From the Pastors Desk CONCERNING MY RECENT DECISION

Inevitably, some of you will be very upset about my recent decision not to renew the charter for Boy Scouts of America for 2014, here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. I certainly knew that this would be the case, and yet, knowing this, I made this decision after much prayer, deliberation and with counsel. Taking this action was not only my right as the canonical Pastor, but also my duty, having concluded that, with an eye to the salvation of souls, this is the best course for our parish to take in the wake of the recent tragic decision of the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America. This being said, however, it must also be emphasized that this was and is a prudential judgment and matter. Furthermore, it is important to note that my decision does not mean that your sons cannot be a part of the Boy Scouts of America. All that it means, in and of itself, is that the Boy Scouts of America will not be meeting here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, beginning January 1, 2014. As Catholic parents, as those primarily responsible for your children, you have not only the right but the obligation to decide, prudentially, whether your sons will or should be involved with the Boy Scouts of America. With regards to my decision, please allow me to share with you some of my thoughts. On the surface of it, the new membership policy of the Boy Scouts of America does not appear to be contrary to Church teaching. But if you dig a little deeper, I think youll see that this is only apparent and not substantive. The crux of the matter is in the use of the term same-sex orientation. The new membership policy of the Boy Scouts of America treats this as though it is neutral and equal to the sexual orientation that boys would normally have. To treat sexual orientation in this manner is not in accordance with the moral teaching of our Catholic Faith. Because not only does our faith, following the natural law, teach us that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and can in no case be approved of, (Persona Humana, no. 8), it also teaches us that same-sex orientation is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil, and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder (Pastoral Care Of Homosexual Persons, the CDF, No. 3). Clearly, the Church here teaches that this tendency, same-sex or homosexual orientation is neither neutral nor good, but an inclination to an objective evil. The reason for this clarification is then stated: Lest they (all the faithful and all persons of good will) be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not (PCHP, the CDF, no. 3). Therefore, according Catholic teaching, same-sex orientation is not normal, it is not neutral, it is not good, and it is not the same as a boys normal sexual orientation. Consequently, I, as the Pastor, cannot treat the recent decision of the Boy Scouts of

America and its potential impact upon the souls and lives of boys and the faithful, generally, as though it is a neutral matter or in compliance with the Churchs teaching. On a practical level: as many of you will know, before being appointed Pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton I was, for several years the Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Fort Worth, under His Excellency, Bishop Kevin W. Vann. One of the responsibilities that eventually fell to me was overseeing the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Along with this responsibility came also the very sad involvement in the various lawsuits filed against the Diocese for violations against the moral law in times past. These grave sins destroyed lives and caused many to lose their Faith. In almost every instance, these sins against purity were perpetrated by young men who had a same-sex orientation. Also remember that all of these were men who had taken an oath of celibacy in the service of a higher good. Given the facts of this known past, which as a Priest has broken my heart, do you honestly expect me to believe that when the time comes in the life of the Boy Scouts of America that there are 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 year old boys put together in overnight situations, some of whom with a self-professed same-sex orientation and attraction, that nothing undesirable is going to happen? Would you have me run the risk, and use the souls of the boys involved, some of them likely your sons and grandsons, as part of the experiment? I cannot. I will not! So, again, as the Pastor or our Parish, whose primary responsibility is the care of souls and their salvation, before Christ My Savior, My Lord, and My Judge and His Holy Church, I was compelled in conscience to make the decision not to renew that charter of the Boy Scouts of America, beginning January 1, 2014, here at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Know that I hold you all in my heart and in my prayers. Please continue to pray for me. I am faithfully yours in Christ and Mary, Msgr. Hart Pastor St. Elizabeth Ann Seton