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CATHOLIC NUN SHUT OUT BY ARCHDIOCESE
Move to stifle dissent fails to silence message of reconciliation  
Royal Oak, Michigan, 26 January 2005

A Roman Catholic nun who has dedicated her work to creating communication and dialog within the church on the subject of homosexuality and acceptance of gays and lesbians has been barred from a Royal Oak Catholic Church facility, along with the group that had invited her and a local gay rights organization. Sister Jeannine Gramick, who will be in Metro Detroit for a weekend screening of a documentary based on her work, was to be the guest at a reception in her honor hosted by Call to Action of Michigan, a progressive Catholic social action organization.

The film, In Good Conscience, is on the roster of films being presented at the Reel Pride Michigan Gay & Lesbian Film Festival presented by Triangle Foundation. Barbara Rick, the film’s producer/director will appear with Sister Gramick on the program. St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Royal Oak offered its facilities to Call to Action several weeks ago. Early this week when reception organizers visited the church to make final arrangements they were informed that an official from the Archdiocese, Bishop Walter Hurley, had issued the order banning Sister Gramick and the event from the building. “Disappointed and uncalled for,” said Sister Gramick when informed of the Archdiocese action. “Decisions like that are what makes the Church look foolish in the eyes of the world.  It’s embarrassing to me as a Catholic that the leaders of my Church would censor,” she concluded. “This is typical of the Archdiocese which continues to try to silence its members and refuses to engage in any helpful dialog at all,” said Jeffrey Montgomery, Executive Director of Triangle Foundation. “It’s a shame, really, that the Church is so frightened of dissent, is so intolerant. The leaders must not be too confident of their convictions if they must go to such lengths to stifle disagreement.”

“The Church has been so hurtful to so many who seek only reconciliation and healing,” said Sister Beth Rindler of Call to Action. “At times its very disheartening working within the Church because of the action of people who are at the helm of the Archdiocese.” Call to Action has vowed to hold the reception for Sister Gramick at another, more welcoming location. For over thirty years Jeannie Gramick has done pioneering work in ministering to gay and lesbian Catholics, initiating pastoral outreach to the gay community, counseling gays and lesbians and their families and writing two books and numerous articles. She is a Co-founder of New Ways Ministries, whose goal was to build bridges between the institutional church and homosexuals. Her work in these areas earned her a permanent ban in 1999 endorsed by Pope John Paul II from any pastoral work involving gays. She chose to ignore the Church’s efforts to silence her. The “rebel nun” could not, “in good conscience” remain silent.

Triangle Foundation is Michigan’s leading civil rights and advocacy organization working on behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community. Since 2003 Triangle Foundation has produced Reel Pride Michigan, the state’s largest film festival, celebrating the love, life and diversity of the GLBT community.    In Good Conscience chronicles Sister Gramick’s courageous ministry and journey. She will be at the screening at 1:30 pm Sunday 30 January at the Royal Oak Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak.

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