August 21, 1992

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 5

Vatican slams gay rights laws

by Nick Bartolomeo

The Vatican in July came out strongly against civil rights legislation aimed at protecting gays, characterizing it as a possible threat to "family and society."

It further stated that opposition to such anti-discrimination legislation is at times "obligatory" to "protect the common good."

The Vatican pronouncement, entitled "Some Considerations Concerning the Catholic Response to Legislative Proposals on the Non-Discrimination of Homosexual Persons, was generated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), a church body in Rome that essentially polices Catholic dogma. The document, released in late June by a Vatican embassy official for distribution to all U.S. bishops, was leaked to the news media by New Ways Ministry, a suburban D.C.based U.S. Catholic Conference.

In its forward, the pronouncement advises that gay civil rights laws, "even where they seem more directed toward the support of basic civil rights than condonement of homosexual activity or a homosexual lifestyle, may in fact have a negative impact on the family and society."

The Vatican stated that "the conscientious Catholic legislator, voter, or Church authority who is confronted with such issues" should bear in mind the legislation's possible impact on "the housing needs of genuine families" as well as on "the adoption of children, the hiring and firing of teachers," and the "landlords' legitimate concerns in screening potential tenants.”

John J. McNeill, a psychotherapist and former Jesuit priest who has authored several books on the church and homosexuality, said that the document represents a new tack by Vatican officials.

"In taking such a position in civil rights and civil law, the Church has moved beyond the position of . . . teacher and has become a political agent for homophobia," said McNeill. "And therefore no Catho-

lic--and this includes the hierarchy of the Church--is under any moral obligation to obey this Vatican statement."

The letter opens by referencing several "relevant passages" from a 1986 CDF document on the "Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons." That document clarified church teaching on homosexuality, stating that while homosexuality is "not a sin," it is a "condition" that has "a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil." Same-gender sexual activity, the 1986 letter stated, "may seriously threaten the lives and well-being of a large number of people," a passage that Catholic gay activists believe ostensibly refers to AIDS.

In the letter, the church also stated that anti-gay violence is "deplorable," but noted that "when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right," nobody "should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase."

The new CDF letter the puts forth seven "applications" of the 1986 pronouncements, the first of which holds that sexual orientation is not "a quality comparable to race" or "ethnic background.'

It is "not unjust discrimination to take sexual orientation into account, the Vatican reasoned without explanation in the new letter, "in the consignment of children to adoption or foster care, in employment of teachers or coaches, and in military recruitment."

The letter also stated that while "all persons have the right to work, to housing, etc.," such rights "are not absolute." If there is an "objectively disordered external conduct"--a term the Vatican stated defines such things as the "actions of the...mentally ill' and homosexual activity--"legitimate" limitations of these rights are "sometimes not only licit but obligatory" in order to "protect the common good."

Reprinted with permission from the Washington Blade.

Obituaries

Larry Kolke, community activist

Larry Kolke, 37, died August 6 from complications of AIDS after living with HIV for over ten years.

Larry was an early community activist, running the youth group at the old GEAR Center. He also help found the Health Issues Taskforce and worked with the 1987 March on Washington. He was an active volunteer with the International Film Festival and planned the first Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for Pride '91. He was a writer for the Chronicle during its years with Charles Callender, and later with the current publishers.

Larry earned a B.S. in 1975 at Purdue University, and was awarded his Masters in accounting from CSU in 1981. Two years later he was a C.P.A. with Ameritrust, where he worked until he went on disability in May of this year. He was the youngest manager ever appointed at Ameritrust.

He believed in activism within the lesbian and gay community and worked on community issues until he was no longer able. During the last year he also helped out at the Living Room, a program he believed in very much.

Larry was a traveler to many places and countries, and earlier this year he completed a life-long dream of flying to Paris on the Concorde. He had plans to go Key West and South Carolina just before he became ill this last time. Larry believed in the quality of life, and worked hard to enjoy his life the best he could. When that became impossible, he chose to stop his treatments and died soon thereafter.

Larry's ashes are to be spread from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in Paris, and at Edgewater Park.

Larry is survived by his lover, Paul

Russell; parents Ray and Grace Kolke; his sister and brother-in-law Deborah and William Nebel; brother and sister-in-law Glenn and Mary Lou Kolke; his niece and nephew, Samantha and Paul; and his close friends, Martha Pontoni, Laura Arabian, Bob Metz and Michael Groeneveld.

A memorial service will be held on August 22 at 2:00 p.m. at Corrigan's Funeral Home, Lorain Ave at West 150th. All memorial donations should be made to the Living Room, 1418 W. 29th, Cleveland 44113.

To place an obituary

Obituaries may be placed free of charge, by mail, fax, or hand delivery (see page 2 for address). We can't take information over the phone. Include your name and phone, so we may contact you. A photo can be included; please send a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want it returned.

Antone F. Feo, Ph.D. & Associates, Inc.

Clinical Psychologist

Gay/Lesbian Issues

o Chemical Addiction

o ACOA Co-Dependency

O Sexual Dysfunction, disorder, addiction

o Depression

o Couple & Family Therapy

O Shame/Guilt

o Rape & Incest Survivors o Family Violence

WESTGATE LOUNGE

1690 W. Market

Akron, Ohio

Country Night on Thursdays

Free Dance Lessons Start at 8:30 p.m.

"When you need to talk to someone...

Talk to someone who cares"

24500 Center Ridge Road Suite 100 Westlake Ohio 44145

216/899-1300

The

здовух

welcomes you all...

For breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night snack, Sunday brunch, midafternoon Tea, coffee, Special Events, Live music and more

specializing in vegetarian uusine, homenade bread and desserts, frish roasted ceffee, cappuccing and espresso.

106 W. Main St., Kent. 678-4848.

PASTR

SHOT

CAKES PASTRIES CANDIES

13006 Larchmere Blvd. 229-7007 ●