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Monday March 20, 2006
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Prominent Minneapolis-St. Paul Priest a Leader in National Homosexual Lobby Group
by Hilary White
ST. PAUL-MINNEAPOLIS, March 20, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The website of Dignity USA, the most prominent US lobby organization fighting Catholic teaching on human sexuality "from within" the Church, features on its website, a prominent priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis, Fr. Leo Tibesar, as a member of the organization's National Leadership Team. Tibesar was also short listed in 2004, as one of eight candidates for Dignity's national board of directors.
Until recently, Father Tibesar, a priest in good standing with the archdiocese, was involved in the Archdiocesan marriage preparation ministry. And had been involved with the Engaged Couples Ministry for the archdiocese since 1987. Fr. Tibesar was also chair of the Interreligious Committee on Family Life from 1980-1983 and Governor Al Quie's Advisory Committee on Families, 1981-1982.
Debra Weill, Executive Director of Dignity USA confirmed to LifeSiteNews.com that the Leo Tibesar of Minneapolis listed on Dignity's website with a photograph is a priest, but declined to discuss his current standing with the Archdiocese of St.Paul-Minneapolis.
Fr. Tibesar currently serves as the priest chaplain for the spiritual health services at the Riverside Campus of the Fairview Medical Center in Minneapolis. LifeSiteNews.com was unable to reach Fr. Tibesar for comment.
Archdiocesan spokesman, Dennis McGrath refused to say whether Fr. Tibesar's connection to Dignity is a matter of any concern to the Archdiocese. "I'm not going to make that judgement. I'm not the archbishop," McGrath said.
"It is certainly OK for anybody in an official capacity of the Church to minister to and be receptive to people with a same-sex orientation. As long as he follows the dictates of the Church," McGrath said.
Dignity is however vehemently opposed to the US bishops' support of marriage in law. The organization's website insists that homosexual acts and "transgenderism" are in keeping with "the teaching of Christ" which, they propose, is also opposed to Catholic teaching.
Dignity is prohibited from holding meetings on Catholic property in virtually all dioceses throughout the country.
In recent weeks, Archbishop Flynn has been the focus of much media attention over his silencing of one of his most prominent orthodox priests, Fr. Robert Altier, the assistant pastor of St. Agnes parish. Fr. Altier objected to the archdiocese' adoption of the graphic sex-education program "Talking About Touching" for children as young as six in Catholic schools.
At the same time, Flynn is being criticized by homosexual activists for his support of a proposed constitutional amendment that would retain the traditional definition of marriage and would stop encroachments by homosexuals under the guise of legally recognized "civil unions."
In mid-February, 150 pro-homosexual protesters demonstrated outside the Cathedral of St. Paul against Flynn's support of marriage. At a Mass for married couples, when Archbishop Flynn asked married couples to stand for recognition, several same-sex couple activists also stood.
Engaged Couples Marriage Preparation Program:
http://engagedcouples.org/details.htm
Leadership Team web page of Dignity USA:
http://www.dignityusa.org/national.html
Read related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Same-Sex "Marriage" Proponents Demonstrate Outside Mass Celebrating Marriage
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/feb/06021409.html
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