REPARATIVE THERAPY
WHISTLEBLOWING
to protect gay children from the Severity of Antigay Social &
Religious Norms - FLEES – Hostile Working Environment Incapacitating
Retaliation - NOW – Vatican Twist Flees to Refusing to Return – to remove from
Clerical State - Gay Priest is Defenseless has No Civil
Protection
This
posting was sent out as a US group mailing prior to posting it here on the
Thalamus Center.
Removing
my Clerical State
Presently
June 2012, my Bishop Hurley of the Grand Rapids Diocese is
seeking to remove my clerical state and even suggested that I
voluntary seek this change. I am a priest and the fact that I am is the reason I
felt morality responsible to “come out” for the protection of gay children
growing up by making helping to make the public aware of the documented evidence
of the life time harm that is caused to children who grow up gay and who are
living in antigay social environments.
One
of the major sources that significantly is responsible for creating antigay
social environment is the Vatican antigay teaching, which are
in fact unsubstantiated, because they are not supported by
scripture scholars or by science.
For
the Vatican this once again is the same problem they got into regarding Galileo,
which nearly 400 years later, Pope John Paul II said the Vatican was wrong and
Galileo obviously was right. Only, this time millions of very young children
globally are at risk who are not able to protect themselves and are being harm
for life being raised in antigay social environments. The Vatican for the sake
of these children around the world needs to immediately renounce all their
antigay teachings, because they are not based on truth. They are all
unsubstantiated. Photo
One
of the major sources that significantly is responsible for creating antigay
social environment is the Vatican antigay teaching, which are
in fact unsubstantiated, because they are not supported by
scripture scholars or by science.
The
Reason - for removing my
CLERICAL
STATE
Bishop
Hurley states is my
REFUSAL
TO RETURN to the Diocese
Not
True - In 1997
I
was being Forced Out by Vatican’s Hostile Treatment
The
Vatican’s directive was a hostile threat I felt to force or to scare me so that
out of fear I would flee to leave the priesthood voluntary. I
believe this was their plan or at least it seemed to be so. However, it was because I was a priest and
that it was my duty as priest to be willing to die for others, especially
children. I knew very well that I had done no wrong. (1) There was ample
research and clinical documentation, as well as, my personal experience and
extensive observations of LGBT students, adults, communities, and PFLAG parents
that overwhelming supported the fact of the life time harm that is caused to
children growing up gay raised in antigay social environments. (2) The Vatican’s
antigay teachings are unsubstantiated because they are not supported by
scripture scholars or by science. They are fraudulent because of the life
threatening harm and violence they perpetuate, globally. It is a case like the
Vatican condemning Galileo, which Pope John Paul II agreed and apologized for
the Vatican’s wrongdoing.
There
was no reason for me to leave the priesthood personally or otherwise and to do
would be running out on children, who are not able to protect themselves. It would mean failing to continue standing up
for the truth, which IS the core foundation of being a priest. It was and still
is my life.
The
Key Reason for Leaving Diocese
PERSONAL
SAFETY
Escape
Vatican’s Relentless Hostile Discrimination
However,
I asked of instead of being sent away to be reeducated on my homosexuality and
sexual orientation, if I could study psychology at the University of Michigan,
Ann Arbor, if I paid for it. The Vatican in the same mean-spirited and hostile
manner granted me an educational leave of absence that was left opened ended. In
addition, this also meant I would have to give up my regular monthly priest
salary that included room and board. It was clear that the Vatican by their
demonstrated hostility towards me that they did not want me anymore and that
they truly wanted me to leave. I left the Diocese of Grand Rapids because I was
no longer safe; in fact it was out of fear for my life that I left. I was so
surprised by their hostility, which never ended and it is back again, today
2012, with great even greater force.
The
hostility continued even after I left the Diocese June 1997 though not during
the years that Pope John Paul II was alive. I began thinking that after 8 years
I had appeased the Vatican, I was financially supporting myself and my
educational costs though just barely. I
was faithfully continuing my studying psychology as my finances allowed pursuing
advance degrees. I was involved in community mental health clinical work during
the week and saying masses at parishes that need help on the weekends and major
feast days.
However,
the Hostility resumed in full force almost immediately after Benedict XVI became
pope April 2005. Benedict XVI began to
wrongly without evidence to publically attack gay priests endlessly attempting
to shift the blame for decades of child sexual abuse cover-ups onto the issue of
homosexuality. This was especially true
because he was the person in charge for decades and the blame for the cover-ups
was falling directly on him. Bishop
Hurley was appointed bishop of the Grand Rapids Diocese in June 2005. Bishop
Hurley and Benedict XVI though as Cardinal Ratzinger had been collaborating
working together on antigay issues since 1987. When Hurley became bishop of
Grand Rapids MI the hostility towards me resumed with the forever misleading and
twisting of the facts in order to attack me publically and discredit me and
seriously harm my reputation. This is likely because of the 1997 News Media
coverage of my “coming out” as a gay Catholic priest and it was even noted by
the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as being
“unprecedented” as reported in The Grand Rapids Press. This would be especially
true, now 2012 because the majority of Catholics support gay marriage, possibly
more people are being responsible individually acquiring a well informed
conscience and can plainly see that the Vatican’s antigay teachings are truly
unsubstantiated and that they are life threatening to very young growing up gay
around the world.
