Protest in Chicago and Cincinnati: Fr. James Martin Fails to Fool Catholics
Nearly 200 Catholics prayed across from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago on March 22, where Father James Martin, S.J. gave a Lenten talk. The invitation to speak caused an uproar since the outspoken Jesuit priest is an open and active promoter of pro-homosexual issues and has been banned from speaking at several Catholic venues.
Protesters at the cathedral braved frigid weather as they prayed a rosary of reparation in the Windy City before Fr. Martin talked. The rally of reparation was organized by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) and more than 7,500 concerned Catholics joined the protest online.
The controversial priest was invited to speak by Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago. Father Martin is the author of Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.
TFP members handed out a flyer titled “Are LGBT People Other Christs?” The pamphlet reviewed Father Martin’s book and took issue with his comparing the exclusion and anxiety of LGBT people to the persecution, Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Alluding to the book, one banner at the rally had the message “Fr. Martin’s bridge to sin offends God.” Other signs proclaimed “Purity Yes, Lust No,” “No Bridge to Unnatural Sin,” or “The Church built Bridges for 2000 Years: Confession and Amendment of Life.”
Distorting Catholic Doctrine
The overall tone of the rally was one of reparation and indignation for what was being allowed in Holy Name Cathedral. Those present, praying and singing hymns, came from as far as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All were perplexed by Fr. Martin's scandalous positions, including:
- A call for Catholics to “reverence” homosexual “marriage”
- His support for transgenderism for children
- His stand in favor of homosexual kissing during Mass
- His praise for a dissident nun, Sister Jeannine Gramick
- His reception of an award from New Ways Ministry, a group condemned by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops
The Catholic University of America canceled an appearance by Fr. Martin in 2017 for the following reason: “Since the publication of his book, Building a Bridge, Theological College has experienced increasing negative feedback,” stated a news release issued by the college. “The decision was made to withdraw the invitation extended to Father Martin.”
Peaceful protest by faithful Catholics also led to the cancellation of Fr. Martin's scheduled talk at Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey on February 15, 2018.
Report from Cincinnati: Snowstorm Stops Fr. Martin's Talk
The Bible is replete with instances wherein God uses nature to reward, punish, or otherwise send clear messages. So it was on Saturday, March 24, at the planned protest against Fr. James Martin, S.J. -- the so-called “rainbow Jesuit” -- at the University of Cincinnati.
Fr. Martin was scheduled to give a symposium at the University of Cincinnati with Sr. Jeannine Gramick, a nun who has been condemned for promoting homosexuality and female ordination in the Catholic Church. The symposium was to have been moderated by "queer" theologian, Dr. Andy Buechel, a teacher at Jesuit-run Xavier University whose works claim that Jesus, the 2nd Person of the Blessed Trinity, was (is) a homosexual who apparently had relations with His 12 Apostles. This is blasphemy at its worst.
The symposium was to have begun at 8:00 A.M. on Saturday morning, running until 4:00 in the afternoon. Working with the American TFP, local Catholics organized a protest of this event at 12:00 noon on Saturday.
God, with the inept help of the weather forecasters, delayed the snow storm just long enough to assure the symposium was canceled and that we could make it down to the University of Cincinnati to offer our act of reparation.
Should Fr. Martin and his rainbow coalition decide to re-try their symposium in Cincinnati, we will be ready yet again to assemble in defense of the truth. Please be ready to do the same in your city or community.
The Archbishop of Cincinnati also made his objection clear. On March 9, 2018, Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr stated:
"You may hear from some parishioners about an upcoming event at the University of Cincinnati subtitled, 'A Dialogue on Faith, Catholicism, and the LGBTQ Community.' To be very clear, despite its billing, the event is in no way sponsored by, sanctioned by, or associated with the Catholic Church. In fact, one of the scheduled speakers has been ordered to not speak on behalf of the Catholic Church in the United States due to the grave error of her teaching. The Code of Canon Law (Can. 216) states in part that 'no undertaking shall assume the name Catholic unless the consent of the competent ecclesiastical authority is given.' My permission was not sought in this case, nor would it have been given."
Despite the snow, TFP Student Action volunteers, together with local Catholics, were blessed with the opportunity to offer reparation to God for the insults that were to have been hurled at Him, sadly by His own religious. May the hearts of these men and women be changed before they meet the Divine Judge who shows mercy for repentant sinners.
(William Gossett and Pat Ashcraft contributed to this report)