DETROIT — One of the most recognized and respected advocates for gay inclusion in the Roman Catholic Church will be coming to the University of Detroit Mercy on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. Together, the UDM Gay Straight Alliance, The Office of Women's Studies and the Student Programming Board are welcoming Sister Jeannine Gramick on campus for a discussion in the Student Center Ballroom. The event is free of charge and open to the public.
Sister Gramick co-founded New Ways Ministry in 1977 along with Father Robert Nugent to minister directly to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. She engaged in writing, research, lectures, retreats, and consultation on LGBT issues and Catholicism. She traveled around the world with her ministry under her order, the School Sisters of Notre Dame. In 1999, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith permanently prohibited her from any pastoral work with LGBT people. In 2000, the School Sisters of Notre Dame ordered her to cease speaking about homosexuality. In conscience, she chose not to collaborate in her own oppression and continues to engage in LGBT ministry. In 2001, she transferred to Sisters of Loretto. Gramick has been recognized, awarded and cited by numerous organizations and institutions for her heroic work for LGBT social justice and is the subject of the 2004 documentary "In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick's Journey of Faith" directed by the Peabody and Emmy award-winning filmmaker/journalist Barbara Rick.
"Given the growing intolerance of gays and lesbians by the Vatican, Sister Gramick's message is more needed now than ever before," said Dana Zajac, president of the UDM Gay/Straight Alliance. "Why is a message of inclusion so threatening to the Vatican? The rest of world is moving in a direction of greater acceptance and civil rights and it seems like the Vatican is heading backward. At UDM, we want to move forward," Zajac added.
Sister Jeannine Gramick to visit UDM Oct. 25
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