Per Christum

US Catholic University Approves Gay Straight Partnership Club

By Thaddeus M. Baklinski

PORTLAND, Oregon, February 20, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The University of Portland, a Catholic university run by the Holy Cross Fathers, has officially recognized the university’s first-ever sexuality club, the Gay Straight Partnership (GSP).

The GSP’s mission, according to the club’s constitution, is “to build a community that is open and welcoming to all students” and “to help all students grow in friendship, knowledge, faith and service.”

Although the university administration had turned down previous requests to form a homosexual student’s club (in 1994 and 1999), the school was listed in 2004 as a ‘gay friendly’ institution by homosexual activist website Catholiclesbians.org (see LifeSiteNews.com report: U.S. Homosexual Activist Website Provides List of ‘Gay Friendly’ Catholic Parishes).

The club’s initial advisers, social work professor Anissa Rogers and Kristina Houck, the Health Center’s substance abuse prevention coordinator, were replaced by Holy Cross Fr. John Donato and Stacey Noem, a campus minister.

Donato said that he was chosen to be the club’s new adviser not only because he can act as a liaison between the administration and the students, but also for his ability to “vocalize and facilitate the mission of the university.”

“The fact that I am a Holy Cross priest and the associate vice president for student life is a good way to make sure that this group stays focused for what we hope all student groups are involved in, but also this particular one which deals with the sacred area of human sexuality,” Donato said.

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There are really no two ways around it… Designating something as “gay” puts it in the sphere of association of a sex act. In the same fashion the University of Portland would likely not approve the “Playboy Swingers Club” or the “Porn Club” or the “Future Strippers of America” chapter… Well this one seems a no brainer. Any number of clubs that cater to interests students have beyond their sexual proclivites (within the confines of morality! The U of P “Reefer Club” doesn’t cut it!) are or can be available.

I would go one step further and suggest Portland probably has some gay bars and night clubs, so persons committed to being part of this community are probably not without recourse to social activities there. Quick Googling of “Portland OR Gay” confirms that.

Really though, the culture of the Catholic University should be one that is about promoting a vision of sexuality and family life that contravenes today’s social standards. This needn’t even be turned on its side and be made a “gay issue”… Frankly, given the “hook-up culture” that permeates the culture of 20somethings, there is no way to speak about it and re-affirm it enough.

Certainly setting up clubs based on orientations and preference for behaviors that go directly against it is not the way to promote how the Church deals with the “sacred area of human sexuality”.