This Remarkable Gift: Being Gay & Catholic [Paperback]

Maurice Shinnick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

Gay and lesbians from Catholic backgrounds have struggled to reconcile their sexual orientation with the Church's strong anti-homosexual stance for generations. Some leave the church in despair while others suppress their sexuality in order to remain in the Church. Priest Shinnick argues that homosexuality should be seen as a gift from God, not a curse. He shows how attitudes to homosexuality have developed in different Christian denominations around the world and offers a careful re-reading of Catholic teaching. He calls for a genuine dialogue between the Church and gay and lesbian people and offers a guide to the paths such a dialogue could follow.

Product Details

• Paperback: 194 pages
• Publisher: Allen & Unwin (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1864484624
• ISBN-13: 978-1864484625
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,188,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Plea for Humanity towards gay people in Catholicism., March 22, 2000

By 

M.I. "migoe" (Newcastle, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Remarkable Gift: Being Gay & Catholic (Paperback)

For generations, gay and lesbian Roman Catholics (and ex-RCs) have been left bewildered by their Church's hostility. This appears to be in contradiction to the message of Christian charity, and the condemnation which they consistently encounter appears to have little foundation in the original Scriptural sources.

Father Shinnick, whose work with AIDS sufferers and others led to an award from the Australian state, presents a new approach from an RC viewpoint, arguing that the positive aspects of homosexuality are ignored in the tumult of condemnation to which it is subjected.

Especially troubling is Fr Shinnick's association, illustrated by case-studies, of around thirty per cent of juvenile suicides with a growing awareness of a homosexual identity. His voice, an informed appeal for understanding and acceptance, is one which well deserves our attention. His work readily deserves to be read by both Catholics and non-Catholics concerned with matters of human nature and sexuality.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My meeting with the author, April 19, 2002

By 

Larry N. Lorenzoni, S.D.B. (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Remarkable Gift: Being Gay & Catholic (Paperback)

I met Fr. Maurice Shinnick for an hour in Adelaide, South Australia on February 27, 2002. For a number of years he was rector of the Adelaide Catholic Cathedral and has just been appointed new pastor ("parish priest" as they say Down Under).

He is a highly regarded priest in his archdiocese. He pioneered a pastoral program for people living with HIV/AIDS and is chaplain of ACCEPTANCE, an organization that supports gay and lesbian Catholics.

His book is dedicated to his brother Frank who recently died of AIDS, "a brother of generosity, courage and integrity, 1932-1996".

Significant is the the second quote under his brother's name: "The Bible contains six admonitions to homosexuals and three hundred and sixty-two admonitions to heterosexuals. That doesn't mean that God does not love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision." (Lynne Lavner)

His authograph on the title page of my copy of his book: "Larry, Respect for the dignity of every person knows no borders. Maurice Shinnick, 27.2.2002"

I heartily agree with Elizabeth Stuart, Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of Glamorgan, Wales: "This book should be read by every bishop, priest and lay pastor in the Catholic Church as well as every gay or lesbian person who has concluded that being happily gay and Catholic is not possible."