Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 09:04:33 -1000 From: Mia H H Lam Subject: How to education Catholic Church - Resignation Process could help (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 08:22:46 -1000 From: WEWoodsMPH@AOL.COM To: HawaiiGay1@AOL.COM Subject: How to education Catholic Church - Resignation Process could help Aloha Folks, There is a new direction for ex catholics promoting education of catholic heirarchy. The letter below is from a friend of mine who is taking another step in process to equality - any other going to follow his lead? Will be glad to keep files on others and route around in future. do good Bill Woods ** September 13, 1999 From: Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires To: Catholic Diocese of Hawaii 1184 Bishop Street Honolulu, HI 96813 CC: Pope John Paul II, Most Rev. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, DD, Most Rev. Joseph A. Ferrario, DD, Rev. Marc R. Alexander, STD, Rev. Msgr. Terrence A.M. Watanabe, Rev. Msgr. Alan Nagai and Rev. Nathan Mamo Re: Formal request that the Catholic Diocese permanently eliminates my name from church records Name: Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires Baptism Year: 1971 Baptism Place: Star of the Sea Church Parents: Clarence & Violet DeCaires Jr. Godparents: Joseph & Anna Crivello This is to formally request that my name be removed from the membership records of the Roman Catholic Church effective immediately. I wish no further contact with the church other than a letter of confirmation that I am no longer a member of the church. I do not want to receive any other letters, or phone calls, or requests for interviews from anyone in the church. I urge you to take care of this matter quickly and without attempting to contact me. Your records should indicate that this action was taken at MY request. My anger with the Catholic Church stems from many areas: 1. The Vatican's recent decision to ban Father Robert Nugent and Sister Jeannine Gramick from their peaceful ministry to gay and lesbian individuals is unjustified. They are leaders who should be held in high respect by the Catholic Church, because they are trying to mend the tattered relationship between Catholics and gays. Why would the Vatican stop their loving outreach to others? It goes to prove that the Vatican teaches love under certain conditions only; that is not what the teachings of Christ are all about. 2. The involvement of the Catholic Church in anti-gay efforts in Hawaii, Alaska and California sends a clear statement that the church believes same-sex relationships are NOT acceptable and same-sex couples should not enjoy the same civil rights and benefits heterosexual couples automatically obtain when they marry. 3. The Catholic Church insists that homosexuality is not only wrong and sinful, but that it is "curable". This clearly shows just how ignorant and misinformed church leaders are. 4. Last year, Fr. Marc Alexander's pretentioulsy pious involvement with the Save Traditional Marriage campaign was a clear demonstration that efforts of members of the Catholic Church stem not only from hate but discrimination against something that is biological. You can choose to be Catholic or not to be Catholic, being gay is NOT changeable. Alexander's alliance with Mike Gabbard, Head of the Stop Promoting Homosexuality Campaign, is an unprofessional precedent. It seems the Catholic Diocese will stop at nothing to get their agenda achieved at any cost. Even if it means working side by side with someone who is involved in a religious cult. 5. Hypocrisy is just as bad as ignorance. A majority of the priests serving in the Catholic Diocese of Hawaii, that I know personally, are "practicing" homosexuals. The irony baffles me. Why would I want to be judged by a group of closeted priests who aren't comfortable with whom they are? To any of those hypocritical priests who are reading this, and you know who you are, come out of the closet, love yourself, you'll thank me later. >From this day forwards, I will no longer be favorably endorsing the Catholic Church here in Hawaii and elsewhere. I cannot, in good conscience, support the Catholic Church or any religion that is anti-gay. I will be sharing this letter with my family, friends and acquaintances urging them to take the same course of action against affiliation with the Roman Catholic Church. The judgement of Braddoc Anthony Kanani DeCaires comes from God alone. The services and opinions of the Catholic Church are no longer needed in regard to me and my life as a gay man. Mahalo, Braddoc DeCaires