Tag: Homophobia

“Everyone who saw this, grumbled” (Luke 19:7)

At the Quest annual conference “A Time to Build”, one of the most useful insights for me came at the end of Fr James Martin’s video presentation, in which he presented a short reflection on the familiar story of Zacchaeus, who had climbed into a sycamore tree to catch sight of Jesus passing through. The…… Continue reading “Everyone who saw this, grumbled” (Luke 19:7)

Quest Partners With Stonewall to Counter Bullying in Catholic Schools

Catholic teaching is clear, on the importance of opposition to homophobia, in any form: It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church’s pastors wherever it occurs.  (CDF) It is deeply regrettable though, that even this sentiment…… Continue reading Quest Partners With Stonewall to Counter Bullying in Catholic Schools

Should Jewish Schools be forced to be inclusive?

From Quest Bulletin 77 (Lent, 2017), a question about Jewish schools – with relevance to all other faith schools, too. On 28th December, Quest National Committee member, Fr Kieran Fitzsimons ofm, was invited to address the Limmud Conference. The venue for the 2016 Conference was Birmingham. The Limmud Conference is an international gathering of around…… Continue reading Should Jewish Schools be forced to be inclusive?

English Bishops Oppose Homophobic Bullying

At Bondings 2.0, Francis DeBernardo has reported on a new manual produced for the English bishops on combating homophobia in Catholic schools. In his headline to the post, DeBernardo describes this manual as a “gift to the church” (and so it is). A new manual for Catholic school teachers in England and Wales on how…… Continue reading English Bishops Oppose Homophobic Bullying

Homophobia Kills: Catholic Schools Must Counter It.

There is abundant evidence that homophobia kills, directly (as in hate crime murders) and indirectly (as in driving the victims to suicide).  As with all forms of hatred, what begin as thoughtless or careless language acquired at school, can mutate into something much more serious in later life. Conversely, good habits acquired when young, can…… Continue reading Homophobia Kills: Catholic Schools Must Counter It.

The Catholic Obligation to Protect and Support LGBT Pupils

This afternoon, I was up in London, talking to the staff of St Bonaventure’s Catholic secondary school about “The Catholic Obligation to Protect and Support Lesbian and Gay Pupils”. Part of the headteacher’s regular program for staff continuing professional development, this will kick off the school’s annual commitment to LGBT  History Month. I met the…… Continue reading The Catholic Obligation to Protect and Support LGBT Pupils

Catholic Teaching and Homophobia

Under a recently announced Department of Education program to combat homophobic bullying in schools, Stonewall has received funding  for a project specifically aimed at LGBT-inclusivity among religious communities and in faith schools.  Of particular interest, is that Stonewall will be implementing the project “in partnership with” LGBT faith groups. Speaking to Pink News after the DoE announcement,…… Continue reading Catholic Teaching and Homophobia

Religious Homophobia: How Should Quest Respond?

In the days immediately after the news broke of the Orlando gay nightclub massacre, I noted at Queering the Church that the responses by Catholic bishops, and even by Pope Francis, did not include any recognition that this was not just a crime of violence by an Islamist jihadist, but was specifically targeted at gay…… Continue reading Religious Homophobia: How Should Quest Respond?