Chicago: Catholic LGBT Ministry Leader to ‘Marry’ Gay Partner

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CHICAGO (ChurchMilitant.com) - A gay man leading LGBT ministry at a Chicago parish is planning to enter a "marriage" with his same-sex partner later this year.

Kevin Funk is co-chair of Gay+, an LGBT "ministry" group operating out of Old St. Patrick's Church in the archdiocese of Chicago.

Joseph Sciambra pointed out on his website on Wednesday that Funk is planning on getting "married" to his homosexual partner. Sciambra linked to a wedding planning webpage announcing that Funk and his gay lover are going to tie the knot soon.

Funk describes the mission of Gay+ on the Old St. Patrick's website:

Gay+ ("Gay Plus") is a celebration of those moments that shaped our individual journeys in faith as LGBTQ+ Catholics and it is a space to share in these experiences together. In the spirit of embracing the "+" in LGBTQ+, this new name reminds us that we are more than the letters of the alphabet. The Spirit is working in all of us and through all of us to be ministers of God's love, compassion and mercy. Gay+ is an inclusive community, welcoming to all sexual orientations, gender identities and allies! We welcome you to be among friends here as we come together for casual discussions and refreshment on the first Thursday of each month (something we call, That Thursday Thing).

In his article on Funk's upcoming gay "marriage" ceremony, Sciambra wrote about the extensive gay problem in the archdiocese of Chicago, noting, "The Archdiocese of Chicago has a long history of gay-affirmation, predominantly through the group AGLO (Archdiocesan Gay and Lesbian Outreach of Chicago)."

"AGLO was founded by the late Cardinal Bernadin and Jerry McEnany, the leader of Dignity Chicago," Sciambra continued. "According to gay activist Rick Garcia, AGLO was a compromise between Dignity and the Archdiocese."

Listing homosexuality-related scandals afflicting the Chicago archdiocese, Sciambra wrote, "On July 10, 2017, the Archdiocese of Chicago launched 'a revitalized Theology on Tap for Summer 2017' which featured Thomas Rosica and gay journalist Michael O'Loughlin."

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