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THREAT TO OUT GAY PRIESTS “A 21ST-CENTURY WITCH-HUNT” SAY GAY HUMANISTS

Repost: GALHA | 17.09.2006 07:53 | Gender

Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association
News Release – 12 September 2006

KENILWORTH, 12 SEPTEMBER 2006 — A threat to out gay Catholic priests and bishops in Scotland has been condemned as a 21st-century witch-hunt by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA).

The threat comes from a group of Catholics called Catholic Truth, which is based in Edinburgh. Catholic Truth says it will “name and shame” homosexual clergy as part of its “heavenly witness protection programme”.

In its widely-read newsletter, the group says it is currently investigating the extent of homosexuality among priests and bishops in the Church north of the border, claiming that exposing homosexuality within the upper ranks of the Church would be a “great work of charity”.

Catholic Truth also makes a connection between homosexuality and paedophilia. The newsletter calls on its readers to out senior churchmen who they suspect may be gay. It also says: “We do not want you to contact us merely to give us information ... but then insist that we keep it to ourselves. ... If you give us information that we find is credible and trustworthy, then we will make it public.”

Patricia McKeever, who edits the newsletter, told the Glasgow-based paper The Sunday Herald: “The key objective behind naming homosexual priests and bishops is to raise awareness of the problem within the Scottish Church, ultimately to ensure the safety of others in the Church. Not just the physical safety of children, important though that is, but also the spiritual safety of people and congregations entrusted to the care of a homosexual priest or bishop.”

She said she had received information on gay priests in at least two dioceses and one other Church institution.

Catholic Truth, based in Edinburgh’s Princes Street, seeks to restore “traditional” Catholicism in Scotland. It has previously criticised safe-sex messages in schools and condemned liberal Catholics. When Cardinal Keith O’Brien declined to support Bishop Devine’s view that homosexuals should not be allowed to teach in Catholic schools, Catholic Truth accused him of being “unfit” for office and demanded his resignation.

George Broadhead, secretary of GALHA, said: “This is a 21st-century witch-hunt. People who are innocent of any kind of misdeed could find themselves on the website of this obnoxious organisation being condemned by association as paedophiles. This malevolent woman must be stopped before she causes enormous harm to innocent people. We hope that the Catholic hierarchy in Scotland will distance itself from this truly revolting campaign. However, given its own rampant homophobia, we don’t hold out much hope.”

Repost: GALHA
- Homepage: http://www.galha.org

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pie the witch

17.09.2006 18:12

What an odd article though and through. I guess it just seems odd that humanists care what happens to priests and bishops. Aren't this Opus Dei crowd just intercepting Outrage! by outing these folk ?

Broadhead chooses unfortunatly weak language, 'condemned by association as paedophiles' sort of implies homosexuals do in some way associate with paedophiles.

McKeever sounds like an out and out nutter. Why not, as a first stage, 'out' her ? Publicise her views and photo on lampposts in her home street, hell, hold a gay parade every Sunday outside her house, pagan festivals when appropriate, turn up at her church dressed as Jesus on the cross or spike the communal wine with acid and aphrodisiacs. I dunno, sometimes some of these pious types need a taste of the public humiliation that they wish on others. If she is throwing stones, then at the bare minimum then she should be cream-pied.

Danny