Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, November 18, 2009
Homo / Religion Outing Catholic Priests
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 8:34 AM
Gay activists in Washington D.C. are launching an outing campaign targeting Catholic priests.
This site was created to provide you with an outlet to save LGBT children from the hypocrisy of priests in the Archdiocese of Washington who engage in romantic and sexual relationships, and yet stand silent while Archbishop Wuerl and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops increase their dogmatic war against all LGBT children of God. If you know that one of the priests in the Archdiocese is gay, or having a heterosexual affair, please share your story.
Was it something I said?
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how about outing elected officials who smoked pot, yet do nothing about the fact other people are in jail, because they smoked or possessed or traded pot?
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"Was it something I said?" No, it looks more like something that Andrew Sullivan said. Though I suppose we'll have to give you partial credit.
This is a great idea and long overdue.
This is a great idea and long overdue.
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Dan, how do you safeguard for defamation? Anyone can just write and claim that some is gay and/or having an affair, and people should just what, take them at their word? This is wholly irresponsible and will prove to be totally ineffective, much like Dan Savage himself. Do you still have your doorknob-licking-defending-lawyer on retainer?
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It sounds like you're obsessed with Dan
Do you keep replying so he will talk to you
Fighting with other unregistered commenters
So he finally notices you and only you?
Maybe lick your doorknob?
Why won't Dan notice you? Why? Why why why?
It's not fair
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It sounds like you're obsessed with Dan
Do you keep replying so he will talk to you
Fighting with other unregistered commenters
So he finally notices you and only you?
Maybe lick your doorknob?
Why won't Dan notice you? Why? Why why why?
It's not fair
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@4: Sully comes up with some good ideas from time to time, but I'm leaning toward believing he cribbed it from someone else.
You know, like a community effort.
Personally, I can't wait for the church's response to this-- it will be classic. They end up sounding like Ahmadinejad most of the time, so this should be no different. "THERE ARE NO GAYS IN THE CHURCH!!"
You know, like a community effort.
Personally, I can't wait for the church's response to this-- it will be classic. They end up sounding like Ahmadinejad most of the time, so this should be no different. "THERE ARE NO GAYS IN THE CHURCH!!"
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This is good as far as it goes --- but what is the one thing the church loves the most? MONEY!!
In addition to outing the hypocrits now is the time to start insisting that churches pay the same taxes as everone --including gay people--pay. Property tax!!!! Business taxes!!! soak them! The old con that the church does so much good doesn't hold (holy)water.
In addition to outing the hypocrits now is the time to start insisting that churches pay the same taxes as everone --including gay people--pay. Property tax!!!! Business taxes!!! soak them! The old con that the church does so much good doesn't hold (holy)water.
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question: if a priest was outed, and then committed suicide as a result, would you continue this campaign?
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I am ashamed of people who would do this. Being closeted must be a horrible experience. One which I will never know, thank God. But I have sexual secrets, like the rest of us. I'd not want them broadcast no matter what I did.
As a member of AA, I know a lot of people's secrets, and I'd never reveal them, no matter how hypocritical the person is.
As a member of AA, I know a lot of people's secrets, and I'd never reveal them, no matter how hypocritical the person is.
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I am ashamed of people who would do this. Being closeted must be a horrible experience. One which I will never know, thank God. But I have sexual secrets, like the rest of us. I'd not want them broadcast no matter what I did.
As a member of AA, I know a lot of people's secrets, and I'd never reveal them, no matter how hypocritical the person is.
As a member of AA, I know a lot of people's secrets, and I'd never reveal them, no matter how hypocritical the person is.
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@10: Well, for all the folks that kill themselves out of shame over repeated sexual abuse, you'd think the Catholic Church would have a similar crisis of conscience.
You know, instead of shuffling priests around the country to space out the abuse.
You know, instead of shuffling priests around the country to space out the abuse.
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Out the smug, duplicitous motherfuckers. In fact, send ritualistic Catholicism back to the Middle Ages where it belongs.
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@10 They don't care about individuals, they only care for the agenda. So you bet they would continue with this campaign. As far as they're are concerned those Catholic priest are nothing more than traitors for having a conscience of their own, for not denouncing their church in favor of their agenda. So according to them this 'campaign' is the sort of thing that most be done in order to silence, no matter what other consequences (like the one you cited) are brought about because of it.
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The only problem is that the Catechism of the Catholic Church says that it's perfectly FINE to be gay--- but that homosexuality is a call to celibacy. Therefore, the priests that are gay (and are remaining celibate, that is) are the only ones who are actually following doctrine, and should be celebrated by the Catholics. --Whether they actually would be is a whole different story.
The ones who are following through and having affairs, on the other hand-- open season.
