The Catholic parish of Most Holy Redeemer in the Castro District of San Francisco has a long history of dissent. Fr. Donal Godfrey. S.J., who wrote the definitive history of MHR (“Gays and Grays: The Story of the Inclusion of the Gay Community at Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish in San Francisco”) described the parishioners stand in relation to the institutional Church as a “defecting in place.”
The transformation of MHR from neighborhood church to what silenced dissident Sister Jeannine Gramick described as “a model for other parishes,” “in terms of how it meets the needs of gay and lesbian people,” did not take place overnight. Probably beginning in the 1980s with the presence of Pastor Anthony McGuire, who tried to respond to the then growing AIDS crisis with noticeable care and compassion, the parish had an increasingly predominant gay membership.
From then on, the pastoral approach at MHR has been singularly focused on a welcoming spirit, making people feel comfortable, and, as Donal Godfrey pointed out, “…to accommodate the new reality.” Later, with the next MHR Pastor, Zachary Shore, according to Godfrey: “gay partnerships were almost routinely acknowledged.” By the time Shore left MHR in 2002, a number of openly gay and lesbian parishioners held leadership positions as well as serving on liturgical committees; with the most famous being Patrick Mulcahey, who was vice president of the MHR Parish Council until 2008; in 2013, Mulcahey taught a course in gay bondage for “Daddies,” Masters, and their slaves. The class bio included this description: “He has served as a judge for the International Master/slave and International Leather SIR/boy contests…” Godfrey then described how Archbishop Levada took “an aloof, hands-off approach to the Parish.” In 2012, Fr. Brian Costello became Pastor, but his stay at the Parish proved short-lived….
The above comes from a June 7 posting on JosephSciambra.com.
It’s not a Catholic parish. It’s an imposter.
Cordileone needs to place it under interdict.
The Archbishop is well aware of the parish. In fact, he often helps out at the food program the parish has for the homeless. Or at least he used to.
Gosh, I didn’t realize the gays weren’t allowed to drink and socialize.
That’s covered under leper colony ministry
2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Scandal is grave when given by those who by nature or office are obliged to teach and educate others. Jesus reproaches the scribes and Pharisees on this account: he likens them to wolves in sheep’s clothing.
All snark aside, I would suggest you refresh yourself with CCC in this regard.
So socializing and mild drinking is scandalous according to the CCC? Are gay people just supposed to sit alone in their studio apartments and knit and watch TV?
Please. If it were only about socializing or mild drinking, there wouldn’t be a scandal in this. But it’s more serious than that, and you know it (and if you don’t, then God help you). For one thing it’s about taking an institution that God has ordained for the mutual love and support between one cis-male and one cis-female, and for the creation of new life, and twisting it in order to make admissible “same-sex marriage.” Not only is this a serious effrontery and offense against God, but it harms society’s moral order. And this place “celebrates” this. Do not misrepresent the seriousness of what they continue to do as mere “socializing” and “mild drinking.”
There is really nothing scandalous about it. It is a Church in the Castro district having a happy hour at a bar in the Castro district. It is a parish-wide invitation, not just to gay people.
I guess the Pride Month is what bothers you?
Thank you, Jon, for speaking out. I do not know exactly what a “cis-female” or “cis-male” is, but according to the context of what you have posted it seems to mean a woman born with womanly parts and a man born with manly parts. If that we agree. Single people are welcome at parties and churches as long as they remain faithful to church teaching, no matter their temptations. When we start bragging about our temptations or sins and encouraging them, we cross the line and get into trouble.
“nothing scandalous”: everything about the venue is scandalous. If this Parish has a Hall, why not have the happy hour there?
Could they do a Theology on Tap there? Would that be OK?
None of that should be happening in association with or at a place of Catholic worship. Nor, should it be hosted by any Catholic parish or priest. If you cannot recognize that h___ sex is a sin or it’s promoting (however mild YOU say it is) is scandalous, then you have failed in your own education as well.
YFC Gays can do anything the want – go to gay bars, participate semi nude in gay parades, promote gay literature, encourage the US government to display gay flags at embassies (while religious flags are strictly forbidden), dress up in drag and fondle children in libraries, wear Nun’s garb and stand outside Churches and jeer at parishioners, pressure the civic government to give them priority, prevent Christians from speaking on Castro Street, and in general, play the victim (as you are doing, YFC), so as to be granted more privileges. All of this is legal and accepted now by our governmental agencies.
