Should the University of Notre Dame approve the application for a “gay-straight alliance” on campus? It looks like many students on campus would be pleased if the school did so.
The Observer recently reported that the Notre Dame Student Senate passed a nearly unanimous resolution requesting that the University approve the application. Apparently, of the twenty-four members in the Senate, two abstained from voting while the rest approved the resolution.
From the report:
Junior Katie Rose, gender issues director for student government and vice president-elect, said student government’s records show the possibility of an official gay-straight alliance has been discussed since at least 1989.
Senate entered into closed, executive session for much of its discussion about the resolution. When public discussion resumed, student body vice president and president-elect Brett Rocheleau, a junior, clarified the position of the Office of Student Affairs on the recognition of a GSA.
“They believe that with [the Core Council for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Questioning Students], the pastoral counsel that comes with these questions [of sexuality] is needed,” Rocheleau said. “With a peer-to-peer advocate, they are afraid that this need of the counseling won’t be as well met.” …
Sophomore Gaby Nunez, Cavanaugh Hall senator, said Student Affairs might not understand the value of peer-to-peer interaction.
“In a situation like a gay-straight alliance, if you have a gay student who has come out mentoring a questioning student through the experience, that might be more effective because the student has been there,” she said. …
Senior Joanna Whitfield, vice president of the Progressive Student Alliance, said after the meeting she was glad Senate took time to discuss the resolution and the effects it would have on the student body.
“I think that this resolution affirms that Notre Dame really is inclusive to all its students,” Whitfield said. “Students really want to further inclusion and they really want to help out GLBT students on this campus … We’re also really happy that it’s the Student Senate, so it does show that the students really do support this movement.”
You can read the full article at The Observer.
Adam Wilson
CNS Staff
Matthew Archbold
Charlotte Hays
10 Comments
This is sick. Thanks again Notre Dame for reminding us why you are NOT a Catholic University.
Instead they need to set up a Psychological Testing and Medical Support Alliance for Gay, Transgender, and Transvestites students and Professors. Yes, it is a sickness that can be treated and not some false belief in genetic predisposition. COUNCILING ALLIANCE is the right answer and not more of It is a lifestyle choice..it clearly is not a natural biblical choice. The bible is quite clear folks.
Chuck, you said, “Instead they need to set up a Psychological Testing and Medical Support Alliance for Gay, Transgender, and Transvestites students and Professors.”
Chuck, “gay” is not the same as “transgender” and neither are related to “transvestite”. One is orientation, one is gender identity, and one is a person who cross dresses. There is a big difference in orientation and acting upon sinful desires (gay or straight).
The Church itself takes the following stance:
“However, the Church also acknowledges that “[homosexuality’s] psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. . . . The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s cross the difficulties that they may encounter from their condition.
“Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection” (CCC 2357– 2359).”
It sounds as though some young catholics need to be educated as to the extent of loving the sinner while hating the sin.
ONE MORE NAIL IN THE NOTRE DAME COFFIN.
IT IS AMOST TIME FOR EXTREME UNCTION.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION?
AND THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM AT THE INN OR NOTRE DAME.
In my opinion as a Catholic who has study the catechism a bit many young men and women don’t realize they are gay and many don’t act on it when they realize it. Being gay is not sinful in the eyes of the Church and if one acts it out the Church would condemn the sin but love the sinner. The Church could not make a judgement as to the person’s culpability in the eyes of God. Having a club for people whose sexual orientation happens to be gay or straight would open a dialogue toward greater understanding which in turn leads to acceptance on a human level without judging. Whatever the cause for one’s sexual orientation has not been fully determined. There have been a few paradigms offered and even some paths to change if one wishes. Sin is committed in the will not in the act so one must in all matters be able to make a free choice. The Church always has the obligation to present its Magisterium’s teaching regarding homosexuality and through its decernment guided by the Holy Spirit and based on the natural law has determined the act to be intrinsically evil.
So when do we have a club for child molesters? Swingers? People who enjoy bestiality? If we follow the ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’ and give the sin acclamation and equality with the real nature of Man?
This doesn’t surprise me. When Notre Dame gives imprimatur to the most anti-life and anti-religious liberty president in American history, what outcomes do you expect? This is a further piece of evidence that even the most prestigious Catholic university in America has torn loose from its moorings to the Magisterium.
Forget it, as long as frauds like Father Jenkins promotes an anti-Catholic and anti-life agenda, we, as Catholics are in a state of frustration with our American Church becoming more Protestant.
Shame on Notre Dame University – another nail in the coffin. This is no longer a Catholic University.
When my son was at ND int he 90′s (pre-Jenkins era) thigns were quite different. The student body was relatively coonservative, much more so thant some of the faculty, such as Fr. Richard McBrien, the very liberal, very un-Catholic theology professor. Things sure have changed there – for the worse. IT’s very disturbing to those of us who loved Notre Dame and were part of the “Notre Dame family,” as the university liked to say.
Father Jenkins should be relieved of his duties since it seems a burden to him to follow Catholic Doctrine. He is leading so many young minds astray, we cannot change our doctrines to accommodate everyone who thinks differently.