societies, and make a better, more “Christian” world, so that the Church can then operate properly! I say— the Pope and his bishops and priests, should all be missionaries, to bring Christ to every corner of the globe, as in days of old!! They should teach the laymen, themselves, and “re-Christianize” the world! That is their job! So many souls are lost, due to the irresponsibility of our Church!
Laypeople have the ultimate ecclesiastical power–that of the purse. If you fund something, you’re just going to get more of it. And people seem so dumbfounded when this occurs.
One of my nephews, who was instructed with the Los Angeles CCD program, was of course taught heretical views concerning the Catholic Church. He was also told by the religion teacher that smoking marijuana was a lot safer than smoking cigarettes, and that contrary to cigarettes, marijuana was not habit forming. So you see, not only are the CCD classes damaging to one’s immortal soul, they could also be dangerous to one’s health. I thank God that my older brother straightened out my nephew that evening when he came home from work. My nephew, as a result, never smoked that stuff, and grew up to be a practicing Catholic who attends the Tridentine Mass with his wife and children.
Matthew 13:24 Another parable he put before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field;
25 but while men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.
26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27 And the servants of the householder came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then has it weeds?’
28 He said to them, `An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, `Then do you want us to go and gather them?’
29 But he said, `No; lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'”
If you have actual health information to dispute your nephew’s claims, please provide them. Just by saying he is wrong doesn’t make it so my friend.
The Cardinal Newman Society said the following, although I have to wonder if they were attempting Humor when saying that attempts to provide Opposing Views to those Attacking the Church “didn’t flush out’ – Ahem.
“Jesuit U. Hosts Event for Group Protesting Efforts to Strengthen San Francisco Catholic School
…However, the University permitted the Hear Our Voices event to take place on campus even though it was apparently aware that “both sides of the debate were not going [to] be represented,” according to Devine’s statement.
The University had first requested that event organizers “reach out to the Archdiocese so that a dialogue with all points of view could be considered.”
That didn’t flush out so “USF President Paul J. Fitzgerald, S.J. asked that organizers read a statement clarifying the University’s role in this event and that hosting this event is not an automatic endorsement of the views expressed,” Devine said. The statement was read at the beginning of the forum.
https://www.cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/4085/Jesuit-U-Hosts-Event-for-Group-Protesting-Efforts-to-Strengthen-San-Francisco-Catholic-Schools.aspx
What do you do with a politicized doctrine of the faith? Kind of a mess. What’s the resolution to correcting something so obviously flawed, without denigrating the ostensible infallibility of it? It’s JPII’s Qur’an, seeking to cast a moment of reactionary backlash into stone.
It’s entertaining to see so many of the posts here specify the CCC second edition, because that one has a copy edit of a few words that make it even more homophobic than the first edition.
glad somebody else noticed that.
Hugh, you have no clue what you talking about. Are you the same Hugh who supports homosexual acts ?
If so, and IF you are Catholic (which I doubt), you are a heretic.
Your posts are dishonest and not to be trusted.
The second edition of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” was the final copy as “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II”.
In the USA it has a dark green cover, and was promulgated Aug. 15, 1997.
The previous beige cover had translation errors from French.
Here is an official link showing all the translation errors – too many to put in a post from a Vatican licensed web site.
https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/updates.htm
Now to show what a liar you are Hugh –
The 4 paragraphs in both the incorrect French translation and the CCC 2nd Ed are numbered exactly the same. (No paragraph numbering changed.)
# 2357, 2358, 2359, & 2396.
There was no correction/change to #2357, 2359, 2396.
The change was to: 2358 only, and it was: ” This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.”
The paragraphs that state “under no circumstances can they be approved”, and that “homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity”, and that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered” #2357,
and # 2396 stating that homosexual practices are a grave (MORTAL Sin) were EVER changed /corrected at all.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm
Thanks for posting. Yep. There’s your copy edit. Throwing in “objectively disordered” to “This inclination, which constitutes for most of them a trial.”, avoids veering dangerously close to sounding sympathetic.
You’re right, though. Pretty minimal in the context of ‘grave depravity’, or the rest of a 5000+ word expounding on the word ‘adultery’ to encompass everything sex, even gendered affect… with scant and reaching reference to canon text, and virtually none beyond the literal definition of adultery/divorce relating to Jesus.
Of course I’m Catholic. Why else would I care? You have to know the Church to be able to discern the flaws from the strengths. Medieval ideas about sexual politics would be a flaw. One of the few enduring ones.
You’re Catholic, too. Though seem to focus solely (with a scholarly conscientiousness) on only the aspects that give a legalistic justification and sanctification for bigotry. That is truly perversion.
I must have missed something. When did telling the truth become “abusive” ?
“Intrinsically disordered” is the proper description. You can call it what you want, but it’s disordered, a perversion of one of God’s gifts to us – and “disordered” is another term for sick..
Archbishop Gomez’s comments on the Religious Education Congress and religious education: https://angelusnews.com/voices/archbishop-gomez/religious-education-and-the-encounter-with-christ-7463/