However,
since 2005, to the present my reputation has been attacked severely several
times harming my careers, making impossible to support myself, which has
destroyed me completely financially – losing everything, my residence to
foreclosure, my car, and all my savings.
I
think that it would be quite easy for people to blame me for my problems that
is, if it weren’t for the never-ending scandals: (1) of Benedict XVI 30 years of
global child sexual cover-ups, (2) more recently the Vatileaks revealing the
character assassinations, forged documents, secrecy, etc., (3) the Vatican Bank
Scandals, the lack of transparency, publishing psychological documents of ousted
ex-bank president because of his threatening evidence of even deeper corruption
inside the Vatican and (4) the Vatican’s continuous public attacks on USA
politicians who support gay marriage.
WRONG
MAILING ADDRESSES
Bishop
Hurley’s HOSTILE Treatment
Ongoing
Letters
Regarding Removal of Clerical State
In
June 2012, this same hostility through misleading information twisting the facts
that began his present attempts to remove my clerical state. I explain this more in detail below. Just to
mention here his letters to me regarding his removing me from my clerical state
have all been addressed to the wrong mailing address, however, I have been
receiving all other Diocesan mail for the past 2 years at my correct mailing
address. Still in his letter to me dated
July 31, 2012, he states, since I failed to respond to his first letter of June
29, 2012 (which I never received because had it sent to a wrong mailing address)
therefore he has begun the process of removing my clerical state. He also, states that it is because of
my refusal to return to the Diocese that has
lead to having my clerical state removed. In 1997, they want me out of the
Diocese making it clear that I was not safe staying nor should I expect fair
treatment should I return. However, now 2012 they have twisted it around for the
public that I refused to come back.
Hurley used this same twist in May 2006 notifying me that I was no longer
given permission to say mass publically, which is reported in The Grand Rapids
Press.
Below
is a copy of his letter July 31, 2012 sent to the wrong mailing address.
No Civil or Whistleblower Protection for
Gay
Priests or any Priest
KILLING
THE SECRECY only Hope
As
a Gay Catholic Priest – I have no civil protection my bishop and the Vatican
knows this. “Separation of Church and State” and the Vatican Diplomatic Immunity
protect them from civil intervention.
The only recourse, if anyone is listening and understands the
relationship and life of a Roman Catholic priest, that I have or any priest has
is to go public, do not keep the secrecy.
Going public is absolutely no guarantee of receiving any help or support.
The only hope this has is one of knowledge helping people become more aware of
the secrecy of the Vatican’s corruption, especially these days and likely for
the past 30 years. There is an identifiable manner in the way I have been
treated since I came out 1997 that is similar to the 30 years of ongoing
cover-ups of the Vatican, which has been exposed in part from the Vatileaks and
the Vatican Bank Scandals. In particular, the opposition to the Vatican
(unwanted or threatening personnel including secular persons) are ousted,
documents are forged, misleading information is given, attacks are made on their
reputations to destroy their credibility, and publically facts are always
twisted to make the Vatican appear as the victim or the ones in the right.
Below
is the letter sent to dated July 31, 2012 and my letter sent to Bishop Hurley.
Click
on to enlarge
Fr. Marty Kurylowicz - return letter to Bishop Hurley
**********************
August 2,
2012
Most Reverend
Walter A. Hurley
Bishop of
Grand Rapids
Dear
Bishop,
I have
not received any letter from your office dated June 29,
2012, because as you indicated in your letter dated July 31, 2012 it
was sent to the wrong address. This seems like a deliberate attempt to make sure
I did not receive this letter of yours dated June 29, 2012 and therefore you
could state I did not respond to your directives.
The one and
only letter that I did receive from your office was dated July 31,
2012 and it was sent to 682 Deer Street, Plymouth, Michigan, which is
not my mailing address. It is surprising that I have been receiving all the
diocesan mail for the past 2 years addressed to me at my correct mailing
address.
It is
interesting that your previous letters mailed to me in the past have been (1)
notarized and (2) sent by certified mail so that you would have proof that I
received your letter. If you followed this same procedure of yours and there is
no reason to think that you would not, considering the extreme importance of the
contents that you refer was in your letter dated June 29, 2012 then you would
have proof that I did not receive it. This would be true; unless of course you
did not intend that I should receive your letter dated June 29,
2012 so that you could speed up the process to alter my clerical state and
falsely claim that I did not respond in the allotted time of 15 days. If this
was indeed your intention your actions could rightly be called deceitful and
ruthless.
