Jeffrey Cooper
12-21-2005, 08:23 PM
Hi, my name is Jeff Cooper and I am a 41 year old Roman Catholic Priest and a gay man. I just joined up with Soulforce in hopes of connecting with other people especially during these difficult times in the Catholic Church. I am sure you are all aware of the Vatican's recent "Instruction" concerning homosexual seminarians. I am a strong believer that my vocation is as fundamental to my personality and general humanity as is my sexual orientation and no one should be asked to choose between the two. To sacrifice one for the other is to split one's identity in a very painful way and that is something I promised myself I would never do again after growing up fighting my sexual orientation.
I am personally looking for a way to respond creatively to this current situation in the Church and I am looking for insights and any advice from the Soulforce community. What I really would like to do is develop a network that would provide support and resources, perhaps at first for gay Roman Catholic clergy and then perhaps eventually develop it further to support all gay men and women ministers of various faiths who feel they cannot live out their vocations fully, or feel their vocation is being threatened by their own religious institution. I would envision calling the organization "The Society of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus." These two martyrs are from the early Christian tradition and were Syrians. Many commentators believe they were martyred because they were lovers. But even if that can be disputed what is beautiful about their story is that Bacchus was put to death first and as Sergius awaited in prison for his own death the next day, Bacchus appeared to him to encourage and support him with the promise they would be reunited together forever in heaven. That intimate friendship and support is so needed today especially among the gay Catholic clergy. This is all a nice idea but I do not know where to begin. I simply feel I must do something, though, or my own integrity is only going to wither up.
If anyone out there could be of any help or has any thoughts please do let me know. Thanks! Jeff
I am personally looking for a way to respond creatively to this current situation in the Church and I am looking for insights and any advice from the Soulforce community. What I really would like to do is develop a network that would provide support and resources, perhaps at first for gay Roman Catholic clergy and then perhaps eventually develop it further to support all gay men and women ministers of various faiths who feel they cannot live out their vocations fully, or feel their vocation is being threatened by their own religious institution. I would envision calling the organization "The Society of Sts. Sergius and Bacchus." These two martyrs are from the early Christian tradition and were Syrians. Many commentators believe they were martyred because they were lovers. But even if that can be disputed what is beautiful about their story is that Bacchus was put to death first and as Sergius awaited in prison for his own death the next day, Bacchus appeared to him to encourage and support him with the promise they would be reunited together forever in heaven. That intimate friendship and support is so needed today especially among the gay Catholic clergy. This is all a nice idea but I do not know where to begin. I simply feel I must do something, though, or my own integrity is only going to wither up.
If anyone out there could be of any help or has any thoughts please do let me know. Thanks! Jeff