NJ ‘Pride Mass’ Persists

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Fr. Alexander Santora: "We jettison the old prejudice and celebrate pride in our LGBT community, because we then become better people and better Catholics."

Pro-LGBT pastor Fr. Alexander Santora hosted his third annual "pride Mass" on Sunday at Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, New Jersey, with the blessing of his ordinary, Cdl. Joseph Tobin of the Newark archdiocese.

Tobin's pro-LGBT words and deeds are well-documented, suggesting once that immutable Church teaching is up for discussion.

Tobin: "A rethinking of the mystery of human sexuality is important, is incumbent. It is not going to be done in a weekend."

Capuchin Franciscan Fr. Charles Hanley of nearby St. Ann Catholic Church concelebrated the Mass. Attendance was low, owing largely to the Wuhan virus.

Bashing President Trump repeatedly in his homily, Santora spoke about the pandemic, George Floyd and "systemic racism," as well as the Supreme Court's recent ruling making it illegal to be disciplined, fired or turned down for a job based on sexual orientation.

Santora praised the decision but added that much more work needs to be done.

Echoing pro-gay, Jesuit James Martin's building-a-bridge approach to chipping away at Catholic teaching and tradition, Santora said: "And there are many in the Church opposed to gay accommodation. More pastoral outreach and discussion are needed to break down walls."

Santora runs a "faith sharing community of LGBTQ, family and friends at Our Lady of Grace" in the same vein as "In God's Image," an "LGBTQ faith-sharing group" hosted by Sacred Heart in the neighboring Metuchen diocese headed by Bp. James Checchio.

A former attendee told Church Militant that the groups do not affirm Church teaching or talk about chastity. They serve as a kind of support group, affirming individuals curious about or active in the LGBT community.

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