It is equally
puzzling as you indicated in your letter to me dated July 31, 2012 that I failed
to respond to you in the 15 days set down in your letter to me dated June 29,
2012 (which I did not receive), if you believe you sent this letter of June 29,
2012 to my correct address, why then would send your second letter dated July
31, 2012 to a different address that is not my mailing address? Unless, of
course, again, you did not intend me to receive your second
letter dated July 31, 2012. Then you would have been able to alter my clerical
state without my ever knowing you had, until I would be quite surprised to be
informed that my health care insurance had been discontinued. Later I would
learn that I had no legal recourse because I did not respond to any of your
letters, which I never received. In the Archdiocese of Detroit it has been
stated among many who had legal dealings with you including attorneys that you
are known to have ample precedents for being - deceitful and
ruthless.
However, I am
indeed deeply surprised by the contents in your letter dated July 31, 2012 and
I can emphatically assure you that I have absolutely no intention
whatever to give up my clerical state. It was because I took seriously
my duty as a priest and stood up for the factual truth about sexual
orientation by “coming out” to my parishioners in March 1997 for the
safety and well being of children, as young as 4 and 5 years of age, as
documented in the Grand Rapids Press at that time and because I did so the
Vatican has continuously been mistreating me. My present situation for the past
15 years is entirely due to the hostile working environment
imposed on me created by the threat that was made on my well-being, indeed my
life that came from the bishop’s office May 1997, which were the Vatican’s
directives ordering me to be sent away on a sabbatical for several months to be
reeducated regarding sexual orientation, an intensive form of reparative
therapy, also known as conversion therapy.
It is a psychotherapy attempt to change a person’s homosexuality that is
based on the debunked concept that homosexuality is a mental disorder in the
1970’s by both the American Psychiatric Association and the
American Psychological Association. Soon other national
associations from both the medical and mental health professionals from their
own independent research data followed suit. Since, then there is more than
ample clinical documentation and research data that continued to assert through
the 1980’s and 1990’s right up to 1997 that homosexual orientation is a
natural part of human development and that any attempt to try
to alter or change a person’s homosexuality was considered unethical because of
the severe life threatening harm that was found could harm a person more.
The only
type of mental problems that were found to be associated with homosexuals were
those caused by the stress from being raised in hostile anti-gay social
environments living under the constant possibility of encountering
violent life threatening physical attacks, e.g. those created by the Vatican’s
unsubstantiated anti-teachings, the unsubstantiated public remarks made about
homosexuality by such clerics as Archbishop Tartaglia, along with
Dolan, Nienstedt, Bertone, George and many many others including
Benedict XVI.
The reason why
I was to be subjected to the unethical practice of thos intense reparative
therapy of being reeducated about the homosexual orientation that was ordered by
the Vatican was because in March 1997, at the age of 47 years old I came out to
my parishioners at Holy Family Parish, Sparta, Michigan to help
stop the violence against gay people, most especially to children as young as 4
and 5 years old who grow up to be gay. The fact that I was a priest I felt not
only morally obligated but that it was my duty as a priest to
be willing to even sacrifice my life for the safety and well-being of
children. As you know though you may
have forgotten is true reason and meaning for being a priest. However, in truth
I always hoped that that card would never fall into my lap, but fall it did and
I believed that how a person responds in this kind of situation would define
that person’s whole existence. There is no escape.
“In
March 1997, after attending a National Symposium of the New
Ways Ministry that was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I
learned that children as young as 4 and 5
years of age know that they are different. This feeling
"different" is only identified in their adult years as being gay. However, the
harmful influence of antigay social and religious norms -- in particular, for
Catholics, the Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings --
are severe and last throughout a child’s lifetime.
The
harmful effects are not isolated only to these children who grow up to be gay,
but also affect their families, siblings, friends and anyone whom they might
consider special in their lives. They are a prescribed societal sentence of
implicit isolation, which place at risk of
suicide so many innocent adolescents and young adults. They
stifle an enormous amount of human potential in the world that otherwise could
be put to use for finding cures for diseases, offering better ways of
maintaining peace among people and improving the quality of life for everyone in
the world.” (The
above is taken from a letter that I wrote and sent July 2010 to the President
of the United State, Vice President of the United States, United States
Congress, United States Supreme Court Justices, United States Department of
Justice, 50 United States Governors and to a great number of attorneys,
journalists, news reporters, and organizations. I wrote this letter to bring to
light that the idea of “Separation
Between Church and State” does not give churches or Benedict XVI the freedom to
abuse children or adults.)
The Vatican’s antigay
teachings are unsubstantiated, because they are not based
on truth either from the bible or science. This is same mistake the Vatican made
concerning Galileo by condemning him as a heretic. In 1992, Pope John Paul II
made a public apology to Galileo nearly 400 years later stating that Galileo was
right and the Vatican was wrong.
