As I posted earlier, Catholics need to leave the new bishop in Oregon alone. He’s no threat to Catholic moral teachings.
The National catholic Reporter just confirmed my thesis with this letter they print from Dignity, a faux catholic but truthfully LGTBQ+ ideology promoter:
Premature acclaim harmful
As a long-time leader of DignityUSA, the world’s oldest organization working for justice, equality, and full inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics in our church and society, I am deeply troubled by the headline of your recent article on the appointment of Thomas Hennen to head the Diocese of Baker, Oregon (NCR, July 11, 2025). I am concerned that false hope may be sparked by naming him a "champion" of "LGBT+ inclusion." At best, his record seems mixed. His resume includes "working with" Courage, which promotes celibacy as the only morally legitimate option for Lesbian and Gay people, a position rejected in good conscience by the vast majority of our community, as well as family, friends and many ministers. I appreciate that Bishop-Elect Hennen acknowledged that listening to the experience of transgender and gay people and their families helped the diocesan commission he was part of craft a policy that included a call for deep pastoral listening and a case-by-case approach in addressing the needs of Queer people. We do not yet have information on how that relatively new policy has been implemented.
We need to give Hennen time to settle into his role as leader of a diocese before setting expectations that may or may not reflect his beliefs, leadership style and actions. I hope and pray he will model a deep commitment to not only welcoming but also affirming and celebrating each individual he shepherds. However, LGBTQ+ Catholics and our families have been subjected to cycles of hopes being raised and dashed by too many church leaders. This is often more damaging than outright rejection.
The LGBTQ+ Catholic Community of the Baker, Oregon Diocese, and every other place, deserves a church that honors our identities, our spiritual journeys, our gifts and our struggles. But, NCR, please refrain from proclaiming a truth not yet proven.
MARIANNE DUDDY-BURKE
Executive Director, DignityUSA
Malden, Massachusetts
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