Seeds of Hope: Table of Contents

Edited by Casey Lopata, with colleagues in ministry with Catholic gay and lesbian persons and their families - July 2001
* User does not have permission to reproduce materials marked with an asterisk.



I. Introduction

II. Ministry Resources

A. Annotated list of resources
B. Always Our Children
    1. *Always Our Children [National Council of Catholic Bishops Committee on Marriage and Family]
    2. Pastoral Recommendations from Always Our Children
C. Commentary on Always Our Children
    1. David: Always Our Child [Delores R. Leckey & Richard McCord]
    2. Taking Always Our Children Seriously [Casey Lopata]
D. Strategies
     1. Strategies for Encouraging Pastoral Care Based on the Experience of Catholic Gay & Lesbian Family Ministry [CG&LFM]
    2. Helpful Things to Know When Ministering with Persons with a Homosexual Orientation, or with their Families [CG&LFM]
    3. Strategies for Making Gay & Lesbian People and Their Families Feel Welcome in Your Parish [CG&LFM]
    4. Building a Parish Ministry to Gay and Lesbian Catholics [Patrick Furey]
    5. Learning to Swim: Ministry with Families Who Have Gay or Lesbian Members [Casey & Mary Ellen Lopata]
    6. Homosexuality, Homophobia, and Religious Education [Robert Nugent]
    7. Teaching and Learning About Cultural Diversity [Howard M. Miller, ed.]
E. Officially approved pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [We refer you to Spirituality and Other Pastoral Concerns, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. Coleman]
    2. [We refer you to Homosexuality: Pastoral, Personal and Professional Reflection, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and
        Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. Coleman]

F. Other pastoral aids and commentary
    1. Lesbian & Gay Terminology [CG&LFM]
    2. What Do We Tell Our Kids about Gay and Lesbian People? [CG&LFM]
    3. When a Child Says, ìIím Gayî [Mary Ellen and Casey Lopata]
    4. Homosexuality and the Hurting Family [Robert Nugent]
    5. Is your parish a good friend of the family? [Dolores Curran]
    6. Family nonconformists: is there room for wildflowers in your garden? [Dolores Curran]
    7. The struggle with sexual identity [Fr. Bob Nugent]
    8. Can gays and lesbians come out to be faithful Catholics? [Sister Jeannine Gramick]
    9. When Someone You Care About Is Gay [Jim Auer, Abbey Press CareNotes]
G. Support group aids
    1. Support Group [Diocese of Albany]
    2. Ground Rules for Support Groups [Diocese of Albany]
    3. Behaviors That Help and Hinder Communication [Diocese of Albany]
    4. Parish Bulletin Letter from a Pastor Inviting Parents to a Support Group
H. Liturgical aids
    1. Homily Hints [Terrie Schlitsey]
    2. Prayers of the Faithful Suggestions [Terrie Schlitsey]

III. Social Sciences
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Official teaching
    1. See section V.B. (Church Teaching/Official teaching).
C. Facts and myths
    1. Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality [American Psychological Association]
   2. Just the Facts About Sexual Orientation and Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators & School Personnel [GLSEN and other
    endorsing organizations]
D. Officially approved pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [We refer you to What Does It Mean To Be Homosexual, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald 
       D. Coleman]
    2. [We refer you to Origins of Homosexuality, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. Coleman]
E. Other pastoral aids and commentary
    1. Homosexuality and Adolescence [American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Adolescence]
    2. Psychology and the Churchís Teaching on Homosexuality [Stephen J. Rossetti and Gerald D. Coleman]
    3. Concerning Changing Oneís Sexual Orientation [CG&LFM]

IV. Scripture
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Official teaching
    1. See section V.B.5 (On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons)
C. Officially approved pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [We refer you to Biblical Documentation, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. Coleman]
D. Other pastoral aids and commentary
    1. Scripture and Homosexuality [CG&LFM]
    2. The Bible and Homosexuality [Daniel A. Helminiak]
    3. Summary and Conclusion [Daniel A. Helminiak]
    4. What Does Scripture Say? How Shall We Listen? [Victor Paul Furnish]

