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Notorious Pro-homosexual Catholic Dissident Named 2006 Mother Teresa Award Laureate

By John Jalsevac

Los Angeles, December 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Sister Jeannine Gramick, who became a notorious figure after she was ordered by the Vatican in 2000 to desist from all pastoral work involving homosexuals, has been honored by being named a 2006 Mother Teresa Award Laureate. The award was presented to Sr. Gramick this past November.

Begun in 2005, the Mother Teresa Awards were instituted to "recognize the achievements for those who beautify the world, especially in the fields of religion, social justice and the arts," according to the Awards website.  In the past, the award, which is sponsored by the St. Bernadette Institute of Sacred Art, has been given to such prominent and orthodox Catholic figures as Mother Angelica, John Paul II, and Fr. Benedict Groeschel. 

According to the Institute Sr. Gramick was named a Mother Teresa Awards Laureate, "for her role as American Human Rights Activist, especially in the field of Spirituality." In particular the Awards website mentions the fact that she co-founded the pro-homosexual, "social-justice" organization New Ways Ministry.

Sr. Gramick's public life has been dedicated almost exclusively to promoting the idea that homosexuality is a legitimate "alternative" lifestyle and is morally acceptable to the Catholic Church. On account of the nature of her "ministry", in 2000 Gramick - along with the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, Father Robert Nugent-was ordered by the Vatican to discontinue all ministry with homosexuals. The Vatican statement charged that Gramick's teachings on homosexuality "have caused confusion among the Catholic people and have harmed the community of the Church."

In her public response to the Vatican notification Sr. Gramick made clear her intent to disobey the Vatican order to remain silent and desist from ministry. Since then she has continued to be active in the effort to promote the homosexual lifestyle, as well as homosexual "marriage", and has continually and vocally condemned Catholic teachings and documents on homosexuality.

Bill Donahue, president of the U.S. Catholic League, expressed his disgust at the honoring of Sr. Gramick with the Mother Teresa Award in a statement to LifeSiteNews.com: "Surely they could have found someone more worthy for this award than Sr. Jeannine Gramick," he said. "Any person who to this day is still trying to rescue the reputation of the disgraced child-molester Paul Shanley is not worthy of any commendation."

Paul Shanley is the defrocked priest who in February 2005 was found guilty of the statutory rape of a minor and received a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison. Since his sentencing Sr. Jeannine has continued to defend the innocence of Shanley, who in the past had been an ally of her efforts to promote homosexuality.

While the Mother Teresa Award has previously been given to non-Catholic artists and public figures, generally in recognition of artistic achievements, it seems that this is the first time the award has been given to someone solely in recognition of advocacy contradicting everything Mother Teresa worked for, and that would most likely have horrified the founder of The Missionaries of Charity.

While Mother Teresa and her order, The Missionaries of Charity, made an explicit point of offering medical and spiritual assistance to AIDS victims suffering from the physical and spiritual fall-out of homosexuality, she was always known for her outspoken defense of Catholic moral doctrines.  

To respectfully contact the Mother Teresa Awards write:
Mother Teresa Awards
St. Bernadette Institute of Sacred Art
PO Box 8249
Albuquerque, NM
87198  USA

e-mail:

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
VATICAN DISCIPLINES DISSIDENT MINISTRY TO HOMOSEXUALS
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/1999/jul/99071401.html

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