My “coming
out” to my parishioners March 1997 as reported in The Grand Rapids
Press was successful. There was
no exodus of parishioners from my parish and there was not any drop in our
regular weekly or monthly building fund collections. In addition, as reported in
the Grand Rapids Press the spokesperson for the United Stated Conference
of Catholic Bishops stated that my “coming out” as a priest was
unprecedented. This fact was quite sad indeed because there
should have been hundreds of others before me. What was significantly unique
about my “coming out” was the fact the I did it for the safety and well-being of
very young children, 4 and 5 years of age who grow up to be gay.
It is most
interesting to note that in August 1997, the United Stated Conference of
Catholic Bishops came out with the very first positive document on
homosexuality that focused on the importance of caring for children who are
growing up gay called “Always Our Children.” However, in
October 1997 Cardinal Ratzinger now Benedict XVI had sanctioned
the co-founders of the New Ways Ministry. Moreover, in 1998,
Cardinal Ratzinger/Benedict XVI had altered the United Stated Conference of
Catholic Bishops document “Always Our Children” making it less positive.
It was also
conveyed to me at that same time in the bishop’s office May 1997 that my life
was in danger of being seriously harmed, but never did I think that that
violence would becoming from the Vatican. This was conveyed to me knowing full
well the serious harm of reparative therapy, when I asked if I paid for my own
sabbatical to study psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor,
Michigan would I be granted permission to go. I was granted an educational leave
of absence, however, this was only granted to me if I was willing to forfeit my
regular monthly priest salary, including finding and paying for my own living
arrangements. I was given this permission just 2 weeks before I was scheduled to
leave. It seemed an unnecessary cruel delay that deliberately prevented me from
making any timely arrangements, i.e. finding work to support me financially,
finding a place to live, and to workout a course of study in order to be able to
begin my sabbatical on time. Because of this I had experienced many unnecessary
setbacks. Considering all the above
and what I was told I did not feel it would be safe for me to stay in the
diocese.
Although, it
was not until October 2005 that I once again felt morally
obligated and that it was my duty as a priest again to protect
the well-being of children to give my response based factual data, when I was
asked by a Grand Rapids Press news reporter for my comments on the newly elected
pope April 2005, Benedict XVI, regarding his new rules regarding gay
priests.
Impending
rules on gay priests create Catholic divide
– The Grand Rapids Press, October
8, 2005
When
the Rev. Martin Kurylowicz came out to his Sparta parish eight
years ago, he said he had struggled for years with his
homosexuality.
The
Catholic priest says the struggle would be made harder for many others if the
Vatican issues new rules that reportedly would ban gays from becoming
priests…
…"I
sizzled when I read it," said Kurylowicz, 55. "It's very hurtful, is what it is.
In this day and age, there's no reason for it. It sends a message that there's
something wrong with gays."
Kurylowicz
said he spoke out then to raise awareness of violence against gays and teach
others homosexuality is not a choice…Church leaders still don't understand that
and contribute to gays' poor self-esteem, he said…
…"Kids
as young as 4 or 5 know they're different," said Kurylowicz, a psychotherapist…
"They grow up with this pervasive guilt, which sabotages their growth and
motivation." The result is thousands of
dollars in therapy to accept their natural orientation, he said, adding, "Does the Vatican
want to take that on, like the tobacco industry had to take on for the damage it
caused consumers? "…
The recent
Vatileaks and the Vatican Bank scandals has
brought into the light the harm and life threatening deceptive antics of the
Vatican i.e. character assassinations, leaking forged documents
from Vatican against Dino Boffo the Vatican ousted Catholic editor. The Vatican published a confidential
psychological document concerning the mental health of the Vatican's
recently ousted bank chief. It was
reported that it appeared to be aimed at further discrediting and
humiliating the Vatican bank's ex-president for fear of the publication
of his “secret dossier” believed to contain irrefutable evidence regarding money
laundering, tax-evasive and Vatican’s financial transactions between many
surprising people i.e. politicians, the mafia, all hidden behind the Vatican’s
lack of transparency.
The
Vatican’s leaking psychological documentation to discredit and to destroy the
reputation of the Vatican
bank's ex-president turned informant
has a déjà vu quality to it that remains me of May 2006 when
you publically disclosed to the news media – The Grand Rapids Press - the
confidential psychological documentation related to me in order to discredit and
to further humiliate me. However, your deliberate public disclosure backfired
for you because it was all the psychological documentation that is the evidence
that reveals the severe life long harmful effects caused to a child who out of
blind obedience, including the child’s parents and family believes as true the
Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings.
This is a most severe form of child abuse because it is hidden, not
overtly visible, an implicit form of child abuse – that appears safe,
acceptable, even loving, which makes it even more severe, because of this
disguise. Research has shown that it has life long harmful devastating
effects even life threatening to children, globally. As more research
becomes available and it becomes widely known by the public the Vatican will
once again on an even greater scale then with the child sexual abuse cover-ups -
held responsible for their criminal negligence towards children. Because there is more than ample research
data at the present to warrant the Vatican’s immediate renouncement of all their
unsubstantiated anti-gay teachings, which applies to all of their antigay
teachings.
