033174 NFPC board quashes homosexuality report
SAN FRANCISCO - The National Federation of Priests' Councils held its annual convention, re-elected Father Reid C. Mayo as president by acclamation, ran into an argument when
the executive board quashed a report on homosexuality that seemed to treat it as normal and good, heard a variety of speakers and heard a roundup report that said the NFPC in its sixth year was doing well.
Father Mayo, who had stepped in to fill the unexpired term of Father Frank Bonnike, who left the priesthood to marry, was unopposed and the convention's nearly 200 delegates elected him for a two-year term by acclamation.
Only controversy of the five-day convention came when the NFPC's executive board decided to quash a report on homosexuality prepared by a Gay Ministry Task Force of the Salvatorian Fathers.
The U.S. Bishops' Committee on Pastoral Research had issued a report a few weeks before, urging a sympathetic pastoral approach to homosexuals but stressing the traditional Catholic teaching that homosexual activity is objectively evil and viewed homosexuality as a psychological problem.
The Salvatorian Gay Ministry Task Force, headed by Salvatorian Father Ramon Wagner, a member of the NFPC executive board, criticized the approach of the bishops, saying it is "at best inaccurate and insensitive; -at its worst. it is a misrepresentation of data and a
cavalier disrespect of human lives and dignity."
The controversy was on the side of the Gay Ministry followers. The NFPC board simply rejected the statement as incomplete, said it took the advice of Father Charles E. Curran and Father Eugene C. Kennedy in deciding not to approve it.
Archbishop Joseph T. McGucken of San Francisco gave a welcome to the NFPC. Archbishop Jean Jadot, the apostolic delegate, sent a special message to the convention.
"As bishops and priests," said Archbishop Jadot, "we are joined together. We are brothers and cooperators. While each has a diversity of gifts, all are united in the spirit."
Cesar Chavez, president of the United Farm Workers of America, called on the NFPC to continue its support of his workers. He called on them to say "yes to man's dignity."
"Saying yes to man's dignity means getting into trouble," the Mexican- American labor leader told delegates. "It means saying no to fear. It should not be difficult to say yes to justice but there's always the problem that once you say yes you have to continue saying yes. Saying yes to man means saying yes to love."
Father Vincent Dwyer, a Trappist with a doctorate in mystical and ascetical theology, urged priests to make "a radical commitment to Jesus Christ." He said the Church needs saints and that means it needs persons who are "all screwed up but beautiful."
Priests today, he said, have more talent and ability than at any stage in the Church's history. But he added: "The priestly community needs to be able to trust, to share, to tap one another's talents and to grow together so that we can bring the good news of Christ to the whole world."
Father Mayo gave a report on the progress of the organization, said the past year "has been one of growth and affirmation for us as a national body,"
"Our record speaks of accomplishment," he said. He noted that although two councils had recently withdrawn from the NFPC, that five priests senates and PADRES, a national organization of Spanish-speaking priests, had joined the NFPC in the past year. There are now
130 councils, senates and associations that belong to the NFPC.
Father Mayo listed many other accomplishments. Among them: development of an education for prison reform kit to help local councils work for reform of the penal system; development of an amnesty education kit to help local councils to follow through on the
NFPC's stand for unconditional amnesty for draft evaders; establishment of a national investment organization to help Church organizations make "socially responsible investments."
Father Mayo also cites NFPC progress in areas of research, vocation recruitment, on a plan for selection of bishops, on a study of distribution of priests, development of spiritual programs for priests.
The NFPC president called on priest members to find ways to utilize the services of former priests. The NFPC in the past year has started the development of a clearing house for laicized priests.