On Saturday, January 4, the men’s basketball team of the (Jesuit) University of San Francisco faced off against the Pepperdine Waves at USF’s War Memorial gym. The game was also billed as an LGBTQ Community Celebration. The Upcoming Events page on the USF Dons website read: “Featuring Performances by the SF Gay Men’s Chorus and Cheer SF. LGBTQ community leaders will be recognized. For $10 tickets use promo code EQUALITY at checkout.”
Memorial gym was at about 50% of capacity. According to the announcer, the Gay Men’s Chorus sang the national anthem, but that must have happened well before tip-off. About 11 minutes into the game, during a time-out, the announcer asked for a round of applause for the two co-chairs of the Jesuit school’s LGBTQ Caucus. As the two went to center court, the announcer briefly described the mission of the LGBTQ Caucus, and said it had its roots in the Jesuit tradition. He went on to say that last year 75 members (students and faculty) of USF had marched in San Francisco’s Gay Pride parade. He then encouraged the crowd “to join the USF contingent in this year’s parade on June 29, 2014.”
It is fortuitous that the first ever LGBTQ celebration coincided with a game against Pepperdine. Both USF and Pepperdine are religiously founded and affiliated schools: USF with the Society of Jesus, and Pepperdine with the Churches of Christ. While USF has an LGBTQ Caucus (not to mention openly homosexualist professors and priests) Pepperdine allows no such group. Indeed, Pepperdine’s refusal to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance on campus has led to demands, including a petition on change.org, that the school recognize such a group. So far Pepperdine has held firm.
It does have an LGBT Legal Society “…for the limited purposes of discussing LGBT-related legal issues and networking for legal employment or professional development” and, in 2013, Pepperdine created a needs-based scholarship available to those who “advocate and promote the health (mental or physical) and wellness of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community.” But it still does not allow the Gay-Straight Alliance.
Respective statements from the school’s handbooks on sexual relations on campus are equally divergent. Pepperdine: “In keeping with Pepperdine University’s Christian mission and its heritage in Churches of Christ, all members of the University community are encouraged to consider and respect the teachings of Jesus and historic, biblical Christianity. Pepperdine University affirms that sexual relationships are designed by God to be expressed solely within a marriage between husband and wife. This view of sexuality and marriage is rooted in the Genesis account of creation and is maintained consistently throughout Scripture. Sexual relations of any kind outside of marriage are inconsistent with the teaching of Scripture, as understood by Christian churches throughout history, including Churches of Christ. Therefore, as a matter of moral and faith witness, all members of the University are expected to avoid such conduct themselves and to respect this understanding of sexual relationships.”
By contrast, Jesuit USF’s Overview of Sexual Misconduct Policy Expectations mentions neither marriage nor Christianity nor Jesus. The only misconduct the Jesuit school mentions is “consent,” or lack thereof (to what is not specified): “The expectations of our community regarding sexual misconduct can be summarized as follows: In order for individuals to engage in sexual activity of any type with each other, there must be clear, knowing and voluntary consent prior to and during sexual activity.”
The players were unconcerned with the extraneous activities. Behind a strong defense, Pepperdine held USF to 19 points in the first half, and led 27-19 at the break. But with less than a minute remaining in the half, the Waves lost one of their best players, Malcolm Brooks, and he was out for the rest of the game. USF’s coach, Rex Walters, made adjustments at halftime, and in the second half, behind three-point shooting by forward Mark Tollefson (16 points) and guard Tim Derksen (15 points) the Dons overcame the deficit and pulled away to win 77-66.
I find it interesting that the Most Reverend John R. Quinn, when Archbishop of San Francisco, forbade the “Gay Men’s Chorus” from performing at USF and was attacked in the press for being so intolerant — some gay newspapers even nicknamed him “Archbigot Queen.”
Now we have Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, who is, by all accounts, MUCH stricter about such matters, and yet USF gets away with this!!!
For a Catholic university to say NOTHING about Jesus, the Bible, marriage, chastity, or Church teaching in its handbook about sexual conduct is amazing.
In this case, the Church of Christ (with which Pepperdine is affiliated) is being much truer to genuine Christian tradition and morals.
And in whose archdiocese is USF located? For that matter, whose archdiocese is LMU located? As much as I realize both “centers of learning” (what they learn is anyone’s guess – it sure isn’t the Magisterium), is it that no one can control these Jesuit schools? Do bishops, archbishops and the Vatican have no control at all?
And one wonders why so many leave the Church!
“The game was also billed as an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Community Celebration.”
I guess after that Celebration they will all trot off to Holy Mass which is also “billed” as the Eucharistic Celebration.
