Wednesday October 6, 2010
Ontario Catholic College Accused of “False Compassion” in Hosting Homosexual Activist
By Patrick B. Craine
LONDON, Ontario, October 6, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – In hosting a talk this month by a leading U.S. homosexual activist, King’s University-College, a Catholic institution affiliated with the University of Western, is “caving into a false compassion which neuters the healthy teachings of the Church,” says David MacDonald, a Canadian Christian musician and speaker who left the homosexual lifestyle.
Jody Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), is set to deliver a talk at the College on October 21 entitled ‘Social Justice and Social Stigma: Building the Bridge of Inclusion of Gays, their Families, and Allies.’
Huckaby’s international homosexualist advocacy group, which has over 500 chapters in a dozen countries, is a leading proponent of same-sex “marriage” and homosexual adoption. It also opposes abstinence-only education.
Huckaby, who was raised a Catholic, condemned Pope Benedict’s election in 2005, saying the pope “vilif[ies] GLBT people” through his opposition to such causes as same-sex “marriage” and homosexual adoption. According to Huckaby, as reported by CNSNews, the pope “does not present a hopeful vision of the future.”
“Religious leaders like Ratzinger cannot dictate to us what our family values must be, particularly when their idea of family values excludes all GLBT people and loved ones,” he said. Huckaby urged “GLBT people and their families to confront bigotry” in the Catholic Church “and other faith traditions.”
Dr. David Sylvester, the principal of King’s University-College, told LifeSiteNews that the talk is part of a lecture series exploring how Catholics can better share the hardships of the “poor and needy.”
“It is because we are a Catholic College that understands and respects its relationship with our Bishop and the Church that we can have these conversations free from fear and in an open and honest way,” said Dr. Sylvester.
However, according to MacDonald, “people with same sex attraction need love, compassion, [and] a Church that comes alongside them the same way that it comes alongside all people who are struggling with sin.” He suggested that Catholics should promote programs like Courage, founded by Fr. John Harvey in New York, which MacDonald said “is faithful to the teachings of the Church and provides a supportive environment for same sex attracted people to make the healthy choice, chastity.”
“My life has never been better than when I followed the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church on sexuality,” he added.
Regina Griggs, executive director of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX), contested the notion that PFLAG promotes acceptance or inclusion. “They want approval. It is not acceptance, it is to approve and to provide them civil rights,” she said. “Their goal is to get the Church to approve same-sex relationships within the Church.”
Griggs said that PFLAG endangers homosexuals by deluding them into thinking that inherently dangerous sexual activity is normal and natural. “There are dangers, there are risks,” she said. “If you unconditionally love someone, you sit down, you give them your position, you state the facts.”
The Church should give people with homosexual tendencies “hope for healing,” she said. “We should focus on providing support for these people, letting them know that God loves them, and we their families unconditionally love them. … Perhaps offer hope rather than attempting to subvert the Church, science, medicine.”
LifeSiteNews did not hear back from the Diocese of London by press time.
David MacDonald has written a series of articles explaining the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality, available on his website. He explains the Church’s condemnation of homosexual acts here.
Contact Information:
Most Rev. Ronald P. Fabbro, C.S.B.
Diocese of London
1070 Waterloo Street
London, Ontario, N6A 3Y2
Phone: 519-433-0658
E-mail: Complete the form here (https://www.iss.rcec.london.on.ca/rceccontactus.php?p=327).