The Wild Reed: Two Upcoming Events of Special Interest to Twin Cities-area LGBT Catholics

Monday, April 13, 2009

Two Upcoming Events of Special Interest to Twin Cities-area LGBT Catholics

First (and I apologize for the short notice on this one!), tomorrow night (Tuesday, April 14) at 7:00 p.m., Dr. John Corvino, philosopher, moralist, and gay rights advocate, will be speaking at the Alumnae Hall of the Haehn Center, College of St. Benedict, Collegeville, MN. The title of his presentation is “What’s Morally Wrong with Homosexuality?”

Here’s how the organizers are billing this event:

Is homosexuality unnatural? Does it threaten society? Are gays and lesbians “born that way” – and does it matter?

In this provocative program, Dr. John Corvino tackles these questions and more. Combining philosophical rigor with sensitivity and humor, Corvino examines the most common arguments against same-sex relationships – including those based on nature, harm, and religion. In the process, he invites people on all sides to rethink easy assumptions about homosexuality and morality.

Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend Corvino’s talk as I have a Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR) meeting tomorrow night in Hudson, WI. Thankfully, however, Corvino’s “What’s Wrong with Homosexuality?” lecture is available on DVD. So if, like me, you’re unable to be at St. Ben’s tomorrow night, check out Corvino’s DVD here.

Also, following is a compilation of excerpts from this DVD.

The second event that might be of interest to local LGBT Catholics and their allies is the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities and the Progressive Catholic Voice’s co-sponsored screening of the award-winning documentary film, For the Bible Tells Me So on Monday, April 20 (7:00 – 9:00 p.m.) at Spirit of Hope Catholic Community (St Anne’s Church, 2035 Charlton Rd., Sunfish Lake, MN).

Following is a synopsis of For the Bible Tells Me So.

Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families -- including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson -- we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, “For the Bible Tells Me So” offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

Our special guest at the April 20 screening of the film will be scholar and retired Lutheran Bishop Lowell O. Erdahl will all speak on his journey and share his current convictions concerning a Christian perspective on homosexuality.

Following is the film’s trailer.