The long-running battle between gay-rights activists and the Vatican has moved into the realm of the dead. With 19th century Anglican convert Cardinal John Henry Newman, arguably the greatest Catholic thinker from the English-speaking world, moving ever closer to sainthood, trouble is brewing over where his final resting place should be. The London-born historian and theologian died in 1890 and, following the instructions in his will, was buried beside his lifelong friend and fellow convert Ambrose St. John, who had died 15 years earlier. Newman's deep expressions of grief after St. John's death, along with other writings, have led some historians to ask whether the two men, who resided together for many years, lived much like common-law spouses.
Newman, whose ideas on conscience and faith have influenced Christian theology to the present day, is expected to be beatified next year, following the Vatican's recent certification of a Newman miracle… he final step of canonization — full sainthood — will require proof of an additional miracle achieved through the intercession of Newman's spirit. The Vatican announced plans this month to move Newman's remains from a small grave site in the central English town of Rednal to a specially built sarcophagus in the Oratory Church of Birmingham, where, officials say, they will be more accessible to venerating faithful.
But British gay-rights activist Peter Tatchell sees ulterior motives in exhuming the Cardinal: "embarrassment" because of his relationship with St. John. "They were inseparable. They lived together for half a century, effectively like husband and wife," says Tatchell. "There were repeated allegations during [Newman's] lifetime about his circle of homosexual friends. It is uncertain whether their relationship involved sex. It is quite likely that both men had a gay orientation but chose to abstain from sexual relations. But abstinence does not alter a person's sexual orientation." Tatchell says that the two men's bond, and Newman's abiding wish to have his final resting place next to St. John's, make separating their remains "an act of dishonesty and betrayal by the homophobes in the Vatican."
Read complete article: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1837124,00.html
Was Cardinal John Henry Newman Gay?
by Barbara Bradley Hagerty
All Things Considered, September 17, 2010
National Public Radio (NPR)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129930850
SEXUAL CONVERSION THERAPIES
Jack Drescher, M.D.
http://fathermartykurylowicz.blogspot.com/2010/08/sexual-conversion-therapies-jack.html
The Use of Erikson’s Developmental Theory with Gay Men from Rural Communities
by Keith W. Beard, Psy.D. & Amy Hissam, M.A.
Marshall University – 2002
http://www.marshall.edu/jrcp/jrcp%20intro%20glbt/JRCP%20Erikson.htm
Single, Angry, Straight Male... Seeks Same?
By Jesse Bering – January 30, 2009 – Scientific America
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=single-angry-straight-male
Gay Marriage -> Restores “Hope of Love” To Children In Early Childhood – Marriage Equality – March 23, 2010 – By Fr. Marty Kurylowicz
http://fathermartykurylowicz.blogspot.com/2010/09/gay-marriage-restores-hope-of-love-to.html
Should Being Gay Be a Family Secret?
by Dr. Ana Nogales – July 14, 2010
Psychology Today
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/bloggers/dr-ana-nogales
“Drink to the Pope, if you please, still, to conscience first.” Cardinal John Newman
Pope Benedict trip: Why move John Henry Newman toward sainthood?
By Robert Marquand, September 17, 2010
The Christian Science Monitor.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2010/0917/Pope-Benedict-trip-Why-move-John-Henry-Newman-toward-sainthood
The Quality Of Lasting Homosexual Relationships Deserve Respect
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Vienna
http://fathermartykurylowicz.blogspot.com/2010/08/cardinal-christoph-schonborn-vienna.html
“Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit."
Erik Erikson
No comments:
Post a Comment