This does not mean that gay behavior must be accepted by the Church.
On the contrary, Catholic life requires spiritual and moral purity, with emphasis on the family, and on celebate religious life.
So YFC, go ahead and hang out in gay bars, and fully participate in gay life – that is your free choice.
In return, please grant us religious freedom, accept our Catholic standards as given by the Church over the ages,
and stop pushing the Church to accept the gay life style – It isn’t Catholic.
You made your choice with freedom, and please allow to Catholics live their lives.
ag, except that you completely misstate “Catholic standards as given by the Church over the ages”. Again, where does it say that people have to be unsocial and dry?
I think that if you all would actually look at what the Church teaches, you would find that going to a bar and socializing and having a drink or two is not prohibited for anyone, gay or straight. I also think that if you go to any bar in the Castro these days you’d find a healthy proportion of straight people there. Sure, there might be a pickup now and then, if you go late at night, but mostly not. It is just the same as Italian bars in North Beach or Irish bars on Clement. People are there to socialize. It is not the socialization that is against Church teaching, it is the “fraternization” that happens sometimes afterwords among unmarried people. I don’t see CCD posting pictures of bars during Saint Patrick’s Day. Do you?
I think your line “Catholic life requires spiritual and moral purity” is a little off. It is a journey to spiritual and moral purity. You have to pray for it. If you attain it, it is always a struggle to keep it.
There are times such as when you have minor children that the emphasis in on the family. But your vocation to matrimony is another struggle.
As is celibacy, although really chastity, purity, continence. is probably what you meant.
Yes, CCD has posted and denounced excesses during St. Patrick’s Day parades, whether of the homosexual or heterosexual variety, or thievery. We have also spoken about the excesses done on Fat Tuesday (Madre Gras). Certain cities even stopped such festivals because of the damages to businesses and promiscuity going on.
Me at 4:22
This is about setting the Catholic Standard which is true, accepted, and is the Standard. It is obvious that we humans often fail in life, often sinning, often failing to understand, often giving in to temptation. We are all sinners, there is no doubt. That is why we have confession. That is why we need guidance and correction. But that does NOT mean that the Ten Commandments, and Catholic Standards, should be questioned and pushed aside. They are still the standards….we still sin if we fail our Catholic obligations. And we must continue to support the Catholic Faith, even as failed sinners.
Catholic Standard? Where did you get that?
I have never heard that term.
the best way to leave LGBTQ+++ folks in peace, to enjoy non-sinful socializing and the soothing tonic of a drink or two, is to have YFC stop stirring the pot about them. YFC craves recognition of his comments, some quite sensible; others not so much. maybe the modus vivendi is to have both YFC and his critics comment less. i’ll take that pledge, starting right now.
Some people just treat others as “less than.”
We all have multiple identities. There is our nationality, our race, our gender, our religious affiliation, our sexuality, our place in our family of origin, our position in our created family, our community organizations, our friend groups, our political affiliation, our sports teams affiliation, our region, our state, our city, our part of the city, our musical affiliations, our hobbies, our causes, etc.
When we behave in a way that other people who identify the same in one area of our life think is contrary to that identity, they will call you out.
That is life.
If you want others not to comment on your choices, you leave the group. Or you keep things to yourself. Or you persuade, coerce or bully others into not mentioning it.
When I was young I sat and knit and watched TV. My mother sat and knit and watched TV.
Anytime I went to a bar (and I went to one gay bar once), I really didn’t have fun.
It was more fun to sit and knit and watch TV.
You must have a lot of sweaters and scarves.
No we knit for the Veteran’s Hospital and some for family or church fairs.
Good for you. You did something constructive and kept out of trouble. You won’t regret it.
if you travel northbound,
Castro turns into Divisadero.
Divisadero.
Does that have anything to do
with wheat and tares, sheep and goats?
MHR is not on Castro. But. nice try.
Thank you.
Another linguistic side note:
In Spanish, “NOE” is pronounced
NO WAY
For YFC.
