St. Charles Lwanga and Companions.

By Teresa Satola

Gay Catholics want patron saints?

You have them:  Martyrs who died rather than commit mortal sin.  As Fr. Z notes in his post, they were martyred by a sexually deviant King, a tribal Lord.  Fr. Z calls him a ritual pedophile.  I never considered it that way, and I think it is interesting in so far as we are reminded that the King and his pagan court believed in witchcraft - the ancient religion.  Interestingly, Black Africa continues to be plagued by witchcraft and superstition in some places.

A superstitious pagan, King Mwanga at first tolerated Christianity. Katikiro, a deputy in the court convinced the king that the Christians were dangerous, persuading him that if they refused to offer sacrifice, partake in the the activities the king desired, and if they would not massacre or make war, they would be no good for the kingdom, and if the kingdom became Catholic, it would destroy the country. - Source

"Charles Lwanga and companions died for their Faith and because they resisted the intrinsic evil of homosexual sex."

In 1879 the White Fathers were working successfully as missionaries in Uganda. They were, at first well received by King Mutesa.

Then there came a new pharaoh, as it were.

Mutesa died and his son, Mwanga, took over. He was a ritual pedophile.

Charles Lwanga, a 25 year old man who was a catechist, forcefully protected boys in his charge from the king’s sodomite advances.

The king had murdered an Anglican Bishop and tried to get his page, who was protected by Joseph Mukasa, later beheaded for his trouble. On the night of the martyrdom of Joseph Mukasa, Lwanga and other pages sought out the White Fathers for baptism. Some 100 catechumens were baptized.

A few months later, King Mwanga ordered all the pages to be questioned to find out if they were being catechized. 15 Christians 13 and 25 identified themselves. When the King asked them if they were willing to keep their faith, They answered in unison, “Until death!”

They were bound together and force marched for 2 days to Namugongo where they were to be burned at the stake. On the way, Matthias Kalemba, one of the eldest boys, exclaimed, “God will rescue me. But you will not see how he does it, because he will take my soul and leave you only my body.” He was cut to pieces and left him by the road. - Finish reading here.

A saintly guy...

The famous photo I remember.

Tom Dooley

In grade school the nuns always praised him, the self-sacrificing Dr. Thomas Dooley.  "He went to daily Mass."  In fact there was talk that Dooley could be a saint.  He died at in 1961 at the age of 34 and investigations into the possibilities of sainthood commenced some time later.  It was the investigation into his personal life which revealed his association with the CIA - not as a spy, but as a sort of benevolent informant.  I'm not sure, but these investigations may also have revealed rumors that Dooley participated in homosexual activities.  Evidently the cause was dropped, although I wonder if there was any type of positio gathered and documented?

Dooley died a faithful and devout Catholic.  He had a missionary spirit and is regarded a fine humanitarian, having received many honors before and after death.  A very brief biography can be found here. 

I post about him since gay people seem to want a saint who was gay.  Dooley possibly experienced same sex attraction, but obviously managed to integrate it into his life.  If homosexual activity is verifiable, I would see this as a sign of moral struggle, that he probably mastered with grace and the sacraments.  Not knowing the facts, it wouldn't be unreasonable to consider that perhaps the CIA invented the homosexual activity as an option to discredit Dooley, should circumstances have called for some sort of disavowal.  Nevertheless, Dooley generously sacrificed his life in service to others - a sign of heroic virtue, while foundations he either began or inspired, continue his work today.

I would like to look more closely at his life and reputation for sanctity.  If anyone knows what happened with the initial investigation for canonization, let me know.  Oddly enough, I met the priest responsible for the cause several times in the 1980's and '90's, never knowing about his work on the Dooley cause.  His name was Rev. Maynard Kegler.  I just found out Fr. Kegler died a year ago, on November 3, 2012.   Talk about the communion of saints, huh?

Dr. Dooley appeared on What's My Line shortly before his death,

here.