V. Church teaching
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Official teaching
    1. A Short Summary of Catholic Church Teaching on Homosexuality [CG&LFM]
    2. *Always Our Children (1997/98) (see Ministry resources)
    3. Catechism of the Catholic Church excerpts (1994/97)
    4. *Persons with a Homosexual Orientation (1991) [United States Catholic Conference]
    5. On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986) [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith}
    6. To Live in Christ Jesus -- excerpt (1976) [U.S. Bishops]
C. Moral discernment
    1. *Moral Decision Making and Personal Discernment: A Catholic Approach [United States Catholic Conference]
    2. Making Moral Decisions [Patricia A. Schoelles and Department of Evangelization & Catechesis, Diocese of Rochester]
D. Officially approved pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [We refer you to Homosexuality in Church Teaching, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. 
       Coleman]
    2. *What the Church Teaches About Homosexuality [Richard Sparks]
E. Other pastoral aids and commentary
     1. Homosexuality in Vatican and U.S. Bishopsí Documents [CG&LFM]
    2. Toward an Understanding of the Letter ìOn the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Personsî [John R. Quinn]
    3. A Response to Archbishop Quinn [William H. Shannon]
    4. Lesbian and Gay Catholics and the Church [NACDLGM]
    5. We should listen, leave judgment to God [Bishop Matthew H. Clark]
    6. What About Our Churchís Children? [Paul Giurlanda]
    7. Note on Church Teaching Concerning Homosexual People [Cardinal George Basil Hume]
    8. Homosexuality and Roman Catholic Church teaching [CG&LFM]
    9. Can My Son Be Gay and Catholic? [Casey Lopata]
    10. A Pastoral Approach Toward Catholics in Same-Sex Relationships [CG&LFM]

VI. Personal Experience
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Gay/lesbian
     1. ëIím Hereí: An Interview With Andrew Sullivan
    2. Different from norm, we reflect a God who delights in surprises [Marianne Duddy]
    3. Attending to choices about personal life and community living [Mary E. Hunt]
    4. Reflections of a Gay Catholic [Brian McNaught]
    5. Growing Up Lesbian and Catholic [Ann Borden]
    6. Alone Again Naturally [Andrew Sullivan]
    7. Notes From a CommunityóCatholic and Gay [Eric Stoltz]
C. Parents
    1. Still your son, daughter [Mary Ellen Lopata]
    2. Enfolding gay son elevates a family [Leonard J. Szumiloski]

VII. Human and Civil Rights
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Official teaching
    1. Statements from Church Teaching Regarding Homosexuality & Human Rights
    2. Responding to Legislative Proposals on Discrimination Against Homosexuals (1992) [Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith] 
       and Human Dignity and the Common Good: A Response of New Ways Ministry to the Vatican Document on Lesbian and Gay 
       Rights
C. Officially approved pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [We refer you to Discrimination and Homophobia, in ìHomosexuality: Catholic Teaching and Pastoral Practiceî by Gerald D. 
       Coleman]
D. Other pastoral aids and commentary
    1. [See Human Dignity and the Common Good: A Response of New Ways Ministry to the Vatican Document on Lesbian and Gay 
       Rights in V.B.2.]
    2. Suggestions for Assessing Gay and Lesbian Related Legislation [Two Catholic parents / pastoral ministers]
    3. The Civil Rights of Homosexual People: Vatican Perspectives [Robert Nugent]
    4. ëGay agendaí is just human agenda [Leonard J. Szumiloski]

VIII. General Resources
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Reference
     1. Related Reading
    2. Support and Resources (Rochester area)
    3. Video Tapes Useful for Gay and Lesbian Ministry
C. Definitions
    1. Lesbian/Gay Glossary of Terms; Problematic Terminology; Defamatory Language To Avoid [Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against 
       Defamation]
    2. The Terms That Define Us [The Advocate]
D. Related organizations
     1. Cautions About Working With Related Organizations [CG&LFM]
    2. Courage, Dignity, NACDLGM, New Ways Ministry and CG&LFM
    3. BlankóInsert your customized comparison of organizations.
    4. Catholic Parents Network
    5. BlankóInsert your local gay and lesbian community center(s) info.
    6. BlankóInsert your local interfaith gay and lesbian organization(s) info.
    7. National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries
    8. New Ways Ministry
    9. Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians & Gays: How Does PFLAG Work?
    10. BlankóInsert your local PFLAG chapter(s) info.
    11. Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
    12. BlankóInsert your local GLSEN chapter(s) info.
    13. BlankóInsert your local AIDS agency(ies) info.
    14. BlankóInsert your local counseling referrals info.

IX. Ministry Examples
A. Annotated list of resources
B. Diocesan
    1. BlankóInsert your local diocesan ministry(ies) info.
    2. Oakland--Pastoral Guidelines for Outreach to Gay & Lesbian Communities and Their Families
    3. Oakland--Parishes as Welcoming Communities for Gay & Lesbian People and Their Families
    4. Oakland--High Schools as Welcoming Communities for Gay and Lesbian Youth and Their Families
    5. San JoseóPastoral Guidelines for Ministry to Homosexuals
    6. Contact information about various diocesan ministries.
C. Parishes and other programs
    1. BlankóInsert your local parish or other non-diocesan ministry(ies) info.
    2. St. Andrew the Apostle, Syracuse, NY--Journey of Acceptance of Gay and Lesbian Parish Members: The Story of St. Andrewís
    3. St. Andrewís, Portland, ORóA Status Report
    4. Contact information about various parish and other ministries.