Ever
since August 2003, people attending masses where I was the celebrant have told
me that they noticed that someone they did not recognize was taking notes during
my homilies, as if to be spying on me. I paid little attention to this at the
time. However, since then there have
been many attempts to discredit my reputation. They have been effective, causing
for me the loss of many of my strong friendships, causing me severe harm
financially and causing great stress that is now impacting my physical
health. Your recent misaddressed
important letters to me regarding my clerical state is once again one of many
attempts to discredit me. The Vatileaks and Vatican Banks scandals have shown
these are not the exceptions but more like the common practice of the culture
inside of the Vatican. The Vatican’s diplomatic immunity has
greatly enabled the Vatican to continue their culture of deceptive antics hidden
in the lack of transparency and guarded secrecy, except now for the Vatican
Bank. The Vatican is not answerable to any civil court and it is seems
conceivable they could literally get away with any injustice short of murder.
Therefore for my safety and the safety of children, I am left with no other
option but to make public all your dealings with me. This letter is being sent,
as like the with my letter above dated July 2010, to a great number of
individuals in government, in the news media, attorneys, appropriate
organizations, etc. though not exactly the same addressees, as above but to many
new people, as well.
In
addition, I am sending you several copies of this letter individually addressed
to you, so that there will be no attempt to say that you haven’t received this
letter from me.
I
would appreciate a copy of your first letter to me dated June 29, 2012, which I
did not receive, because you sent it to the wrong address. My correct mailing
address: XXX
To quote a
phase: “You have done enough. Have you
no sense of decency, sir? At long last have you left no sense of decency?”
Sincerely,
Fr. Marty
Kurylowicz
********************
Background
Information:
1997 “Coming
Out” Focus on Science & Bible
PROTECTING - CHILDREN Growing up Gay -
Lifetime harm caused by
Ignorant
Antigay Social & Religious Norms
1997 – FOCUSING ON CHILDREN was a dramatic
focus shift from public focus of homosexuality exclusively limited to adult
sexual behavior
(a) Caused an
Immediate Resonating almost calming effect with people
engaging deep interest eliciting serious
pertinent questions
(b) –
Nullifies Unsubstantiated Traditional Immorality of
Homosexuality,
e.g. Vatican Antigay
teachings,
(c) Major
Threat to blindly accepted, unchallenged, ignorant – antigay social
& religious norms
*****************************
(1)
Research - Antigay religious norms – life threatening to children
-
as
young as 4 and 5 years of age
My
name is Fr. Marty Kurylowicz, I came
out March 1997 to my parishioners at Holy Family Parish, Sparta MI to draw
public attention to help protect children, as young as 4 and 5 years of age who
grow up to be gay – from the life long harmful effects and for many life
threatening effects of being raised in antigay social environments made up of
ignorant antigay social norms that are primarily influenced by unsubstantiated
religious norms, e.g. the Vatican unsubstantiated antigay teaching, a major
world religion. The Vatican antigay teachings are unsubstantiated, because they
are not based on facts from either the bible or science.
(2)
Scripture scholars - Bible does not condemn homosexuality
(3)
Science research – homosexuality – natural human development
The bible does not condemn homosexuality anymore than the bible condemns Galileo. There are many passages in the bible that clearly state that the earth does not move, instead the sun moves. However, Galileo explained that it was the exact opposite, the sun does not move and the earth rotates round the sun. The Vatican condemned Galileo as heretic and placed Galileo under house arrest for 9 years. Nearly 400 years later, Pope John Paul II in 1992, stated that the Vatican was wrong and that Galileo was right. In 1997, from science through research and clinical studies of both the major medical and mental health associations it is overwhelmingly accepted that homosexual orientation is a natural part of human development.
(4) Facts -
Science & Bible - Nullify all the Vatican antigay
teachings
These facts
alone nullify all the Vatican antigay
teachings because like Galileo they are not based on credible facts from a
variety of many different disciplines of study and research. Therefore it is
imperative the Vatican immediately renounces all their antigay teachings because
they are unsubstantiated and cause severe harm to very young children growing up
gay around the world. The Vatican and in particular Benedict XVI will not face
the truth about homosexual orientation and has relentlessly and obsessively
after being elected pope - publically spoke against homosexuality - simply and
arbitrarily discrediting any and all credible scientific facts regarding the
truth about homosexuality. This behavior
of Benedict XVI - begs the question, why? This is even more puzzling that being
a great intellectual academic scholar and author of many books, he has not been
able to give any details or credible documentation to explain his reasoning
about homosexuality. Publically, this is
a glaring discrepancy because at his intellectual level he expounds on numerous
subjects, but with the frequency that he touches on more than any other that is
the defining subject of his papacy, homosexuality he has the least to say about.
