After 50 years of anti-Catholic ministry to homosexuals, a Loreto sister is now getting encouragement and newfound energy after correspondence with Pope Francis. In tonight’s In-Depth Report, Church Militant’s Paul Murano takes a look at this nun’s ministry and explores why a pope would give encouragement to someone who opposes moral truth.
Sr. Jeannine Gramick, New Ways Ministry: “I’ve been involved in LGBT ministry for a long time.”
Sister Jeannine Gramick has spent most of the past half-century working with those saddled with same-sex attraction. Gramick founded News Ways Ministry in 1976 with the late Fr. Robert Nugent, not only to embrace those with same-sex attraction but to accept and normalize their behavior.
Gramick: “Civil marriage is a civil right, no matter what your orientation.”
Her work was condemned in 1999 under the pontificate of John Paul II by Cdl. Joseph Ratzinger of the Church’s doctrinal office — later to become Pope Benedict XVI.
LifeSite News report: “The positions advanced by Sr. Jeannine Gramick and Fr. Robert Nugent regarding the intrinsic evil of homosexual acts and the objective disorder of the homosexual inclination are doctrinally unacceptable.”
Gramick told America Magazine earlier this month, “They wanted us to say that homosexual activity is objectively immoral and that we personally believed that. And I could not say that.”
Gramick recently decided to write Pope Francis about her life’s work. Instead of correcting her errors, he thanked her.
Cindy Brown, reporter, Queer News Tonight: “Francis wrote to Sr. Jeannine Gramick saying, ‘Thank you, Sr. Jeannine, for all your closeness, compassion and tenderness.'”
Critics of Gramick’s approach note compassion without truth is not love and does more harm than good.
LifeSite News report: “The ambiguities and errors of the approach of Fr. Nugent and Sr. Gramick have harmed the community of the Church.”
Philosopher and moral theologian Dr. Janet Smith responded on social media, “I was on the commission that … determined she was misrepresenting Church teaching on homosexuality. His [Pope Francis’] agenda is clear.”
Gramick mentioned some people asked why Francis hasn’t changed Church teaching. Instead of assuring them moral doctrine on sodomy is natural law and can never change, she replied, “That is not his job right now. Eventually, it’s his job, but right now it’s up to us.”
Gramick: “A number of bishops have celebrated Mass for LGBT Catholics and their families and friends.”
Gramick also declared, “There’s a new era in the Church because of Pope Francis. He’s enabling people to feel freer.”
Pope Francis: “Who am I to judge?”
The progressive mindset begins and ends with feelings and sentiment. Christ, on the other hand, stated very clearly it’s the truth that makes us free.
Vatican officials asked New Ways Ministry to contribute resources for so-called gay and lesbian Catholics in anticipation of the upcoming Synod on Synodality. At one point, synod staff removed the New Ways Ministry information from a synod web page and then reinstated it and apologized.