 

Blessed Herman ... the Disabled.

AKA the Cripple.

You just can't say it that way any longer.

What?

Bl. Herman became blind visually impaired in later life, and it was then he composed the Salve Regina.

"Not precise but dead on."

"'... it was a truant’s freedom that I loved' - Not precise but dead on."

That's what Fr. Z wrote regarding a translation of The Confessions of St. Augustine by Pine-Coffin.

For example, when Augustine is talking about his profligate youth in Carthage, P. renders “amans vias meas et non tuas, amans fugitivam libertatem” (3.3.5) as Good article - or well-intentioned.  I've thought along these lines as well - but it would be opposed by gay activists all the same.  She mentions Dr. Nicolosi and they hate him and his research - gay Catholics like Tushnet and friends at Spiritual Friendship totally reject his stuff as well as Courage.  I'll read this again and may work it in to some posts, but the resistance to this type of thing is strong - precisely because the gay Catholic movement wants to keep the gay identity thing and 'sanctify' it., not yours, but it was a truant’s freedom that I loved”.  Not precise but dead on. - Quaeritur

 I think the quote from St. Augustine is dead on for many reasons.  It may be difficult for me to be 'precise' however.  I've been outsmarted by better writers and thinkers, and my thoughts on particular moral issues are considered by some to be dated, at best.

That said, I really think the still-pagan-Augustinian 'problem' is what affects many younger people and their rejection of faith and morals.  Augustine is a great saint, a great example, in every aspect of his life, from his relentless search for truth to his licentiousness.  Of course penitents of all ages have been drawn to the Saint on account of his repentance and conversion, and most especially his teaching.  Today I see mirrored in Augustine's pre-converted life, something similar to what I see in the new atheists turned new converts, as well as many - though not all - gay-Catholics/Christians.  It seems to me not a few struggle to assimilate their sort of 'personal truth' into their Christian experience.  Yet once again, Augustine is a wonderful example of how to do that, as well as what not to do.  Nevertheless, some would disparage his example as too culturally bound, feeling the need to revise and reinterpret his 'stuff' to suit progressive thought. 

"I loved my own way..."

So you see, I'm already in way over my head, but I think many today retain an inordinate attachment to that "truant’s freedom" and subsequently remain ensnared to some degree, holding on - perhaps only by a thread, to the "I loved my own way, not yours..."  POV.  (At least when challenged.)

I've been reading many things on the 'problem' of 'gay-Catholic'.  Most of these people feel the linguistic battle over gay vs. same sex attracted is a waste of time.  I think SSA works for official Church publications, but ordinary, every day use of gay is pretty universal - so what can I say?  The debate reminds me of a Seinfeld episode when Frank Costanza was discussing chickens while at dinner in Susan's parents house.

Frank Costanza: Let me understand, you got the hen, the chicken and the rooster. The rooster goes with the chicken. So, who's having sex with the hen?
George Costanza: Why don't we talk about it another time.
Frank Costanza: But you see my point here? You only hear of a hen, a rooster and a chicken. Something's missing!
Mrs. Ross: Something's missing all right.
Mr. Ross: They're all chickens. The rooster has sex with all of them.

I'll take it a bit further.  "You got your LesbianGayBiTrannie ... which one is SSA?"  Like Susan's dad, I answer, "They're all queer.  Some just don't have sex."  Or something like that - but you get the idea.

And that, people, is one more reason why gay people hate me.

Moving along...

Reading gay-Catholics is helpful in understanding some of the problems they still have in understanding Catholic teaching.  It also helps explains how non-gay Catholics seem to be second guessing themselves, Church teaching, pastoral care of homosexual persons, mean Pope Ratzinger, and same sex marriage issues.  Joseph Bottum's about face comes to mind - followed up by his explanation for that here:  "What’s changed is my encounter with young people, or what has changed me is my encounter with young people. My reading of the rising generation of Catholic bloggers…these are 20-somethings. They’re out of college, they’re serious Catholics […] and they’re saying, “Look I understand the theology and I accept the theology but I have a phenomenological crisis, because here in front of me are these people who are growing […] to see the Catholic Church as the image and the focus—to use a literary word, as the synecdoche—for all oppression of homosexuals.”   There are bishops and priests and many Catholic spokesmen who agree with him as well.

