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“Ask a Priest: What If a Professor Assigns a Pro-Gay Book?”

Q: I am taking a young adult literature class at my school. One of the books we have to read is called Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. (Those are the two names of the kids.) A big theme in the book is their discovering that they are gay and being OK with that. I go to a Catholic college but have come across numerous classes where Catholic teachings aren’t taught. I have spoken to two leaders of my campus, but they don’t seem to want to effect change. This teacher is very pro-gay rights, and I doubt she will let me opt out of reading this book. I’m going to skip some of the classes where we have to discuss this book. But I do have to take two quizzes in class. Is it a sin for me to take quizzes on the book? I would just skip the quizzes, but then I would get two zeroes and that’s not good for my grade. I also don’t know if speaking up in class would be the best. I have shared my views in class before, but I think if I did it this time, people would just get angrier and I wouldn’t really change hearts. I think I do better when I talk to people one on one about my beliefs. But please let me know if I’m committing a mortal sin in any way in this situation. I am agonizing over this. Thanks. – M.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: If only more Catholics were like you!

It sounds as though your suggested approach is the way to go: talk to folks one on one, rather than risk fireworks in the classroom.

The campus seems to be suffering the same problem that plagues a lot of Catholic schools: a lack of coherence in living and witnessing to the faith.

So what to do? I would say that unless the books themselves are a source of sin for you (racy content, for instance), you could take the quizzes. It could be considered a merely academic exercise.

On the positive side, this might be a good moment to step back and view the wider landscape before you.

The culture is a mess, and the human side of the Church hasn’t been spared damage. Even at a purely intellectual level, it’s a pity that the college isn’t assigning weightier books in its classes.

Here, you might want to ask how you will form yourself from now on. This might be the moment to commit yourself to a steady diet of solid Catholic and humanistic works. For starters, you might want to look at The Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan.

In the short term, to survive life on campus, try to network with other solid Catholic students. If possible, avoid the dicey professors and try to invite solid speakers to campus.

Be sure to nourish your soul with prayer and frequent recourse to the sacraments.

And get ready to live in a pagan world. It won’t be easy, but it could a great opportunity to embrace the faith more closely and to look for ways to build a new Christian civilization.

That might sound like a heady task, but there is a precedent. Ancient Christians managed with God’s grace to transform Rome. You might find consistent inspiration in reading about the lives of the saints — for instance, in our daily e-mails from Uncle Eddy.

The change needed in modernity might take centuries to effect, but that’s OK. We aren’t called to change the world. We are called to be faithful.

If we do our part to unleash the Gospel, the Holy Spirit can work wonders.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to [email protected] and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

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Regnum Christi Spirituality Center Ask a Priest

“Ask a Priest: What If a Catholic Campus Has an LGBTQ Club?”

Q: In the fall, my oldest son is going off to college at a Catholic university. For various reasons we love this school and feel that it is a good fit for our son. However, at our recent visit for freshman orientation, I was very surprised to find out that there is an LGBTQ club on campus. I find it hard to understand why a Catholic university is allowing for a club that is in direct moral conflict with Church teachings. I have always taught my children that all people deserve dignity and respect because we are all children of God. Yet, there is moral truth. I know that my children have to maneuver through the waters of an ever-changing and diverse culture in society, and I have tried my best to root my children in Catholic teaching. However, doesn’t permitting this club on a Catholic campus send our young people mixed messages regarding Church teachings on this issue? Do you have any recommendations for students or parents to handle or respond to this issue? – K.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: What you have learned firsthand is the tip of the iceberg of problems that have plagued many Catholic campuses for decades: a rising tide of secularism and a concomitant watering down of the faith.

The problem you mention is all too common nowadays. Unfortunately, there is no quick and simple solution.

You mention that, for various reasons, you love this school and thought it was a good fit for your son. Perhaps it would be good to step back and ask yourself a few questions. Did you do any research into the school before your son applied? Or were you going on past memories of the place?

Many problems with the religious identity of Catholic colleges in the U.S. can be traced back to the 1967 Land O’Lakes Statement, which marked a decision by a number of high-profile Catholic institutions to blaze a new trail in higher education. (For background, see a National Catholic Register article from 2017).

The 1967 document helped to fuel a secular trend on many Catholic campuses in the name of modernization. This secularization grew stronger with age. Yet many Catholics continued to send their children and money to these campuses which failed to uphold truths of the faith.

Among the responses to the problem was Pope St. John Paul II’s 1990 apostolic constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae and the norms for its subsequent application in the United States. That is a lightning-quick overview of the problem.

How might you proceed? Perhaps a few suggestions might help.

First, if your son still intends to go to this school, you might encourage him to find a support network that will help him live his faith on campus. This means connecting with good Catholic students and perhaps a solid chaplain or even a good, off-campus parish priest.

This LGBTQ aspect of the college’s culture is certainly disturbing, but perhaps there are no better options, from your perspective. If that is the case, try to stay in touch your son throughout his college career to ensure he has access to authentic Catholic teaching.

Second, it might be good to rethink at some point in the future (say, in six to nine months) whether it might be better for your son to look elsewhere to continue his college education. Part of that reflection could involve his contacting the college to hear how it explains the apparent contradiction between campus culture and the Catholic faith.

Third, you might want to educate yourself further on the problems in Catholic education. One resource is the Cardinal Newman Society. It is a group that has had its share of opposition. But you could judge its merits for yourself.

Also helpful to educate yourself more about how best to talk about this particular issue is the video “The Third Way.

In the meantime, you might want to intensify your prayer life for your son. Count on my prayers.

Keep learning more with Ask a Priest

Got a question? Need an answer?

Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to [email protected] and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

“Ask a Priest: What If a Catholic Campus Has an LGBTQ Club?” Read More »

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Alex Kucera

Atlanta

Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.

In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.

Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.

From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.

Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!