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’Pro Gay’ Bishop Barred from Dioceseby Kilian MelloyThursday Oct 15, 2009 A young Catholic bishop has censored an retired colleague, barring him from public speaking.
Anti-gay religious Web site LifeSiteNews.com branded 79-year-old Bishop Thomas Gumbleton a "notorious promoter of homosexuality" in an Oct. 13 article.
The site also characterized the decision by Michigan bishop Alexander K. Sample, who is 49 years old, as "an effort to defend the Church’s teachings on homosexuality and other issues."
Bishop Gumbleton, of the Archdiocese of Detroit, had been invited to speak to a citizens’ group in Marquette, Michigan, which is included in the diocese overseen by Bishop Sample.
Though the citizens’ group, Marquette Citizens for Peace and Justice, say they were not given an explanation as to why Bishop Gumble was denied permission to make his address, Bishop Sample outlined his general rationale in a statement.
The LifeSiteNews article quoted from Bishop Sample’s statement, which read in part, "As the Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, I am the chief shepherd and teacher of the Catholic faithful of the Upper Peninsula entrusted to my pastoral care.
"As such I am charged with the grave responsibility to keep clearly before my people the teachings of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals."
Bishop Sample cited his elder colleague’s stance on gays and the role of women in the church as reasons for having denied Bishop Gumbleton his chance to speak publicly.
"Given Bishop Gumbleton’s very public position on certain important matters of Catholic teaching, specifically with regard to homosexuality and the ordination of women to the priesthood, it was my judgment that his presence in Marquette would not be helpful to me in fulfilling my responsibility."
Bishop Sample, the article reported, was not concerned about the substance of the speech that Bishop Gumbleton was to have delivered, which concerned the "Abolition of Nuclear Weapons," but rather had concerns about what the elder church official might have to say as he interacted on a personal level with local parishoners.
Admitted Bishop Sample, "I was concerned about his well-known and public stature and position on these issues and my inability to keep these matters from coming up in discussion.
"In order that no one becomes confused, everyone under my pastoral care must receive clear teaching on these important doctrines."
Bishop Gumbleton, the article noted, belongs to progressive Catholic organizations that have been denounced by the Vatican. The elder Bishop is affiliated with both New Ways Ministry and Call to Action, the article said.
The groups embrace gays and lesbians as falling within normal human sexual variation.
In 2006, the article said, the Vatican enforced Gumbleton’s retirement.
Although the LifeSiteNews article hailed Bishop Sample as part of an emerging vanguard of young church officials who have been "taking up the challenge of defending orthodox teachings on morals, doctrine, and liturgy," for the individuals denied the chance to hear what Bishop Gumbleton had to say, the decision smacked of medieval times.
An Oct. 9 article in the Mining Journal quoted Citizens for Peace and Social Justice member Darlene Dreisbach as saying, "We’re really confused about it."
Added Dreisbach, "Doesn’t that seem like the Middle Ages?"
Dreisbach recounted that the group received word from Bishop Gumbleton on his having been censored from speaking in the diocese.
"Yesterday afternoon he called us and said he received a letter from Bishop Sample to not speak publicly.
"He was not told why," Dreisbach added.
Dreisbach cited the same background that LifeSiteNews noted. "He was the founder of Pax Christi USA," said Dreisbach.
"He was one of the first bishops to speak out against the Vietnam War."
The Mining Journal noted that Bishop Gumbleton has a long record of advocating civil rights, even having been arrested for acts of civil disobedience as part of his anti-war efforts.
"I don’t know how one bishop can deny civil rights," Dreisbach added.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
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