After receiving a letter from one of his parishioners about her gay son, Minnesota Archbishop John Nienstadt's response to her was as disgusting as it was dangerous.
I write to inform you that the teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality,a s described in paragraphs 2357 and 2358 and 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is rooted in Scripture and based on the Natural Moral Law. It, therefore, shares in God’s revelation to us. Catholics are bound in conscience to believe this teaching. Those who do not cannot consider themselves to be Catholic and ought not to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. Indeed, some might find this is a hard saying by many of Jesus’ teachings were likewise received as such. I urge you to reconsider the position that you expressed in your letter. Your eternal salvation may well depend upon a conversation of heart on this topic.
The full letter can be found at
Think Progress
In the Truth Wins Out article, John Becker responds:
Telling the parent of an LGBT child that she ‘ought not to participate in the sacramental life of the Church’ unless she renounces her pro-equality views – and that her ‘eternal salvation may well depend upon’ her willingness to accept the Catholic Church’s anti-gay teachings – is spiritual bullying of the highest order and utterly reprehensible,” added John Becker, Director of Communications & Development for Truth Wins Out. “What kind of spiritual leader demands that a mother reject her child in order to save her soul?
It is beyond reprehensible that the Catholic church leaders continue to instruct their flock that they must reject their own sons and daughters and acquiesce to their Iron Age teachings that they need to choose between their child's well-being and eternal damnation.
Well, once again, Chris Kluwe isn't standing for this nonsense.
Tell me, Archbishop, Pope, what purpose does the Church serve attempting to influence the affairs of a secular state? The federal benefits under law currently denied gay couples certainly fall under the realm of Caesar, don’t they? No one is forcing the Catholic Church to marry gay couples if that is not the Church’s wish. You can keep the sanctity of Catholic marriage solely between heterosexual couples if you feel that is what’s required (again though, I caution you on the dangers of presumed infallibility). All we are asking is for you to extend the open hand of tolerance instead of the closed fist of fear and hate.
As American citizens, we respect the right for everyone to practice whichever religion they so choose, including the right to not practice one at all. Haven’t we learned enough from the Crusades, the Inquisitions, the Talibans of the world? What does it benefit the Church to attempt to influence secular policy in this country, especially when that influence is to deny basic human rights to others? Will you now assume Caesar’s throne, grasping the transitory ephemera of worldly power and control, while forsaking the eternal kingdom of Heaven?
This man deserves deep respect for tackling these antiquated bigots using his own pulpit of celebrity. For far too long we have as a society tolerated church leaders using their religion like a fist against the rest of us. Kluwe is spot on pointing out that this is a secular society and the Catholic church's attempts to influence the role of government in our private lives needs to be stopped and stopped now.
I have a goal before I die, to shake Mr. Kluwe's hand and thank him for the work he is doing on behalf of equality. In the meantime, he is about to receive an epic fan-mail letter from yours truly. Standing ovation, sir.