This was not
the case with Pope John Paul II. As pope John Paul said little to nothing on the
subject homosexuality because there was ample research data continuously
forthcoming from science and scripture scholars suggesting a new understanding
regarding homosexuality, sexual orientation, human psychological development,
etc. John Paul II, as we know, believed
the truth would be found with faith and science working together to come up with
answers. It is noted that John Paul
frequently met with the scientists at the Vatican, at least once a week to
discuss issues of the day. The committee at the Vatican on the topic of
homosexuality was made up of theologians and scientists, as was the case for
many committees at the Vatican, at the insistence of John Paul. This was not the case when Benedict XVI
became pope, almost immediately all the scientists were dismissed from all the
committees in the Vatican and only theologians remained. Sources within the
Vatican at the time were shocked and noticeably worried about the future
credibility their work because the balance for the search for truth was thrown
off giving a very one-sided view on issues, which is not objective truth - truth
was lost. This is clearly seen in
Benedict XVI’s and the hierarchy’s public statements on homosexuality. This
appears to be the same mistake that the Vatican made when the pope then
condemned Galileo. And as we know John
Paul II apologized to Galileo stating the he was right and that the Vatican and
the pope were wrong.
(5)
Children 4 and 5 years of age – know “different” - Well
Before
“Age
of Reason”
Nullify
Immorality of Homosexuality
When I came
out in March 1997 the focus was on the fact that very young children, as young
as 4 and 5 years of age knew in some fundamental way that they were “different”
not gay, only later in life would they identify this being different as being
gay. This point alone was highly
significant because it threw the Vatican focus of homosexuality off of being
entirely focused on adult homosexuals and moved it onto children in early
childhood psychological developmental years. This switch in the focus
immediately, almost in lightening speed, resolves major key issues regarding the
morality of homosexuality, because this places our understanding of
homosexuality, sexual orientation out of the adult world and places almost at
the beginning of life - into the very early years of human development - well
before the “age of reason” therefore; (1) homosexuality cannot be considered a
conscious and willful choice to commit a terrible intrinsically disordered and
evil act, (2) if not a choice, no sin is involved, (3) there is no adult sexual acts of any kind
involved at this very young age in a child’s life, (4) sexual orientation at
this stage is about the natural development of human attachment essential for
survival and growth of a human being, and (5) human attachments are about
“loving another and being loved by another” there is nothing intrinsically
disordered or evil about love. These facts alone nullify, renounce all the
Vatican antigay teachings as unsubstantiated and instead they are labeled as
being severely harmful to the lives of children in their early childhood years,
something on the order of the ancient practice of “foot binding.” These are
research facts over years of study that were available in 1997 and have
continued to develop through the years.
This is why my
“coming out” 1997 was not a big issue about me personally. Because my reason and
focus for “coming out” was on the vital importance of explaining the research
data about sexual orientation existing in early childhood, in order to stop the
severe harm caused to the children growing up gay by the ignorance of antigay
statements that create hostile and violent antigay social environments that
threaten a child’s very existence. After I came out the focus was off me and
almost immediately forgotten, as I remembered back then to Holy Family Parish,
Sparta, MI, when I began to explain to my parishioners these research
facts. It did not take much, if any,
convincing people because almost immediately they began to identify these facts
in what seemed to be a flooding of specific past episodes and memories from
their own personal individual lives, about kids they knew and grew up with,
about themselves, their children, etc., etc. It was like it brought into focus
much confusion in their past lives that seemed at first unsettling, but left
them with a better sense of calm and a new more secure understanding about
themselves that made sense that answered many old forever nagging unanswered
questions – and left them with much less anger. And the fact that I came out was
almost forgotten, their questions were not about me but about many various
aspects of sexual orientation and early childhood psychological development.
I held for the
next 7 to 8 following weeks, 3 classes a week on the topic of sexual
orientation, each class running for 2 hours. The classes were open to all
parishioners though registering before attendance was required (simply by
calling the parish office) in order to limit the classes to only 20 people in
each class for the sake of confidentially and we run as many classes along as
people wanted to attend. Every class was filled and the classes lasted nearly 8
weeks.
After I came
out the parish did not fall apart. There was no great exodus. The weekly and
building fund collections did not drop.
Maybe we seemed closer more united on a deeper level. I was schedule to
be transferred before I came out in March 1997, my 12-year term, as pastor, at
Holy Family Parish ended at the end of June of 1997. I must say it was much harder than I realized
leaving that parish, so much so that even the thought of going back for a visit
seemed unbearable - the joy of seeing everyone again would be great – but
leaving them all again seemed unbearable. I think that something wonderful
happened there maybe in a very small but significant way we helped to change the
world for the better, especially for children. That’s a good thing!
