A gay-positive ministry
of advocacy and justice
for lesbian and gay Catholics
and reconciliation within the larger
Christian and civil communities.
Celebrating 30 Years of Service to the LGBT Catholic Community!
A Workshop/Retreat for Lesbian/Gay Catholics,
Parents, and Pastoral Ministers
"Magisterium, Theologians, and Folk Like Us: Sex, Sexuality, and Developing Catholic Faith"
Catholic Parents Network
presents
October 3-5, 2008 Aston, Pennsylvania(near Philadelphia
Rev. James Halstead, OSA
SCHEDULE
Facilitated by Rev. James Halstead, OSA
PRESENTER
©2007 New Ways Ministry
4012 29th Street - Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Tel. 301-277-5674 - NewWaysM@verizon.net
Cost: $165 (before Sept. 1st)
$180 (after Sept. 1st)
This weekend will be devoted to an examination of the theology and theological critiques of the hierarchical position on sexuality and homosexuality through historical and contextual perspectives.
The presenter will discuss developing notions of sexuality and homosexuality among the Catholic faithful and Catholic theologians. We will ask the questions "In addition to bishops, who else teaches in the Catholic Church?" and "How is the content of Church teaching determined?"
Because Catholics are in an historical process of discovering truth and developing doctrine, a new set of issues arises. When Catholics no longer simply "pray, pay and obey" but, rather, "live, love, learn and liturgize" (and a few other things) - sometimes to the opposition of others- how do Catholic communities cultivate an authentic spiritual life in Jesus Christ and in the Communion of Saints? We will look to our forbears in faith for wisdom as to how to be "wise as serpents and gentle as doves."
Rev. James Halstead is Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at DePaul University in Chicago. He is a member of the Order of St. Augustine and a priest for the past 31 years. In addition to his work at DePaul, Fr. Halstead has been a weekend associate pastor at St. Nicholas Parish in Evanston, IL, for the past 17 years.
Combining his extensive pastoral experience and an underlying Augustinian spirituality, Fr. Halstead brings to the discusssion of sexuality a keen sense of the historically-rooted nature of all theological and moral statements as well as the power of God's grace to renew all men and women, our ideas, and the institutions in which we live.
Awarded an "Excellence in Teaching" award by DePaul University, Fr. Halstead will facilitate a careful, thoughtful reading of magisterial documents in their original contexts, raise questions regarding the texts, and help us come to a new understanding and enthusiasm concerning our place and our role in promoting the Reign of God.