This is unbelievable! The Fundamentalist Christians actually acting more like Catholics USED to act than USF, a Catholic (?) school? I guess only in Sodom-By- the- Bay, but of course it’s happening also in other Catholic schools in California, like MaryMount in west L.A. For we’re living through the Great Tribulation in more ways than one, I’m afraid. A tidal wave of unborn child killings (abortion on demand) not seen before, the curse of the affliction of “gay marriage,” clouding the intellects of so many so-called Catholics, the outrageous corruption of so much of U.S. government, especially since the rise of Obama as President, where’s it all going to end? It could end in total dissolution of the U.S., as we see society descend into the nightmare of secession and nullification, where the U.S. becomes a collection of soveriegn (spelled right?) countries all with their own borders and passports demanded upon entering or exiting each state, and a state of disintegration not seen before. And what of the “boiling frogs” who inhabit these states? All engaged in their sordid lifestyles of marrying, divorcing buying and selling, aborting their offspring when it’s not “convenient” to have them, enagaging in polyamory and bestiality, and of course “marrying” their same-sex partners cuz they have a “right” to, according to the increasingly corrupt SCOTUS, who also, btw, gave us Roe V. Wade and before that, the Dred Scott decision of 1858. Aren’t these SCOTUS members brilliant?
Sounds like the end of the world to me, the sky is falling, again!!!
Sounds like the end of our culture to me.
Yet another example of Catholic identity, very sad and “Thank You” Bishops for allowing this to happen.
USF students are pretty straight laced. It is surprising that the school has so many border stretching events. Unless the very active alumni are not representative of the school itself, there is little to be concerned about.
The following 12 quotes come from the writings of St. Peter Damian, a great ascetic and monk who was especially troubled by the clergy and religious of his time who failed in their duties, especially celibacy.
“Tell us, you unmanly and effeminate man, what do you seek in another male that you do not find in yourself?”
“For God’s sake, why do you damnable sodomites pursue the heights of ecclesiastical dignity with such fiery ambition?”
“By what right or by what law can one bind or loose the other when he is constrained by the bonds of evil deeds common to them both?”
“Who can expect the flock to prosper when its shepherd has sunk so deep into the bowels of the devil?
“Who, by his lust, will consign a son whom he spiritually begotten for God to slavery under the iron law of Satanic tyranny?”
“This utterly diseased queen of Sodom renders him who obeys the laws of her tyranny infamous to men and odious to God.”
“Without fail, [the vice of sodomy] brings death to the body and destruction to the soul. It pollutes the flesh, extinguishes the light of the mind, expels the Holy Spirit from the temple of the human heart, and gives entrance to the devil, the stimulator of lust.”
”[The vice of sodomy] leads to error, totally removes truth from the deluded mind . . . It opens up Hell and closes the gates of Paradise.”
”[The vice of sodomy] is this vice that violates temperance, slays modesty, strangles chastity, and slaughters virginity.”
[The vice of sodomy] defiles all things, sullies all things, pollutes all things.”
“Who will make a mistress of a cleric, or a woman of a man?”
“It is not sinners, but the wicked who should despair; it is not the magnitude of one’s crime, but contempt of God that dashes one’s hopes.”
Thank you, Catherine, for documenting clearly that the SSA push for acceptance is not some new movement, but rather a rehash of that which has always been. The struggle against sin.
I’d say we should pray for more like St. Peter Damien, but it is the hard hearts of the ‘faithful’ that should take first priority. For as much as many posters say they follow the magisterium and the catechism and Church hierarchy, the reality is the same as the Old Testament. We collectively kill those prophets who speak Truth, wanting no King but Caesar as we have been taught in lieu of Truth so as to keep our position in society!
Thanks for taking up the cross and posting reality, instead of castigating St. Peter Damien for what many would label his horrific, woeful, unthinking, ‘lack’ of respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
Catherine,
Thank you, I have saved St. Peter Damian’s statements on Sodomy and sodomites for my apologetics records.
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Your welcome Kenneth Fisher! God bless you!
It seems that the leaders of our own Church have no true understanding of the Catholic Faith, nor interest in it, tragically! They are obviously NOT CHRIST’S TRUE FOLLOWERS!! They have done extreme damage to Christ’s work on Earth; to His Church, and to the whole world! So many, many souls are lost, without proper help to guide them to Heaven! The Catholic Faith is the True Faith– but her leaders have abandoned it!! Very, very weak prelates, cardinals, and bishops, to say the least! A true religious man, of true character and mature convictions, stands up for Christ, lives by His Teachings sincerely, and presents the Truth of His Teachings to all the world, with great joy, love, and enthusiasm. He loves Christ so much, and believes in Him so completely, that (like all the Apostles and St. Paul, for starters) he is willing to die for Christ!! How many millions of men there are in the world today, who willingly sacrifice their lives for the glory of sports, risk and endure terrible injuries (even death!) and live a narrowly-focused life, all to achieve their goals of excellence at sports! They listen to and obey the Coach’s every word, and the world cheers them all on to HUGE success! But where is the same idealism, for giving one’s life to God?? If a gay man were to be told, he must live a narrowly-focused Christian life of excellence, purity, celibacy, and loving service to God, that Christ will give to this man the joys of Heaven, that he will be also rewarded with good health (no AIDs!) and will truly be given the support of an excellent Church, lifelong, to seek the worthy goal of Heaven– does this not MEAN SOMETHING?? Does no one have a true MORAL CONSCIENCE any more, in our Church?? It is not easy to lead a truly good life! Yet, God so generously sent His own Son to guide a fallen, ruined world back to Him, to save us, for the life we weree originally made for, in Heaven! Sin destroys the soul– and ruins the whole world! Yet, there is the Hope of Christ!! Why can’t our Church carry out her mission for Christ, any more?? WHY??
