Statement on New Ways Ministry

In view of the “Symposium on Catholicism and Homosexuality” to take place this month in Baltimore, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien has reaffirmed the 2010 statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the symposium’s sponsor, New Ways Ministry. The Cardinal assures Catholics that in no manner is the position proposed by New Ways Ministry in conformity with Catholic teaching, and in no manner is this organization authorized to speak on behalf of the Catholic Church or to identify itself as a Catholic organization. Representatives of New Ways Ministry have also testified in Annapolis in support of legislation to redefine marriage in Maryland.

Excerpt from the statement of the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, February 12, 2010:

“New Ways Ministry has recently criticized efforts by the Church to defend the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and has urged Catholics to support electoral initiatives to establish same-sex ‘marriage’. No one should be misled by the claim that New Ways Ministry provides an authentic interpretation of Church teaching and an authentic pastoral practice. Their claim to be Catholic only confuses the faithful regarding the authentic teaching and ministry of the Church with respect to persons with a homosexual inclination. Accordingly, I wish to make it clear that, like other groups that claim to be Catholic but deny central aspects of Church teaching, New Ways Ministry has no approval or recognition from the Catholic Church and that they cannot speak on behalf of the Catholic faithful in the United States.”