The ones who are following through and having affairs, on the other hand-- open season.
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@16: So it's okay for them to abuse children and be hypocrites because they're religious? Okay, got it.
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The justice sided of me thinks exposing hypocrisy to the light, is a good thing, and brings freedom from a life built on lies. I.e., Ms. Prejean will be better in the long run.
The compassionate side of me cringes at the idea that some who are innocent will suffer in the process. Some who do not condemn others, will become condemned due to guilt by association.
It's a fine, fine line to balance the two.
The compassionate side of me cringes at the idea that some who are innocent will suffer in the process. Some who do not condemn others, will become condemned due to guilt by association.
It's a fine, fine line to balance the two.
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There is no love lost between me and the Catholic church, and many of its priests. At least one of them did me a great deal of psychological harm (not physical harm, thank God).
However, outing gay priests who are serving faithfully will not change anything. In fact, not much of anything will change anything with respect to the Catholic church's stance on homosexuality, reproductive rights, or the role of women.
I worked for the Catholic church. I have known a lot of priests. I can tell you that a lot of the priest I really respect, ones I would turn to in a time of crisis and ones I could depend on to err on the side of mercy and compassion, were gay - and deeply in the closet publically. They may have been comfortable with who they were, but they care enough about their calling to not broadcast it.
No, I don't think it is right that they have to stay hidden. But that is their choice, and it should be respected.
However, outing gay priests who are serving faithfully will not change anything. In fact, not much of anything will change anything with respect to the Catholic church's stance on homosexuality, reproductive rights, or the role of women.
I worked for the Catholic church. I have known a lot of priests. I can tell you that a lot of the priest I really respect, ones I would turn to in a time of crisis and ones I could depend on to err on the side of mercy and compassion, were gay - and deeply in the closet publically. They may have been comfortable with who they were, but they care enough about their calling to not broadcast it.
No, I don't think it is right that they have to stay hidden. But that is their choice, and it should be respected.
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@22 -- I couldn't agree more. I mean, if there is a priest out there who is preaching fire and brimstone and eternal torment for homosexuals, then going out and picking up guys at night, I have no problem whatsoever with people outing his hypocritical ass. But if there is a priest who was sexually active earlier in his life but became a priest because he now honestly believes his homosexuality was a "call to celibacy" and, since becoming a priest, has lived his life accordingly... however much I disagree with him, I don't think he should be outed because of it.
What it comes down to is this: homosexuality is not a choice, and while I have no problem with outing people for their hypocrisy with regards to choices they have actually made (i.e., saying one thing to his congregation, but doing another with his personal life). On the other hand, I do have a huge problem with outing people for something they had no choice over and who is otherwise trying to practice what he preaches, even if I find what he is preaching to be reprehensible.
What it comes down to is this: homosexuality is not a choice, and while I have no problem with outing people for their hypocrisy with regards to choices they have actually made (i.e., saying one thing to his congregation, but doing another with his personal life). On the other hand, I do have a huge problem with outing people for something they had no choice over and who is otherwise trying to practice what he preaches, even if I find what he is preaching to be reprehensible.
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Sure, atheist and closet atheists are the sole arbiters of what is "hypocrisy" and what needs to be exposed. They get to decide what Catholic or Christian doctrine should be even tho they don't belive in it. Their worldview is the only one that's worthy of being proclaimed, at any cost.
Secularist 'compassion' in action.
Secularist 'compassion' in action.
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@25, I thought you were at the downtown adult book store licking the floors where the video booths are located at?
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I'd much rather see a campaign aimed at outing *pedophile* priests in the Catholic Church, like the one that killed my cousin while driving a carload of altar boys home drunk from a camping trip in MA, probably after molesting them (that fine man was later put in prison for molesting other kids).
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This should definitely be done. Why? It will:
1) Remind catholic gay-haters that they already know, like and trust many gay men.
2) Force the catholic church to acknowledge and accept its sexually active gay priests (and just possibly ordain women and married men). There aren't enough new priests in the US (or moving here from the developing world) to replenish the gaping hole that would exist if their sexually active gay priesthood were defrocked.
1) Remind catholic gay-haters that they already know, like and trust many gay men.
2) Force the catholic church to acknowledge and accept its sexually active gay priests (and just possibly ordain women and married men). There aren't enough new priests in the US (or moving here from the developing world) to replenish the gaping hole that would exist if their sexually active gay priesthood were defrocked.
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This is the same church that campaigns against consensual relationships between adult men, and then turns around and protects men who rape children.
Basically, the standard is "male on male action is fine... as long as it's violent."
Fuck them.
Basically, the standard is "male on male action is fine... as long as it's violent."
Fuck them.
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