In Tucson, Gumbleton Not Welcomed by Diocese

A retired auxiliary bishop from Detroit who is an outspoken advocate for sexual abuse victims and gays and lesbians will be in Tucson next week, but he's not being welcomed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson.

Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas said that decision is based on the identity of the group hosting the Rev. Thomas J. Gumbleton's talk, which he says takes positions that are contrary to church teachings. For that reason, the group's messages cannot be promoted on church property, the bishop said. He said he's had written contact with Gumbleton and made it clear that Gumbleton will not be in Tucson at the invitation of the local diocese.

"I'm saddened and disappointed to hear it," said Laurie Olson, vice president of the Tucson chapter of Call to Action, a group of lay Catholics that seeks changes in the church and is sponsoring Gumbleton, who will talk about homosexuality and Catholicism.

A group of lay Catholics? Hardly. This is nothing more than a sad group of malcontents wishing to refashion a church according to their wills and who are being enabled by a bishop whose 'teachings' are opposed to the Church he is supposed to represent...Is it not time for a national or universal excommunication of 'Call to Action' members rather than the merely local excommunication such as the one imposed by Bishop Bruskewitz?

And poor Bishop Gumbleton...even his own brother bishops realize he is "out there'...