Excellent analogy, Linda Maria. All I can say is this side of Heaven is a war, outright, black, dirty, multi-tiered, and diabolic in every sense.
God bless you. But He already has considering you had the sight to write what you did.
Reminds me of attending a Conference at Holy Names College – where the president welcomed participants without any bother about Jesus or the Church – but rather invoked his Idol and Role Model as the one to emulate – Saul Alinsky.
But then you can see the nail holes left over from where they removed the Crosses from the classroom, leaving only the faint outline of the Cross where the paint wasn’t as faded – as a sign of ‘tolerance’…
Because after all – In An Age of Abomination, Tolerance Macht Frei
Where is Abp Cordileone?
Has anyone sent him this article?
Institutions that advertise themselves as being “CATHOLIC” must NEVER tolerate sin.
The Diocese Bishop has the authority to take away the right from any organization or institution from calling themselves “Catholic” – per Code of Canon Law.
It’s time to stop the scandals within the Church – starting within each individual Diocese.
CCC: ” 2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices.”
– – MORTAL SINS damn Souls to Hell if individuals do not repent.
Saving of Souls must be the first order of business.
PETE,
You know or at least should, that all bishops are mortal men subject to mortal sin, and the Devil loves to capture them and he has lately been very successful at it, so we MUST PRAY FOR ALL PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, INCLUDING ESPECIALLY BISHOPS!
Having said that, I must repeat thatOur Lady has warned us to STAY WITH TRADITION!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
It is time for athletes and fans to “vote with their feet”. Just do not go or refuse to be involved in such things. The price of a ticket can be used for better things. Women dressed like prostitutes and so-called “costume failures”, that everyone knows is done on purpose, for entertainment in some sports events is just as bad.
People need to start voting with their feet. This and women dressed like prostitutes at some sports events with so-called “costume failures”, which everyone knows is done on purpose, for so-called entertainment are just as bad. If it happens unexpectedly walk out and, by all means ask for your money back. If enough people have the courage to do this, the nonsense will stop or at least one will not be wasting ones money. I have gotten my money back several times for tapes, videos, etc.
Very true, Anne. What you advocate is common sense and getting your money’s worth, that is what you pay for.
It is supposed to be like the Mafia, or voting for Obama = Once In, Never Out. At least that is the party line:
” 70 percent of teens with ‘gay’ attraction later say they are exclusively heterosexual: study BY THADDEUS BAKLINSKI
ITHACA, NY, January 9, 2014 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Questions are being raised about the validity of research on teenagers with same-sex attractions after a Cornell University professor found that more than 70 percent of teens who said they had ever had a same-sex “romantic attraction” later told researchers that they were unreservedly heterosexual.
The study, published last month in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, analyzed data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, also known as Add Health, which conducted four waves of surveys on teens as they matured into adulthood from 1994 to 2008.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/70-percent-of-teens-with-gay-attraction-later-say-they-are-exclusively-hete?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com+Daily+Newsletter&utm_campaign=da534f3197-LifeSiteNews_com_US_Headlines_06_19_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0caba610ac-da534f3197-326223830
Why does this school continue to be considered as Catholic?
USF is definitely not Catholic and members of the Faith should not have to continue being embarrassed by this sham. With this little production at the game USF has managed to affiliate the Church with sodomy in the eyes of other Christian denominations.
It is time to cut the cord!
Such an Opportunity for the Catholic Schools to step up and Stand Up for the Young – and so many CHINO bureaucratic leeches only want to compete with the State to dig the hole deeper:
“California schools rank low – again – in Education Week report
California’s public education system — not for the first time — has been given a low grade in Education Week’s annual state-by-state evaluation of school finances, teacher preparedness, academic achievement and other benchmarks.
The magazine gives California a “D” with a cumulative score of 72.4 on a 100-point scale, 10th lowest among the states. Subpar financing — the lowest in the nation — and poor academic achievement weighed heavily on the state’s evaluation.
Read more here: https://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2014/01/california-schools-rank-low—again—in-education-week-report.html#storylink=cpy
Culture, Its Delights and Distractions: What Happens In a Culture That Denies Truth?
https://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=53842
As the Holy Father wrote – Whether we admit it or not, there comes for everyone the moment when personal existence must be anchored to a truth recognized as final, a truth that confers a certitude no longer open to doubt…
Parents in recent decades have become increasingly concerned about the effect of post-secondary education on their children’s core beliefs-and perhaps for better reason than they know.
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The pervasive mentality of today’s academy encourages, whether intentionally or not, precisely the nihilism that John Paul II finds at the heart of postmodern philosophy and all its scholarly corollaries…