8/22

Beginning September 27 Nazareth College will be hosting a series of lectures by known Catholic dissidents. This lecture series is prominently reported in the August 18 edition of the Catholic Courier. This apparent endorsement by the Courier gives these speakers an aura of respectability that is certainly not well deserved.

The lecture series’ first speaker will be Charles Curran, a rather notorius dissident who is no longer allowed to teach Catholic theology. In 1986 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith had this to say about Charles Curran: “One who dissents from the Magisterium as you do is not suitable or eligible to teach Catholic theology”. Charles Curran is currently a Professor of Human values at Southern Methodist University. Charles Curran is still identified as a Roman Catholic priest of the Diocese of Rochester. A recent story in the Fort Worth Weekly provides a comprehensive report on his life of dissent.

The second speaker in the series will be retired Bishop Thomas Gumbleton of Detroit. Bishop Gumbleton is notorius for his involvemnt in every left wing cause imaginable. He was recently barred from speaking in the Diocese of Phoenix by Bishop Thomas Olmsted. He has also been mixed up in an alleged coverup of priestly abuse while he was bishop of the Detroit diocese. Bishop Gumbleton will be speaking on October 18.

The next speaker in the series will be Sister Mary Jo Leddy. Mary Jo Leddy also has a track record of dissident behavior. Her founding of the Catholic New Times newspaper says it all. She will be here on March 6, 2008.

Finally, on April 3, 2008, Sister Carol Zinn will be speaking here. One of her projects of notoriety was the “earth sprituality retreat center” called La Providencia in San Diego, California. Activities at the center included Reiki massages, labyrinth walks, winter solstice celebrations, and global spirituality talks. Fortunately Sister Zinn recently decided to close her center after 30 years of activity.