Milwaukee Catholics Gather to Prevent A Sacrilegious Mass

Catholics in Milwaukee were alerted to an LGBT mass of “celebration and inclusion” scheduled to be offered by Fr. Gregory Greiten on October 8, 2022. The Milwaukee diocese priest caused a scandal in 2017 when he publicly declared he was a homosexual to his parishioners. He is one of 10 openly homosexual priests in active ministry according to New Ways Ministry website. The number of priests removed from active ministry due to the pedophilia scandals in the past decades may explain the low number.

Since Fr. Greiten’s coming out, he has become the media’s poster boy for homosexual Catholic clergy. He has publicly championed the acceptance of open homosexuals in the Church inviting them to celebrate the way God made them. In a 2021 local CBS feature on his coming out, he says he hopes to be a role model for LGBT youth to embrace homosexuality but wants to remain celibate. Yet, there is no proof that this is an effective approach. It seems embracing one’s sexual desires encourages the desire. In the same feature, the news channel interviewed an anonymous homosexual priest in active ministry who does not practice celibacy.

On October 2, the Sunday before the event, twenty-two Catholics gathered outside the parish grounds praying the rosary with hopes the event would be canceled.  If enough Catholics called the parish office or even the office of Archbishop Jerome Listecki about their concerns about the event, the chance would be high.

The prayer warriors held two large banners addressing the main issues of an LGBT mass. One banner said, “Neither an angel nor the clergy can change Christ’s teachings on sexual sins. Go and sin no more.” Another one said, “The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is a call to repentance and conversion not a celebration of pride and sensuality.”

The parish was not very welcoming despite its mission statement. As soon as the rally participants arrived, hired security told them they could not park in the church lot. When asked why Catholics are being kicked out of a catholic property, security told them only mass goers are permitted to park. They responded, “Are you saying this church that prides to be all-inclusive does not welcome people who just want to say the rosary on church grounds?” The security responded, “That’s right.”

This is Fr. Greiten’s second LGBT mass. The first was in 2019 as reported by New Ways Ministry website, a movement condemned by the Vatican and several conservative clerics for erroneous moral teachings.

Catholics are concerned the mass is being used to promote sin, sinful desires, and a lifestyle that can easily lead to sin. “Sinners are called to church but not to celebrate sin or their sinful desires,” said one Catholic. “I wonder if confession has ever been offered to the LGBT community,” said another. This mass is a veiled attack on the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ to go sin no more.

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is still reeling from the damage caused by the sexual abuse scandals. Reuters reported that the scandals cost the archdiocese 21 million dollars and the U.S. church 3 billion dollars. In Milwaukee, traumatized lay Catholics have worked hard to restore the good name and integrity of the Church. This will not make it easier to assure parents that their children are safe.

This Saturday, October 8, 2022, Catholics will gather from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM in front of the host parish St. Bernadette Catholic Church to pray a rosary of reparation for the offensive mass. The church is located at 8200 West Denver Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53223.

Other concerned Catholics can help with this effort by calling or emailing the parish to cancel the event at 414-358-4600 or stbernadette@nwmcp.org. In addition, they can contact Archbishop Listecki’s office directly at archbishoplistecki@archmil.org or the archbishop’s chief of staff, Jerry Topczewski at 414-769-3590.