Then there are those well meaning advocates who believe a new approach to homosexuality is needed.

If we are going to save our culture, it is important that Christians change their approach toward homosexuality. Fighting the GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) agenda in the legislatures and courts will not succeed as long as the GLBTQ activists define the debate. We must treat same-sex attraction and sexual identity disorders (the so-called transgendered and queer) as what they are—preventable and treatable problems. 

Such a change in attitude has happened before with alcoholism and abortion and needs to happen again. - Crisis

As I wrote to a friend: "Good article - or well-intentioned.  I've thought along these lines as well - but it would be opposed by gay activists all the same - 'preventable and treatable' are red flags even to the most faithful 'gay-Catholic'.  The author mentions Dr. Nicolosi and most 'gay-Catholics' despise him and his research - NARTH - 'gay-Catholics' totally reject his stuff, as well as Courage Apostolate.  Which, BTW, is 'new' in the Church - it's been tried and is true - rejection of the Apostolate suggests to me at least, a certain elitist resistance.  Resistance to the idea of homosexuality as a 'preventable and treatable problem' is pervasive and strong - precisely because the 'gay-Catholic' movement wants to keep the gay identity thing and 'sanctify' it."

Yep. 

... to be continued.
 

Revisiting 'Gay' Saints

The Church proposes the example of numerous Saints who bore witness to and defended moral truth even to the point of enduring martyrdom, or who preferred death to a single mortal sin. In raising them to the honour of the altars, the Church has canonized their witness and declared the truth of their judgment, according to which the love of God entails the obligation to respect his commandments, even in the most dire of circumstances, and the refusal to betray those commandments, even for the sake of saving one's own life.

Martyrdom, accepted as an affirmation of the inviolability of the moral order, bears splendid witness both to the holiness of God's law and to the inviolability of the personal dignity of man, created in God's image and likeness. - Veritatis Splendor

"Canonize a gay saint...

Those with same-sex attractions need the concrete example of someone who has known the unique and often lonely struggle they endure and has come out of it successfully. To say that there may be some anonymous gay saint is woefully insufficient as it invites the making of an imaginary construct suited to encompass whatever faults an individual would rather not work on. If the only other example you can point to is a few smoldering corpses beneath the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, then you’ve utterly failed to communicate anything other than a wrathful God." - An Interesting Letter from a Gay Catholic

The above was taken from Mark Shea's post, "An Interesting Letter..."  Ever since I began blogging I have written on the subject of gay saints.  Revisionists claim many saints were gay - because they fit some modern 'profile' or 'stereotype' of gay behavior.  Some gay activists speculate about many great souls, insisting they were gay. Their conclusions are often based upon 19th and 20th century understanding of homosexual behavior and culture. The modern concept of homosexuality did not exist before the mid to late 19th century.  On some level, looking for 'gay' saints represents a kind of 'pious narcissism' - with the aim to canonize same sex attraction.  The writer cited above clearly does not have that aim in mind, he sees it as a need for "the concrete example of someone who has known the unique and often lonely struggle they endure and has come out of it successfully."

To be honest, I missed that the first time I read it.  I simply read it as a call for a gay saint - not so much someone who came 'out of it successfully.'  I'm not sure how that would work for 'gay-Catholics' who, though celibate and chaste, consider the inclination itself to be morally neutral.  The Church clarifies that misunderstanding here:

  Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder. - Letter to Bishops

The CDF document goes on to recommend "special concern and pastoral attention should be directed toward those who have this condition..."  Perhaps canonizing a person who remained faithful to Catholic teaching and lived a life of heroic virtue would be helpful to persons struggling with SSA, but I'm not sure that's the kind of saint 'gay' Catholics are looking for, although the author of the letter to Mark Shea might be looking for a saint like that.