The Major
Problem “Coming Out” 1997 not Parishioners –
Was The
Vatican
The major
problem I faced in 1997 was not from the parishioners – it was from of all
places the Vatican. It was 4 years prior to my “coming out” I had been enrolled
at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI taking one class a semester,
including the spring/summer semester, in psychology. I did this all while I was
still being a pastor at Holy Family Parish in Sparta, MI commuting twice a week
to Ann Arbor. I had to give-up all my
free time and watching TV to study at the U of M. And believe me TV cannot
compare to the excitement of learning, at the U of M. It was at the University of Michigan that I
studied the research data about sexual orientation, psychological human
development, etc., as well as, at attending the yearly American Psychological
Association conventions and attending regular meetings at PFLAG, Affirmations,
Ferndale, MI and workshops/lectures sponsored by the U of M LGBT Office. My point is that I truly professionally
studied the issues of sexual orientation thoroughly and was very well versed on
much of the latest research data. Now after “coming out” to my parishioners and
teaching 8 weeks of classes on sexual orientation - it was reported as being
quite successful handling and educating people on the issue of sexual
orientation.
I met with my
bishop (which was not the present bishop Hurley) in May 1997 to hear the
directives that were coming from the Vatican. I was, at first, quite shock,
later I was even to the point of being somewhat frightened after hearing that I
was to be sent away for several months (the location not having been disclosed)
to be reeducated about sexual orientation and homosexuality. This was equivalent to reparative therapy,
which is based on the concept that was debunked in the 1970’s by both the American Psychiatric Association and
the American Psychological
Association that homosexuality was a mental disorder. Reparative therapy’s main objective is to
attempt through intensive psychotherapy to change a person’s homosexuality. It
was and is considered unethical because it has never been proven effective,
instead it posed more serious, even dangerous threats to the psychological
well-being of the person, even placing for some at even greater risk of
attempting suicide. It has been noted
that the mental disorders associated with homosexuals are primary those due to
the stress of not being accepted, of being ridiculed and being under constant
vigilance of being attacked verbally or physically and at times violently. It
has been amply and duly noted that homosexuals who grow up in safe accepting
social environments, experience no more mental disorders than their heterosexual
counterparts.
Reeducated
on Homosexuality - Reparative therapy
Reparative
therapy by 1997 still had no evidence scientifically that proved it worked, in
fact it was found to be harmful and it was being considered unethical and
unsafe. The fact that the Vatican was unaware or dismissive of ample research
data regarding homosexuality was deplorable, because the Catholic Faith is all
about truth. Since, 1973, the term “homosexuality” was removed from the list
mental
and emotional disorders by American
Psychiatric Association stating
that sexual orientation is not a disorder; therefore, it does
not need to be cured. The American
Psychological Association stated. In 1990 that scientific
evidence shows that reparative therapy does not work and that it can do more
harm than good. “In
1991, Gerald Davison, a former president of the Association for the Advancement of
Behavior Therapy, argued that conversion therapy (is the same as
reparative therapy) is ethically improper and that its existence only confirms
professional and societal biases against homosexuality.” In 1993, the
American Academy
of Pediatrics stated,
"The
psychosocial problems of gay and lesbian adolescents are primarily the result of
societal stigma, hostility, hatred and isolation." In 1996, the
National Association of Social Workers adopted a policy statement on
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual issues.
“…Sexual orientation conversion therapies assume that homosexual
orientation is both pathological and freely chosen. No data demonstrate that
reparative or conversion therapies are effective, and in fact they may be
harmful.”
Therefore,
Vatican’s directive was such a drastic contrast drop from the height of the
intellectual level I was operating out of that (explained above) this news from
the Vatican was startling – it was an unimaginable gigantic leap back in time
passing even beyond the dark ages intellectually. While in my bishop’s office I
did not say much at the time, I only wished that some of my colleagues from the
APA, the U of M and news media could have heard this directive coming from the
Vatican. I honestly could not even imagine what a sabbatical for several months
on reeducating someone on homosexuality and sexual orientation would be like. It
seemed like unnecessarily cruel and unusual treatment of all places by the
Vatican.
My two earned
sabbaticals including the funding were all canceled, which I was hoping to use
up before accepting a new parish assignment. My possible future assignments in
the Diocese of Grand Rapids that were offered to me before I came out were all
eliminated. In a matter of one meeting, months after I came out and the news
media hype had died down, my whole status in the Grand Rapids Diocese was gone.
I no longer felt safe in the Grand Rapids Diocese, only the anxious pressure
about what would happen next. At 47 years old, for me it seemed to be the
beginning of the end.
Needlessly
Already Spending a LIFETIME and Enormous Expense in Ineffective Reparative
Therapy
Vatican
directives were to send me back
No Civil Laws
to Protect Gay Priests – From - Vatican Hostile & Inhuman
Treatment
The thought of
my being sent away to be reeducated about homosexuality and sexual orientation
was disturbing to me on two counts: (1) it was then as it is now considered by
the vast majority of professionals from both the medical and mental health
fields as ineffective and dangerous to the individual well-being and (2) it
seemed a most unnecessary and extremely cruel even inhumane ordeal for a place
like the Vatican to be ordering a priest or anyone to submit to. It was for me
even more unsetting, because I had already spent well over some 20 years trying
through psychotherapy to reeducate myself on my being a homosexual – in attempts
to be heterosexual. I learned only too
well, at the age of 47, from the grueling experience of those past some 20 years
in my deep earnest commitment faithfully believing what I had been told that
reeducation/reparative therapy would work but it most assuredly does not. It had
only compounded my depression in addition knowing I wasted those some 20 years
for absolutely nothing. Even more unsetting was the fact when I learned that
this was not my own personal bias, but that major medical and mental health
associations agreed.
