The Religious Consultation
|
|
“How can you be gay and Catholic?”
Sons of the Church: The Witnessing of Gay Catholic Men tells one story—the story of what it is like to be gay and Catholic—through the various stories of over thirty gay Catholic men. Each chapter is arranged thematically, beginning with experiences of being homosexual and Catholic during childhood and youth. Subsequent chapters delve into the ways these men each finally accepted themselves and integrated their sexuality, related to others who did or did not understand, dealt with homosexual promiscuity, found intimate relationships, became a part of a community, and ultimately came to terms with the Catholic Church and their faith. Throughout, these ’witnesses’ explain how their faith in God guides them through the various experiences and issues they face. The positive aspects of Catholic Christianity are respectfully explored at the same time as the present Church teaching on homosexuality is challenged. Sons of the Church uses interviews to explore: * Catholics
coming to terms with their homosexuality Sons of the
Church: The Witnessing of Gay Catholic Men is enlightening reading
essential for educators, students, counselors, priests, nuns, psychologists,
and theologians. Catholic people, gay people, and every educated
reader will find that the interviews and ideas here stimulate thought
and create a greater understanding of the issue of homosexuality
and faith. Thomas Stevenson,
PhD, received his BA in the Program of Liberal Studies (the Great
Books Program) from the University of Notre Dame, his MA in philosophy
from Boston College, and his PhD in Systematic and Philosophical
Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
He has taught courses in both philosophy and religion. James Alison, Theologian and Author of Faith Beyond Resentment: Fragments Gay and Catholic (from the Foreword) Father John McNeill, PhD, Author of the groundbreaking book The Church and the Homosexual and numerous other books on gay spirituality; ousted from the Jesuits by the Vatican for his ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics Sister Jeannine Gramick, PhD, Executive Co-director, National Coalition of American Nuns * Foreword
(James Alison)
|
Sons
of the Church: The Witnessing of Gay Catholic Men spotlights
testimonials from over thirty gay Catholic men to answer the question,
“How can you be gay and Catholic?” Dr. Thomas B. Stevenson,
who received degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Boston College,
and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, explores this question,
using various interviews to thoroughly analyze the many dimensions
of being gay and Catholic while providing a powerful and convincing
criticism of Church teaching on homosexuality. This thoughtful,
surprisingly reverent book is the answer for those gay readers who
long for a religious connection, as well as for Catholic readers
and those in pastoral positions who want and need to hear the stories
of gay people firsthand.