Saints like us.

I once asked a monk if he thought any of the saints had been gay, and he answered that he did not know of any. He went on to explain that the temptation to homosexual acts was likely to have afflicted some of the saints, but it would have been viewed as a temptation to lust, or in some cases, an inordinate attachment to another person. Before the 20th century non-sexual same sex friendship would have known and preserved boundaries, especially as regards that sin they used to say was too awful even to name. We today can't even imagine that kind of discretion.

Now days many people want to claim this or that saint was gay. Even very good Catholics do this. Not a few insist Blessed Cardinal Newman was gay because of his extraordinary friendship with Fr. Ambrose. Others speculate that the Carmelite Fr. Hermann Kohen was involved in intimate same sex relationships, yet there is absolutely no evidence for such a claim, especially as it is well known that before his conversion he had love affairs with women. Such speculation demonstrates the human desire to have saints be just like ourselves. There is nothing wrong with that, although in some cases it opens the door to validating immoral inclinations or acts, and leads to what I mentioned, a 'pious narcisissm'. Wishful thinking is nothing but a deception and a trap.

Saints demonstrate heroic virtue - not vice.

Having said that, all saints are powerful intercessors and models for the faithful for a variety of needs, thus it is good to look for those with whom we have some affinity and can identify with. Yet even the most pure and chaste, such as Therese of Lisieux knows and understands the suffering of souls, her sensitivity for the weakest amongst us surely makes her one of the greatest helps and models for survivors of all kinds of abuse, sexual disorders and addictions, and so on. Of course, it is the Heart of Jesus who understands the suffering, wounded soul the best - he alone knows the most hidden recesses of our hearts and descends into depths of our misery to redeem us in his Blood.

I think in our day and going forward, we will get to know of candidates for sainthood whose intimate lives are very well known. I'm sure we will be hearing of saints who were raped and died, or those who survived to become saints, as well as survivors of abuse. And undoubtedly, there will be saints who had been former sex workers, as well as former active homosexuals, who repented and abandon those lifestyles. Perhaps some of these will even be martyrs. 

Christians who are homosexual are called, as all of us are, to a chaste life. As they dedicate their lives to understanding the nature of God's personal call to them, they will be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance more faithfully and receive the Lord's grace so freely offered there in order to convert their lives more fully to his Way. - CDF

If we hope to bring others back to the Church, we must acknowledge that there will be amongst those persons returning some who have been in long-term relationships and partnerships or commitments.  The Church says living out of this (homosexual) orientation in homosexual activity is not a morally acceptable option.  But the Church does not forbid chaste friendship and mutual support.

If there is anything good about gay people claiming particular saints as their patron - if indeed they have devotion to them, which also means seeking to follow their example - then the Holy Spirit may have greater access to their conscience as it were, and perhaps better able to correct it.  The saints are powerful intercessors and God always draws good out of evil.

Saints - male and female he created them.

Going forward, I want to highlight saints who would be good patrons for gay people, commenting on their lives - although I doubt any were 'gay' - nevertheless their example and patronage would be undoubtedly beneficial and inspiring for people seeking to sanctify their lives.  Some may be penitents, others ordinary souls who demonstrate the greatness of ordinary life. 

Unfortunately, as noted in the beginning of the post, many gay people today claim saints and Biblical figures were gay based upon their legends and writings.  If ever there was a favorite amongst gay people, St. Aelred certainly ranks at the top of their list.  (He was mentioned in the combox of Mark's post.)

