Choosing chastity Note: This is the second in a two-part series. By GAIL BESSE ANCHOR CORRESPONDENT
Family and friends often feel unsure of how to relate to a person living an actively "gay" lifestyle. They may feel tom because they care for the person but don't condone his behavior. Help and advice can be found from relatives who've been there, from clergy and from people with same-sex attraction themselves. The experience of Wendy, who left an active lesbian lifestyle, attests to what relatives' love and perseverance can do. Her testimony is posted on the Website of Courage, a spiritual support group for Catholics with same-sex attraction who are trying to lead chaste lives. (Courage members go by first names to protect confidentiality.) Wendy recalled how she initially rebelled at her family's not condoning her lesbianism. But then, she said, "My heart opened up when my sister lovingly spoke about the heart and
will of God and how she and the rest of the family really loved me." Wendy's sister asked her to break off her lesbian relationships for six months, but promised to be there to help her through difficulties. "Surprisingly, I found myself saying 'yes' to her. I was rea,lly saying 'yes' to the Holy Spirit," Wendy said. Testimonies like hers have given hope to mothers like Alice. The Framingham woman attends monthly meetings of Encourage, a spiritual sup'port ministry within Courage for relatives and friends of those with same-sex attraction. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. each first Friday at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Peabody; its spiritual advisor is Father Albert Sylvia, pastor. "We share experiences on ,. how to help our family members who've detoured from their faith;" Alice said. "What helps me most is hearing about how a child has come back - about Turn to page 18 - Courage
PAULINE PROCLAMATION - Pope Benedict XVI presi~es over a vespers service in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome June 28, on the eve of the feast of SS. Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome. The pope announced a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul that will run from June路28, 2008, to'June 29, 2009. (eNS photo/Alessandro-Bianchi, Reuters) , ... 1!
Popeannouncfi!s special year dedicated to St. Paul By JOHN THAVIS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
ROME - Pope Benedict XVI announced a special jubilee year dedicated to St. Paul, saying the Church needs modem Christians who will imitate the apostle's missionary energy and spirit of sacrifice. The pope said the Pauline year will run from
June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009, to mark the approximately 2,000th anniversary of the saint's birth..' He made the announcement while presiding over a vespers service at the Basilica of St. Paul OutI . ' side tIle Walls in Rome June 28, the eve of the feast of Sts, Peter and Paul, patron saints of Rome. . Turn to page 18-St. Pau[
Pope meets bishops, discusses decision on pre-Vatican II liturgy I,
Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley was one of two U.S. bishops participating By JOHN THAVIS AND CINDY WOODEN CATHQLlC NEWS SERVICE
STRUMMING HIS FAITH - A group of young adults take a break at last year's Steubenville East held at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Salette in Attleboro. This year's event will take place July 13-15 and July 20-22. Story on page 11. (Photo by Mike Gordon)
VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict XVI spent about an hour with an international group of bishops June 27 discussing his decision to allow greater use ofthe Tridentine Mass. Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley of Boston, who attended the meeting, confirmed to Catholic News Service that the purpose ofthe encounter was to inform the bishops about the coming papal document and help ensure its favorable reception. Cardinal O'Malley and Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of St. Louis were the only bishops from the United States taking part, sources
said. Jesuit Father Federico .If>mbardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters June 28 that "about 15~' bishops from around the world web invited to the meeting organized by the Vatican Secretariat of State. i; A Vatican statement said officials explained "the content and, the spirit of the announced 'motu proprio' of the Holy Father on the uSe of the missal promulgated by John xxm in 1962." The term "motu proprio" is Latin for "on one's own ihitiative" and signals the pope's s*ial personal interest in the subject. Pope Benedict stopped by to greet the bishops and "englged with them in a thorough conve~ation for about an hour," the statement said.
''The publication ofthe document - which will be accompanied by an extensive personal letter from the Holy Father to individual bishopsis expected within a few days, when the document itself will be sent to all the bishops with an indication for its implementation," the statement said. Sources said the pope's document and accompanying letter were each a few pages long. Vatican officials have said the document will allow for wider use of the Tridentine rite, but have not provided details about how this will be accomplished. The new Roman Missal replaced the Tridentine rite in 1969. In 1984, Turn to page two - Liturgy