” I don’t see CCD posting pictures of bars during Saint Patrick’s Day”. If I was an alcoholic I wouldn’t go where liquor was served or there were drunken behaviors.
We Catholics call these circumstances a near occassion of sin.
“I think that if you all would actually look at what the Church teaches, you would find that going to a bar and socializing and having a drink or two is not prohibited for anyone, gay or straight. ” Another near occassion of sin. Would you send a porn addict to a strip bar?
You seem to lack the basics as I’ve said to you many times.
I think we can assume that most of the people attending this event are not alcoholics.
but they are degenerates
Degenerates. Is that a theological word? Or a word used to sling mud at people you don’t like?
Keep in. mind that the entire parish is invited to the event, and the entire parish isn’t LGBT. Even you are invited. But I don’t recommend greeting people with “Hi Degenerate!”.
Words like “degenerate” violate the Catechisms call to treat homosexual people with dignity and respect. Derision is not a Christian virtue.
Degenerates. Is that a theological word? No but it is a truthful word to be attached to your syndicate which corrupted the Church and the Culture, which is forcing rest of us watch cultural decay at gun point.
” Or a word used to sling mud at people you don’t like? yes but I would much rather sling hand grenades at them
“Keep in. mind that the entire parish is invited to the event, and the entire parish isn’t LGBT. Even you are invited. But I don’t recommend greeting people with “Hi Degenerate!”. I would rather chew on glass, but if I was forced to such a gathering I would be sure to de-louse afterwards.
I’m cool with remote occasions of sin. Living on the edge is okay as long as you stay on the right side of it.
Sincere followers of Christ do not go to bars– especially, gay bars, which are places to seek gay sex, like gay bathhouses. If a Christian does go to a bar, they do not participate in the evils there– they will try to convert lost souls to Christ. Gay bars are dangerous– death may await for body and soul. The pastor and archbishop should forbid any parish “Pride” celebration at a gay bar. They even do these horrible things at the Gay Pride parades, half-naked, and show it on TV, as TV reporters explain all about it.
My comment of June 16 at 9:58pm was edited. The “horrible things” mentioned in my last sentence, that the gays do, are the Master/Slave, Sado-Masochism, violent, pervert gay sex acts, in bizarre, leather costumes, half-naked. The Sado-Masochists also state that these evil sex acts are “spiritual.” And they have groups who do these evil things at local Catholic parishes, and try to get young men involved. The Catholic Church should strongly forbid this!
SF Mayor London Breed has announced the creation of a new Drag Queen Laureate Program to be funded through the public library system. She calls the Drag Queens “performance artists.”
My comment of June 17 at 2:09pm, was edited. Our SF Mayor is corrupt! Our Church needs to get busy with parents, to keep children safe from these demented, diabolic “Drag Queens!” Some of them are convicted pedophiles!
From the comments here, and from what is happening nationwide, it is very obvious that our government(s), whether Federal, State, or Local, see Catholics as unimportant, and with little or no political power. In fact, we are not only dismissed as very minor league, but also treated with disdain, We have these statements from the President and the Speaker that they are “devout catholics” which show quite obviously, that they don’t care what the Church thinks. It is clear that Catholics now rank lower politically than Gays, Feminists, Abortionists, BLMists, or Wokists….
Why are people so obsessed with drag queens now? I find them repulsive.
I throw any rainbow trout I catch back. I ain’t gonna eat no gay fish.
On this Father’s Day, the San Francisco Chronicle ran an article praising fathers…Oh, wait..It was an article lauding the sons of a Gay Father! On Page One, and continuing on to a full page discussion. After all, this being San Francisco, they found it very difficult, racist, sexist, and against the law, to even discuss normal, average, straight fathers, struggling to raise their families. The Chronicle does not even want to admit that straight men exist. Their narrative only allows articles about gay men…Forget it, straight Dads, you are of no importance in the eyes of Chron writers. (And thinking of my grandsons, God help them in their upcoming lives with their families)
That’s because the gays are intent on taking over and forcing you to go along with them or you will suffer. They are totalitarians. Hope you get it by now. It was never about wanting their rights. They want to compel you to affirm them.
I will never. Never.