St. Aelred of Rievaulx.
.
An English Cistercian abbot and contemporary of St. Bernard, Aelred wrote much on English history and spirituality.  The saint is especially known today for his treatises on charity and spiritual friendship.  The writings on spiritual friendship form the basis for the claim Aelred was "gay" - a novel theory postulated in the mid-20th century.  Again, those who make the claim are looking at this from our 19th-21st century perspective and contemporary understanding of same-sex sexual relations as posited by gay culture today.  The contemporary phenomenon of open, public homosexuality has been unheard of in Western culture since ancient pagan civilizations in Greece and further east to Persia.  That said, even in those times it remains highly doubtful that it was generally practiced, or across the board accepted, as we see and understand promotion of the practice today.

It is not surprising that in monasteries the vice of homosexuality would present itself as a temptation to sin, which is why we read in the desert father's admonitions against admitting boys to the life, or looking long upon a boy, etc..  The vice was reported in some monasteries or hermitages, and the brothers were dismissed.  Cassian also writes about these things and even condemns such things as involuntary nocturnal emissions.  Hence St. Aelred would have been very familiar with the writings of the Fathers and first monks regarding chastity, as well as understanding the writings of St. Paul and other scriptural condemnations of homosexuality, just as orthodox Christians do today.  To suggest he lived a homosexual life, or permitted same-sex familiarity and romantic love within the monastic community is certainly a distortion of authentic monastic observance, spirituality, and Catholic teaching.  In other words - it is absurd.

Perhaps a better patron for those struggling with homosexuality.

Did Aelred experience homosexual temptations?  We do not know - in the lives of every saint, a great variety of temptation enters to purify and sanctify the soul - even as we get older, our concupiscence and the devil suggests unheard of horrible sins - therefore no one should be surprised if this was the case with St. Aelred.  Nevertheless he could not be a saint if he had condoned a lifestyle so clearly contrary to natural law and God's will - or plan for creation.

What St. Aelred does offer however, is sound teaching on wholesome and holy friendship.  It is said he was strongly attracted to a monk named Simon - on account of the other's perfect observance and spiritual demeanor.  As I always say - men and women are naturally attracted by beauty and grace and goodness, but it doesn't mean that the attraction is carnal or sensual.  And this is where Aelred contradicts the contemporary revisionist interpretation of his life and teaching. 

St. Maximilian Kolbe

The Militia of the Immaculata began on October 16, 1917, around a table at the Conventual Franciscan seminary in Rome. Maximilian Kolbe gathered six like-minded young friars before a statue of the Blessed Virgin and drafted a charter that would establish one of the most influential Marian apostolates ever. - MI

When I was little I was introduced to the Militia of Mary Immaculate through school.  I wanted to be a 'knight' of Our Lady, and signed up.   The life of Maximilian Kolbe made a deep impression upon me, so after I returned to the Church as a young adult, I renewed my membership in the Militia and went through the Total Consecration to the Immaculata, according to St. Louis DeMontfort.

What is the Militia?

Saint Maximilian Kolbe founded the Militia Immaculate in response to the growing threat of Free Masonry (Freemasons). While still a student in Rome; he was walking home to the college and witnessed in St. Peter’s Square an unauthorized demonstration of Free Masonry. They were denouncing the Church, the Pope, and had a picture of Satan crushing the head of St. Michael the Archangel. The Freemasons were and still are a great danger to the Catholic Church. Where Communism and Socialism would stand face-to-face with the Church, the Freemasons would sneak around the back of the Church and pick pocket her from behind. The Militia Immaculate has a two-fold purpose – 1. Re-conquer the universe and return it to Jesus Christ through the Immaculate Heart of Mary and 2. Spiritually battle the evils of Free Masonry. [I will soon do a blog post on the dangers of the Freemasons.] - More at Tom Perna

Lobbies...

As everyone knows, Pope Francis recently mentioned lobbies - the gay lobby, Masonic lobby - and yes, the Holy Father used the term gay.  It's the popular-political term that many people argue about.  I don't want to reprise that discussion here. 

