The Association of US Catholic Priests (AUSCP) is once again holding its Annual Assembly, this time in Baltimore, MD, June 20-23. We’ve reported on a number of past AUSCP events and issued reports on AUSCP rhetoric concerning women’s ordination to the priesthood and AUSCP’s membership in an international network of dissident organizations.
This year, it appears the AUSCP is back at it again. According to an AUSCP press release, it is bestowing its 2022 St. John XXIII Award to two champions of the homosexualist movement, Sr Jeannine Gramick and Fr. Joe Muth.
This isn’t surprising given AUSCP’s long-time support of the homosexualist agenda, for instance:
- Last year, we documented bumper stickers promoting same-sex “marriage” at the AUSCP Annual Assembly.
- The AUSCP was unhappy with the Vatican for barring homosexuals from the priesthood
- The AUSCP pushed for homosexuals to adopt children
- And further promotion of homosexuality at their assemblies.
Sr Jeannine Gramick is no stranger to the AUSCP. In 2016, she documented her attendance at the AUSCP Assembly that year and has attended other assemblies since that time. In 2019, she convened a session titled “Supporting Gay Priests in Times of Crisis” at the 2019 AUSCP Assembly (see image below) and her New Ways Ministry has been a regular exhibitor at AUSCP events for many years.
Sr. Gramick co-founded the homosexualist New Ways Ministry in 1977 alongside Fr. Robert Nugent. New Ways Ministry faced both local and Vatican condemnations in 1984, and after a lengthy time of examination and correspondence, Sr Gramick was officially censured by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 1999, and “permanently prohibited from any pastoral work involving homosexual persons and are ineligible, for an undetermined period, for any office in their respective religious institutes.”
Sr. Gramick refused to obey the Vatican directive and continued to speak on homosexuality and work with New Ways Ministry. In 2010, when New Ways Ministry and Sr Gramick were pushing for same-sex “marriage”, USCCB President Cardinal Francis George released yet another public condemnation that stated:
New Ways Ministry has recently criticized efforts by the Church to defend the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and has urged Catholics to support electoral initiatives to establish same-sex “marriage.” No one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching and an authentic Catholic pastoral practice. Their claim to be Catholic only confuses the faithful regarding the authentic teaching and ministry of the Church with respect to persons with a homosexual inclination. Accordingly, I wish to make it clear that, like other groups that claim to be Catholic but deny central aspects of Church teaching, New Ways Ministry has no approval or recognition from the Catholic Church and that they cannot speak on behalf of the Catholic faithful in the United States.
These condemnations and censures all stand, despite any private correspondence Sr. Gramick and New Ways Ministry may have received from various bishops or even from Pope Francis. By honoring Sr. Gramick, the AUSCP further entrenches its commitment to the perversion of Catholic morality while attacking the Church’s authentic teaching on human sexuality.
Fr. Joe Muth is another homosexualist activist. He is the founder of “LGBTQ Educating and Affirming Diversity” (LEAD), and is reported to have defied Baltimore Archbishop William Lori when asked that no signs identifying Fr. Muth’s parish be carried in the 2018 Baltimore Pride Parade. According to Church Militant:
The minutes of St. Matthew’s LEAD (LGBT Educating and Affirming Diversity) Ministry meeting on June 10 report, under “Fr. Joe’s Updates,” that “Bishop [Denis] Madden has conveyed Archbishop Lori’s request that no signs identifying St. Matthew parish be carried in the Gay Pride Parade on June 16.”
The minutes go on to say that a LEAD member “will explore ordering T-shirts printed with ‘St. Matthew Catholic Church—All Are Welcome’ for parade participants.”
Donohue’s photo, part of 106 Baltimore Pride Parade pictures featured on the pro-homosexual website The Advocate shows that LEAD decided to ignore Lori’s plea and march with the sign.
According to Defend Life, Fr. Muth was asked by Abp. Lori to retire early.
Exactly what message is the AUSCP attempting to convey by bestowing these two champions of homosexualism with its highest award? The same perverted message it’s been spreading all along!
The AUSCP is signaling its continued push for a radical, anti-Catholic, pro-LGBT agenda in the Church, and they are doing it with the backing of bishops and Cardinals. Cardinal Peter Turkson, Bishop John Stowe and Cardinal Wilton Gregory are confirmed participants for this assembly. By participating in an assembly that allows open promotion of active homosexual relationships and same-sex “marriage,” the only conclusion one can draw is that these bishops (at least silently) are supportive of the promoted and awarded agenda.
This is scandalous beyond measure! Instead of granting cover to gross distortions of Catholic teaching, these bishops should disavow and condemn the AUSCP, bar them from any diocesan activity and publicly repudiate the errors promoted at the assembly. Anything short of this is an active betrayal of their God-given ministry of safeguarding the flock Christ entrusted to them.
Be sure to contact your bishop and ask him to publicly condemn the AUSCP and forbid his priests from being members!
Click here for a sample letter you can send.
Click here to find the contact information for your bishop.
