CPO News

Assumption Parish - Basilica of St. Mary - Church of St. Albert the Great - Church of St. Frances Cabrini - Church of St. Joan of Arc - Church of St. Matthew - Church of St. Philip - Church of St. Stanislaus - Church of St. Stephen - Guardian Angels Church.

POPE CALLS BISHOPS TO PUBLICLY REPRIMAND DISSENTERS FROM CHURCH'S MORAL TEACHING Strongly Implies Dissent is at the Root of the Scandals and Must be Bishops' First Priority

ROME, April 26, 2002 (LSN. ca) - At the conclusion of the meeting between Pope John Paul II and the Cardinals of the United States Wednesday, the pope called on the "Pastors of the Church" to "publicly...reprimand individuals who spread dissent." ...Number one on the pope's list of suggested changes was "the Pastors of the Church need clearly to promote the correct moral teaching of the Church and publicly to reprimand individuals who spread dissent and groups which advance ambiguous approaches to pastoral care."

READ ON... The following information is from the web site called "The Catholic Pastoral Committee of Sexual Minorities"(CPCSM). This group is responsible for the insidious “safe staff training” in most of our Catholic high schools.

"Becoming a Member of 'CPCSM' - Please join us in 'serving as the loyal dissent within' and in helping the Church to become more just and hospitable. Some of the benefits of membership include: receiving The Rainbow Spirit, voting at our annual meetings, receiving media alerts, having access to our prayer line, and knowing that you are contributing to the invaluable and often ground-breaking ministry of CPCSM."

"CPCSM Welcoming Parish Survey Results:"

"Twin Cities Area Catholic Parishes That Offer Hospitality to GLBT Persons and Their Families.

The following parishes responded positively to a survey from CPCSM that asked if their ministers would be welcoming to GLBT persons and their families if they wished to worship there and receive other ministry services from the parish staff.

Assumption Parish, 51 West 7th St. St. Paul, MN 55102. (651) 224-7536

Basilica of St. Mary, 88 North 17th St. Minneapolis, MN 55405. (612) 333-1381

Church of St. Albert the Great, 2836 33rd Ave. South. Minneapolis, MN 55406. (612) 724-3643

Church of St. Frances Cabrini, 1500 SE Franklin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55414. (612) 339-3023

Church of St. Joan of Arc, 4537 Third Ave. South. Minneapolis, MN 55409. (612) 823-8205

Church of St. Matthew, 490 Hall Ave. St. Paul, MN 55107. (651) 224-9793

Church of St. Philip, 2507 Bryant Ave. North. Minneapolis, MN 55411. (612) 529-3125

Church of St. Stanislaus, 398 Superior St. St. Paul, MN 55102. (651) 292-0303

Church of St. Stephen, 2211 Clinton Ave. South. Minneapolis, MN 55404. (612) 874-0311

Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Hudson Blvd. North. Oakdale, MN 55128. (651) 738-2223

Does this, in your mind, conflict with the following letter to pastors? Complete letter follows.

December 21, 1998

Reverend and Dear Father,

Many priests recently received a fund-raising letter from the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities. Included in the letter was this statement: "The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is supportive of our efforts, however, we receive no financial support from the Archdiocese". The statement is accurate in regard to the lack of financial support from the Archdiocese. The statement says too much in indicating that the Archdiocese is supportive of CPCSM's efforts and those of related entities, such as the "Families and Friends of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons in Catholic Schools".

Both Archbishop Flynn and Archbishop Roach have been careful to avoid support of this organization. To the extent that CPCSM and its related entities have attempted to combat discrimination and violence against homosexual persons and to advance their spiritual welfare, they are working very much toward the same goals as our Church. Nevertheless, some of their literature and the public statements of some of their individual members indicate a further purpose for the organization. To the extent that they advocate changes in the moral and sacramental-theological traditions of our Church, particularly in promoting recognition of same- sex unions and the genital expression of affection between persons of the same gender, they most certainly do not enjoy the support of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

It is our understanding that the organization is not univocal in regard to this advocacy agenda. Nevertheless, there is sufficient cause for concern in this regard that both Archbishops have avoided supporting, endorsing, or recognizing in any formal way the CPCSM.

Sincerely your in Christ,

Reverend Kevin McDonough, Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia