HIGH GEAR/OCTOBER 1977
FR. MCNEILL SILENCED
By Terence Edwards
The New York Times recently reported that the Vatican has ordered Jesuit Priest John J. McNeill to cease making public statements in word or print on the subject of homosexuality. In 1974 Father McNeill, a leading advocate of liberalizing the Catholic Church's attitudes toward homosexuality had received permission from the Vatican to publish his book "The Church and the Homosexual," While this action by the Vatican may be disappointing to those who still look to it for guidance in sexual matters and while it is a disappointment to the gay movement, it is not a surprising consequence to the interest and excitement that this volume has generated. More surprising to me was the news that permission was granted to publish a book by a Catholic scholar expressing the view that homosexual activity was morally good when it is based on authentic commitment of mutual love and respect.
For various social and financial reasons many gays are not in a position to make a lifelong monogomous commitment to another person, nor would some do so if circumstances permitted. But had this volume con-
tinued in publication with its "imprimi potest" (it can be published), it would have represented the first small significant change in attitude for an organization which has traditionally persecuted its gay members with shame, guilt, fear, and even threats of eternal damnation for sexual transgression which Levitcus terms "abominable" in nature.
The views of the Vatican unfortunately do occasionally influence people whose church affiliation is other than Catholic, and they can collaborate with each other as they have done on the abortion issue to attempt to deprive people of the right to regulate their own behavior, to prohibit them from making choices affecting their own lives and well-being. Having liberated myself from the Catholic Church's magisterial domination years ago (but not soon enough), the scene is frankly humorous. Dressed in attire which would win bravos in some drag shows, a small group of pompous
aged celibates (celibate, perhaps) attempt to regulate the sexual conduct of the world. Preposterous, insane, unbelievable, but some swallow their proscriptions hook, line, sinker, bait and pole. They deserve the same repudiation as
OUT OF STEP
By Terrence Edwards
As gays, some of us say that we march to the beat of a different drummer. But if everyone wanted to beat his own drum, there would never be a parade. A news item in a recent edition of the ADVOCATE painfully illustrates how out-of-step we gays are in cadence in our gay liberation movement march. The ADVOCATE reports that the Florida Coalition of Gay Organizations, a Gainesville based organization claiming to represent 60 gay rights groups throughout the state, has announced its opposition to a national boycott of citrus products. Coalition spokesperson Elizabeth Williams charges that nobody should face retaliation for exercising his freedom of speech. "Just as gay activists should not suffer from their statements on gay rights", she says, "neither should an anti-gay activist suffer the same discrimination." The Miami Victory Campaign led by Dade County activist Robert Kunst, has continued to call for a nationwide boycott.
Frankly, Ms. Williams, you flabbergast me. And if this is the position of 60 gay rights groups in Florida, it is sad and disheartening indeed to contemplate how long it will be before straight society recognizes our rights when so many of us in
fact don't recognize the enemy.
Either Ms. Williams or myself ought to retake Logic 101, for it was reported that Ms. Bryant has personally suffered loss of income as a result of her malicious campaign. Several newspapers stated that the Dade County issue resulted in her losing 70% of her contracts. She undoubtedly has "invested" some of her own fortune to facilitate her mission, at least in the initial stages of her crusade. Not to be able to see that there is indeed a logical concatenation between the funds she receives from fruit growers and her subsequent disbursements of at least part of these funds to persecute another variety is incomprehensible. And Ms. Williams speaks not for only herself, poor dear, but for 60 gay rights groups.
I don't like dogs. It's frightening to me when they bark at me as I walk down a street. I cannot deny that dog the right to bark, but I'll be goddammed if I'll pet it if it's lonely or feed it when it's hungry. I personally support the boycott; I neither purchase nor consume citrus products. I have asked close friends to honor the boycott. Some said they would; some wouldn't. The boycott does not violate anti-gay activists' right to speak against me, but I'm nost so stupid that I'll finance their efforts.
most of us accord Anita Bryant and her Save Our Children followers. They deserve neither our financial support nor the exaggerated respect that they demand. We should view their attempts to "straight" jacket our morality as of the same type of unwarranted incursion as that of Bryant & Company.
Father McNeill was among those who were to participate in a Dignity convention. He reportedly has accepted the Vatican's muzzle and wrote Dignity to withdraw from conference participation. He said that he hoped his silence would be eloquent ... that it would "symbolize the defenseless silence incurred through the centuries and even today by hundreds of thousands of gay Catholics."
The free world frequently reacts when a state-controlled country attempts to silence its educated citizens who write and speak of the indignities, deprivations and fears to which these masses must submit. Free governments even attempt to free these few. An acknowledged scholar, living in a free society has acquiesced to the timidities of prelates whom he believes in conscience, are wrong. We feel sorry for you, Father McNeill, but thanks for what you tried to do.
O.G.R.C.
Page 5
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