It was after
further study and then learning the research facts that sexual orientation
begins in early childhood, which struck me like bolt of lightening that March
1997 at the New Ways Ministry National Symposium listening to Dr. Richard Isay’s
(just recently deceased) opening address explaining that children as young as 4
and 5 years of age know that they are different and that it is only as adults do
they realize that being different was in fact being gay – that it all became the
relentless motivating force that led to the moral obligation, as a Catholic
priest to “come out” for the protection and well-being all children growing up
gay. In good conscience I could not remain silent – I knew too much from my own
personal experience to allow children suffer what I went through.
Character
Assassination – Fr. Marty Kurylowicz
Being Punished
and Humiliated For Being Faithfully Following
Vatican’s
Unsubstantiated Antigay teachings
In a breach of
confidentially the present bishop of Grand Rapids Walter Hurley (who had been
working closely with then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI discriminating
against gays as far back as 1987) disclosed to a news reporter from the Grand
Rapids Press, May 2006, in an attempt that seemed to further discredit my
reputation, the huge sum of money spent on my psychotherapy. However, this
breach of confidentiality of Bishop Hurley backfired on him, because this huge
sum would have been completely non-existence, as the documentation
will prove, if I never had been raised in a Catholic antigay social environment
that stressed the Vatican antigay teachings that are unsubstantiated. Also, this huge sum of money would have been
greatly reduced, to far less than even 10% if I sought psychotherapy treatment
outside of Catholic mental health agencies.
The Vatican’s unsubstantiated antigay teachings have been proven to
continuously perpetuate psychological harm.
It took me an enormously long time to find this out – nearly enduring 4
decades of psychological harm because I blindly obeyed and believed them to be
true and I can say emphatically that they are not true, but instead they are
extremely harmful and even life threatening. I can say this after working
endlessly acquiring a well-informed conscience based years of prayer, the
needless years spent in psychotherapy and when I decided to no longer to follow
blindly but on a postgraduate level of university academic studies to search for
the truth, I found that the Vatican’s antigay teachings are unsubstantiated –
instead they are life threatening.
Bishop Hurley
Disclosure of Gay Priest Reparative Therapy
Psychological
Expenses
CHARACTER
ASSASSINATION – Vatican’ MO
Vatican Published Psychological Documentation
of Ex-Bank President
It is
interesting to note that Hurley’s confidentially disclosure of my psychological
expenses appears to be the regular modus operandi of the Vatican. Because it is
quite similar to the recent Vatican Bank scandal – where the Vatican published
the psychological documentation of their ex bank president, which it is believed
was meant to further discredit him because of threatening inside information he
is believed to have would expose even more serious corruption in the
Vatican.
Vatican’s -
Vindictive Hostile Retaliation
In my letter
above I explained I did not go away to be reeducated about my homosexuality and
sexual orientation. I asked permission to study psychology at the University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI – if I paid for it on my own, however, to do so I was
told that I had to give up my regular priestly salary and find my own living
arrangements including paying for it myself. But it must be explained that a
priest salary is considerably lower because room and board is included. This
presented an additional hardship for me. However, I thought given such a life
threatening order by the Vatican - to be sent away to be reeducated on
homosexuality and sexual orientation was so extreme – Needless to say, I was
worried if I stayed – what other inhumane atrocities would I be subjected to. I
guess you could say I was fleeing for my life. To get me to leave the priesthood
was likely what the Vatican was attempting to force me to do. Again, the whole reason why I came out was
because “I was a priest.” It is a priest’s duty to be willing to lay down his
life for others, at least that is the theology of priesthood. True I had always
hope the living up to that duty would not directly fall into my lap – but it
did. I gave up everything I had to be a faithful priest – I realize that this
does not mean much to many people – they can barely understand the concept,
except for parents. And now Benedict XVI and Bishop Hurley simply want me to
give up my clerical state, so much so that Hurley sent these important letters
to me for my response but he sent them
to the wrong addresses that are not my mailing addresses, even though I
receive all other diocesan mail at my correct address. If wasn’t the recent Vatileaks and Vatican Bank scandals and Benedict
XVI’s 30 years of child sexual cover-ups – people would be willing to give
Hurley the benefit of the doubt – but in indeed we now know that this kind of
deception is this rule of the Vatican and not the exception. I have absolutely no recourse – the only
recourse I have if I still have it - is to make this all public and kill the
secrecy of the Vatican – in hopes that people’s awareness will in some way
reform the Vatican – make the protection of children the highest priority.
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