Overview

'This book should be read by every bishop, priest and lay pastor in the Catholic Church as well as every gay or lesbian person who has concluded that being happily gay and Catholic is not possible. The author provides an extremely accessible guide to Catholic teaching, social theory and gay and lesbian theology which will enable every reader to truly appreciate the 'remarkable gift' of being gay and Catholic.' - Elizabeth Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of Glamorgan, Wales. For generations, gays and lesbians from Catholic backgrounds have struggled to reconcile their sexual orientation with their Church's rigid anti-homosexual stance. Some leave the Church in despair while others suppress their sexuality in order to remain in the Church. Maurice Shinnick argues that homosexuality should be seen as a gift from God, rather than a curse. He shows how attitudes to homosexuality have developed in different Christian denominations around the world and offers a careful re-reading of Catholic teaching. This Remarkable Gift calls for a genuine dialogue between the Church and gay and lesbian people and offers a guide to the paths such a dialogue could follow.

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9781864484625

Table of Contents

Reviews

Homosexuality within the Church is still, however much its defenders may dislike the fact, taboo. Seen by many Christians as a sin rather than, as Maurice Shinnick puts it, a 'gift', the subject is emotive and opinions are sharply divided. Nevertheless, the author, a parish priest in the Australian diocese of Adelaide (and also chaplain to the organization Acceptance, whose aim is to support gay and lesbian Catholic believers), argues that there needs to be a 'genuine dialogue' between the arbiters of the Church and homosexual Christians who have either left or have been cast out because of their orientation. Through his detailed examination of the teachings of the Catholic Church and his attempt to dismantle its historic stance point by point, Shinnick manages a polemical but valiant, clearly written and readable contribution to a debate which is still extremely heated. (Kirkus UK)

Author Information

Maurice Shinnick is a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Adelaide, South Australia. He pioneered a pastoral program for people living with HIV/AIDS and is a chaplain to Acceptance, an organisation that supports gay and lesbian Catholics. In 1992 Fr Shinnick received an Order of Australia Medal for his work.

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