However, the fact that there is a "gay" lobby, homosexualist movement, gay rights/gay pride movement/agenda is undeniable.  Undeniable.  Do they demonstrate and protest in front of St. Peter's, the Vatican?  Do they demonstrate outside cathedrals and churches, and even disrupt Masses?  Yes they do.  The Masons may no longer do such things, but gay activists do.

I'm beginning to think that by getting people comfortable with the term - "the Church has to do better with gay people" - we're pretty much capitulating to the demand for approval of a separate gay identity, behavior, lifestyle and spirituality.  It's confusing the faithful, blurring the lines - and I suspect it is intentional.  Maybe not so much when Church leaders do so, but it plays well with the game plan.

Opposition to Church teaching.

When one sticks to Church teaching, one is accused of homophobia and self hate.  On some level, this demonstrates to me that 'gay' has been radically defined as an identity amongst those who have chosen to lobby for universal recognition and approval of homosexuality in all of its forms.  It is a very real opposition to Catholic doctrine and tradition. 

As I read comments on my blog, as well as on other blogs, (I could link to examples, but why give traffic to posts I think are hurting the discussion?) I sometimes detect an underlying and sometimes overt  animosity towards Catholic teaching, if not downright rejection of it - especially by some non-celibate gay Catholics.  It has never been so apparent as now, since Pope Francis spoke in a more conciliatory tone when referencing gay people.  The current Pope is increasingly contrasted with Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict and the language of the documents issued under his watch regarding homosexuality.  As if Pope Francis would deviate from consistent papal teaching on the subject.  He can't.  It appears to be a real obstacle to gay activists, one they would like 'redefined' if not trashed.

 The issue of homosexuality and the moral evaluation of homosexual acts have increasingly become a matter of public debate, even in Catholic circles. Since this debate often advances arguments and makes assertions inconsistent with the teaching of the Catholic Church, it is quite rightly a cause for concern to all engaged in the pastoral ministry... - CDF Letter to Bishops

These passages are very relevant to the original idea of this post and the concept of a lobby.  The Letter to Bishops is not only frequently ignored by those who should be teaching the truth, it is also decried by those who seek to promote gay culture.

Nevertheless, increasing numbers of people today, even within the Church, are bringing enormous pressure to bear on the Church to accept the homosexual condition as though it were not disordered and to condone homosexual activity. Those within the Church who argue in this fashion often have close ties with those with similar views outside it. These latter groups are guided by a vision opposed to the truth about the human person, which is fully disclosed in the mystery of Christ. They reflect, even if not entirely consciously, a materialistic ideology which denies the transcendent nature of the human person as well as the supernatural vocation of every individual. 

The Church's ministers must ensure that homosexual persons in their care will not be misled by this point of view, so profoundly opposed to the teaching of the Church. But the risk is great and there are many who seek to create confusion regarding the Church's position, and then to use that confusion to their own advantage. 

9. The movement within the Church, which takes the form of pressure groups of various names and sizes, attempts to give the impression that it represents all homosexual persons who are Catholics. As a matter of fact, its membership is by and large restricted to those who either ignore the teaching of the Church or seek somehow to undermine it. It brings together under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behaviour. One tactic used is to protest that any and all criticism of or reservations about homosexual people, their activity and lifestyle, are simply diverse forms of unjust discrimination. 

There is an effort in some countries to manipulate the Church by gaining the often well-intentioned support of her pastors with a view to changing civil-statutes and laws.

This is done in order to conform to these pressure groups' concept that homosexuality is at least a completely harmless, if not an entirely good, thing. Even when the practice of homosexuality may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people, its advocates remain undeterred and refuse to consider the magnitude of the risks involved. - ibid

In our day, as the issue becomes ever more confused, it may be very good advice to turn to the Blessed Virgin, as did St. Maximilian Kolbe.

Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, for alone
thou hast put an end to all heresies . . .

 

O Mary conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to you

 and for those who do not,

especially the enemies of the Church

and those recommended to you.