Open Letter To His Impotence

Dear Bishop Kicanas,

We, the under-signed are writing to you to express our concern about
the diocesan- influenced cancellation of Bishop Gumbleton's presentation on
Church Teaching and Gay-Lesbian Catholics.It came as a shock to the Call to
Action sponsors of the event. We received your personal approval for three
events this year .You told the Daily Star that your refusal to approve Bishop
Gumbleton's visit was based on Call to Action's dissent with Church teaching.
This seems like a contradiction.
Our concern does not end there. What message do we send to the Arizona
community when our Roman Catholic religious leaders ban dissenting opinions from
a brother bishop in good standing? At this time in the World Religion's scene,
we have witnessed frightening intolerance from some religious leaders. Roman
Catholicism, with its long tradition of respect for human reason and debate,
must not join the ranks of the frightened ideologues
In addition, a bishop like youself who has been brave in his defense of other
oppressed minorities is now associated with a decision that ostracizes even
further the Gay community. This refusal to even allow a lecture on another
perspective on homosexuality is a denial of the time-honored Catholic teaching
that doctrine develops.Had advocates of democracy ,women's equality and
opponents of involuntary servitude not been allowed to speak ,would the Catholic
Church still hold teachings that support these injustices?
Your leadership in the Diocese of Tucson has already overseen the removal of
a paid liason position to the Grace Group,an association of Gay Catholics. Now
this! Please ask yourself how you will begin to repair these affronts to this
much- victimized community.Your defense of undocumented immigrants has been
eloquent and courageous. What of these our brothers and sisters and "Always Our
Children" caught in the no man's land of intolerance and misunderstanding?When
will there be room for them in the "inn" of the Catholic community of Souther
Arizona?


Your in Christ,

200+ signees