On April 25 and 26, the Catholic parishes of St. Thomas More in Oceanside and St. Francis of Assisi in Vista, both in the diocese of San Diego, will host an LGBT retreat: “Nothing Can Separate Us from the Love of God, a Catholic LGBTQ+ retreat and a Day of Ministry Discernment & Visioning.”
The leader of the retreat is JR Zerkowski. He is the “executive director” of Fortunate Families; a dissident pro-gay marriage ministry based in the diocese of Lexington, Kentucky.
St. Thomas More in Oceanside, California, is home to three LGBT ministries:
LGBTQ Persons Support Group
LGBTQ Support Group for Parents & Families
LGBTQ Transgender/Transition Issues Support Group
Regarding the apparent confirmation of a gay man (in his homosexuality) by Pope Francis, Zerkowski stated: “I believe what we are seeing is an evolution of doctrine…” In 2019, Zerkowski joined Greg Bourke and Michael DeLeon, a same-sex couple who were among the plaintiffs in the 2015 Supreme Court case which legalized gay marriage, in a discussion about the Catholic Church and gay marriage. Also, in 2019, a chapter of Fortunate Families was established at the home Catholic parish (Our Lady of Lourdes) of Bourke and DeLeon, who are active in the group. In an interview, when questioned about why they stay in the Catholic Church, DeLeon said: “We’ve been encouraged by peers to leave…a lot of people wonder why we stay, but you don’t change anything by leaving something. There’s no good reason to leave.”
In 2019, Zerkowski spoke at Jesuit James Martin’s home parish of St. Ignatius in New York City. According to Fortunate Families, Martin is an “honorary member” of their board Of directors.
According to Zerkowski, he has agreed to be a panelist at the “Outreach 2020: Catholic LGBT Ministry Gathering” at Fordham University that will feature Jeannine Gramick (whom James Martin would like to canonize), Bryan Massingale, and Lisa Fullam.
Fortunate Families is a gay-affirmative pro-same-sex marriage advocacy group founded in 2004 by the Catholic parents of a “gay” son, Mary Ellen and Casey Lopata. Inspired by the work of Robert Nugent and Jeannine Gramick (both were silenced by the Vatican in 1999) and their New Ways Ministry, the Lopatas decided to form an outreach specifically targeted to the Catholic parents of LGBT children.
The USCCB: “No one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching and an authentic Catholic pastoral practice.”
In 2003, the Lopatas published their book Fortunate Families: Catholic Families with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons. Here is an excerpt detailing their view of Scripture as it relates to homosexuality:
1. There are only six passages generally used to condemn homosexuality.
2. The primary concern of these passages is something other than homogenital activity.
3. There are translation issues suggested by the fact that 1946 was the first time the word “homosexual” appeared in an English translation.
4. The biblical writers had no concept of our modern psychological understanding of homosexual orientation.
5. The prophets, the gospels and Jesus say nothing about homosexuality in the bible.
In 2017, James Martin recommended Fortunate Families. A member of Fortunate Families introduced Martin before his address at the 2018 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress….
In 2017, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, who serves as an “ecclesial advisor” to Fortunate Families, spoke at New Way’s Ministry’s eighth national symposium held in Chicago.
A “theological advisor” to Fortunate Families is gay theologian Andy Buechel. Buechel (in his 2015 book, That We Might Become God: The Queerness of Creedal Christianity) described “the erotic and sexual charge of Jesus’ encounter with Thomas…” According to Buechel:
“Strictly, and anachronistically, speaking, this encounter is homosexual: it involves deep erotic intimacy between two people of the same sex….”
The above comes from a Feb. 1 story on the JosephScianbra.com website.
So predictable that Bishop McElroy, the pro-homosexualist shepherd of San Diego, would allow this abomination in his diocese. This bishop seems to care little for the souls of his flock, or his own for that matter. Stay away from this rainbow path to perdition.
“, That We Might Become God: The Queerness of Creedal Christianity) described “the erotic and sexual charge of Jesus’ encounter with Thomas…” According to Buechel: Right there sums up everything that needs to be known. They sexualize everything, including Our Divine Savior for their own perverted ends.
So glad the Catholic Church is moving away from demonizing these people. It is long overdue. Many of LGBTQ people were born or socialized into their condition and can’t change to a heterosexual orientation.
God created male and female.
Mr. Dodson. the Catholic church never, ever demonized these people. That, unfortunately, is your imagination. The Church has declared, at least up to now, that homosexual acts are gravely disordered and hence sinful. So also with all non-marital sex– shacking up is as gravely contrary to the Natural/Moral law as are homosexual acts. Your post assumes that continence/chastity is an unreasonable demand for non-married persons. As a single person (never married) nearing 70, I can tell you God’s laws are not easy to follow, but follow them we must if we are to please Him who died or us on the cross and lives for us now. That is what grace is all about: God’s help for His sheep when pasture is hard to find.
Something is not mentioned here..To have thoughts vs acting on tendencies..to have thoughts of Homosexuality ,is not yet the Sin..to actively act upon those thoughts is to Sin..there is no “New Revolution of Doctrine”,as JR Zerkowski suggests..Homosexuality is still a grevious Sin and contrary to God’s Natural Law.What separates God from homosexuals are their own physical actions(not tendencies) Homosexuals must remain chaste or be heterosexual. Also I may add,as Catholic Christians,we shouldn’t harshly judge ,but encourage Homosexuals to the right path.
Now you know which parishes to avoid in the San Diego area.
I assume the Pastors at these Churches, doing what all great Priest do, are informing these souls of the Mortal sin that comes with these worldly desires! Otherwise these who support this sexual pleasures will have blood on their souls and all the misled flocks. Two things are certain DEATH AND THEN JUDGMENT!!