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I would like to thank everyone for the tremendous response
you’ve given this column. Today, as never before, gay
religious groups are in the media’s spotlight as the major
proponent for “gay” civil rights. As this occurs it is vitally
important that the gay community as a whole be kept abreast
of these various group’s activities.
Most heartening to me is
the fact that the gay com
munity in the South, and gay
Atlantans especially, realize
and appreciate the effort
such organizations as
Metropolitan Community
Church, Dignity and
Integrity are putting forth to
educate our homophoebic
society. The recent Can
didate’s Forum held at
M.C.C. - Atlanta by the First
Tuesday Democratic
Association was hailed by
Channel ll’s reporter as a
“major event.. .of historic
significance” in the political
history of Atlanta.
politcal “status quo” for so long they have begun to view it as
God-ordained. What we must realize is that His commands
•demand social action...and that means political involvement.
Next issue I hope to have Rev. Wells expand on that topic.
Frank Scheuren reports that the 3rd Annual Dignity Con
vention he barely tost his bid for the Office of President of
Dignity • International, a position which would have put him
in dose contact with Gay leaders across the country.
Even through not winning the post was a disappointment to
Frank, he intends to remain active in providing leadership in
many areas of gay society — from religious to political.
According to Frank, the Dade County should have taught us
that religion and politics are no longer separate issues.
In summary, if ever you’ve thought you could be trye to your
own religious heritage or committment and stay out of
politics, you’re dead wrong. Your community needs you and
your God demands it. The responsibility to recognize human
rights through social and political action is thrust squarely
upon your shoulders. Houw well we bear this responsibility
will be directly reflected by the political choices we, as a
community, make.
September IS, 1977, THE BARB — Page 5
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Over 200 concerned homosexuals of all faiths assembled at
M.C.C. on the eve of the Jewish High Holy Day, Rosh
Hash anna to. find out where the candidates for upcoming city
elections stood on the issue of human rights. At first, many
were disappointed at what looked like a poor turn-out; barely
half of the sanctuary was filled. Egos began to swell,
however, when candidate after candidate stated that ours was
*he largest group they had yet, addressed. Some were
eloquent; some were Verbose; others were conspicuous by
'heir absence; all were concerned with winning our vote. If
you weren’t 'here you missed a truly unique experience: gay
people being treated with dignity and respect, even being
“courted” by politicians and the press.
This scenario would not have been possible without the
diligent efforts of such people as Rev. Howard Wells, Pastor
of M.C.C. - Atlanta and Frank Scheuren, former President of
Dignity - Atlanta, as well as many others.
Rev. Wells noted in his sermon Sunday, September 12, that
so called “good Christians” have been satisfied with the
d
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DISCO -CABARET
IN DAYTONA
Rev. Howard Wdb and GO Robison
Dignity - Atlanta Box 77013, Atlanta, GA 30357; (404) 355-
1416. Meetings held the first and third Wednesday of every
month at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 29 Boulevard N.E.
8:00 p.m. Mass & meeting.
Metropolitan Community Church 800 N. Highland, Atlanta,
GA Sunday services 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday evening
service 7:45 p.m. 872-2246. M.C.C. will sponsor an Ice
Skating Party at the Omni Rink, Saturday September 17th at
7:30 p.m.
Integrity 1 dingity — Knoxville is now meeting regularly.
For more information, contact Jim Fleenor, Box 8174, U.T.
Station, Knoxville, Tennessee37016.
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Noted Author S ilenced By Rome
Chicago — Rev. John
McNeil, S.J., noted Roman
Catholic theologian and
author of The Church and the
Homosexual was officially
silenced by Rome shortly
before he was to address the
Third International Con
vention of Dignity, the
organization for gay and
concerned Catholics, held
September 2-5 in Chicago..
Father McNeil was in
formed by his superior that
the Church’s Sacred
Congregation for the Doc
trine of the Faith had
decreed that he is “not to
speak publicly on
homosexuality or sexual
ethics and that the Imprimi
Potest (a designation from
the Church that the book can
be printed and for which
McNeil had worked two
years to obtain) is to be
removed from all future
editions of the book.”
In their statement the
Sacred Congregation
asserted that Fr. McNeil’s
position was in contradiction
to official Church teachings
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800 N. Highland
and that he was indulging in
“advocacy theology” and
actively “promoting” his
views, rather than simply
presenting them for scholarly
discussion, as the Imprimi
Potest was meant to allow.
Important to note is the fact
that no repudiation or
demands of retraction of his
views on homosexuality have
been forthcoming. In a
statement to Dignity Con
vention delegates Fr. McNeil
said that he will obey the
order of silence in the hopes
that “by my silence (I can) be
of service both to the Church
which I love and the gay
community with which I have
become so closely iden
tified.”
Members of Dignity at
tending the convention
issued a statement sup
porting his decision, calling
his silence symbolic of the
continuing oppression of gay
people in the Church and
elsewhere. McNeil said he
hopes his silence will be like
that of such notable
theologians as Teilhard de
Chardin, John Courtney
Murray, and Henri di Lubac
“whose obedience even
tually led to their vin
dication.”
Confident that this extreme
action is only a minor set
back, McNeil ended his
statement saying that
“eventually, with God’s
help, the Church will learn to
deal openly and lovingly in
dialogue with the gay
community and that it will
hear what the Holy Spirit has
to say to the Church from its
gay brothers and sisters in
Christ.”
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