One last post on Joseph Sciambra and Fr. James Martin, S.J.

[Ed.Note: I first posted this on Facebook, then took it down, my Facebook page is not followed by very many people, and few seem to care about stuff like this.  In addition, a Cardinal Sarah letter just broke in the WSJ, pretty much taking down Fr. Martin's book.  Monsignor Pope and others on Facebook are applauding the letter, which should settle any dispute with Fr. Martin's POV for most Catholics.  Likewise, Joseph Sciambra is indeed getting the recognition and kudos he needs with a Church Militant spot covering his interview of Paprocki.  Therefore, it seems to me the increased coverage means Joseph Sciambra no longer needs to be concerned that he is being ignored by the 'Catholic left'.] 

"What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all means to shun." - Imitation of Christ

Joseph Sciambra is taking flak on Facebook for his criticism of Fr. James Martin. He has many criticizing him in return. Sciambra is a good man, from a very complex background, and his conversion story is quite remarkable. His apostolate even more remarkable, as it includes evangelizing right in the middle of the Castro - so to speak. His story is pretty extraordinary. Nevertheless, his complaint that Catholic spokesmen for LGBTQ issues working towards some kind of dialogue, albeit ignoring his story and work, just might verge a little on the self-indulgent. Joseph Sciambra has his own forum, a website and he is fairly often interviewed on radio and podcasts, as well as featured in online magazine articles.

Catholics unacquainted with pastoral care of homosexual persons may not know that the only approved apostolate in the Church is Courage - it's a national group with diocesan chapters guided by a priest, established to help gay/same-sex-attracted people live a chaste, celibate life in accord with Catholic teaching. Writers like Fr. Martin already know it exists and is fully approved, has a strong following and so on. Though I'm not aware of Joe being invited to speak at a major Courage conference, his message and life is certainly a good model for the group. In other words, I'm trying to point out that individuals like Joseph do indeed have a voice and their stories are indeed recognized - in the Church and in and through a venue such as Courage.

Catholics, such as Fr. Martin appear to be reaching out to those who are not yet reconciled with Catholic teaching, and or misunderstand what the Church teaches and even reject it. One may agree or disagree on how he does that, what he says in his books, and so on. Just as many may disagree with Joe. Social media is like open-mike night - if one condemns another, the other should expect return fire. 

As the Imitation counsels: "What I am not willing to suffer I ought by all means to shun."

Sciambra's Facebook post I responded to:

Joseph Sciambra - 8/31/17 3 hrs · I find it amazing how the gay Catholic Left and their allies bemoan certain members of the hierarchy for judging homosexuality without ever (they claim) knowing someone from the LGBT community – the main point that James Martin keeps making is that the Church must start by “listening to the stories that L.G.B.T. Catholics have to tell of rejection and humiliation by society and by the church…” But then these same teary-eyed hand wringing virtue signaling advocates turn around and marginalize me – Hypocrites. They want an open forum - for themselves.

I still think he needs to beware the temptation to celebrity.



Addendum:  Once again, it appears I made a mistake in judgment.  It is good to be corrected, and especially so by Mr. Sciambra.  Joseph explained to me what he means when he speaks of his message and outreach being marginalized, and or ignored.  Explaining that in San Francisco, just about every parish with a sizable LGBT presence is frequently subject to the influence of the so-called 'gay-mafia'.  Hence Sciambra is either barred from speaking, or as in one case a speaking engagement was cancelled due to protests.  That's what he meant when he says he is marginalized.  He is not looking any sort of national spotlight.  I apologize I suggested that might have been his intention, it is not.

That said, many are mystified, as is Joseph, as to why the huge blow-back against his outreach, as well as Bishop Paprocki's statements on pastoral care for homosexual persons, not to mention the sometimes hostile remarks made against priests like Fr. Martin.  I think it's because, though their statements are very clear concerning Catholic teaching and are necessary to dispel error,  their statements and POV is sometimes sensationalized on social media and especially in conservative media, which happens to be the only source willing and able to publish their statements, and or stories.  In doing that, the stories are often editorialized and inflamed against those whose approach to the subject is deemed too liberal or conciliatory, and so on.  Therefore their LGBTQ opponents politicize the message, which means they connect Catholicism with the 'alt-right'.  It's happened throughout history, perhaps most notably in Franco's Spain.  Very simply, so-called 'liberals' turned 'leftists' want to silence anyone who opposes a more liberal agenda.  It's a form of censorship not unlike the new iconoclast movement employed to tear down historical monuments and so on.

Anyway - I will ty to be more careful when discussing these matters in the future.  Again, my apologies to Joseph Sciambra.