Notorious Pro-homosexual Catholic Dissident Named 2006 Mother Teresa
Award Laureate

By John Jalsevac

Los Angeles, December 19, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Sister Jeannine
Gramick, who became a notorious figure after she was ordered by the
Vatican in 2000 to desist from all pastoral work involving homosexuals,
has been honored by being named a 2006 Mother Teresa Award Laureate.
The award was presented to Sr. Gramick this past November.

Begun in 2005, the Mother Teresa Awards were instituted to "recognize
the achievements for those who beautify the world, especially in the fields
of religion, social justice and the arts," according to the Awards website.
In the past, the award, which is sponsored by the St. Bernadette Institute
of Sacred Art, has been given to such prominent and orthodox Catholic
figures as Mother Angelica, John Paul II, and Fr. Benedict Groeschel.

According to the Institute Sr. Gramick was named a Mother Teresa Awards
Laureate, "for her role as American Human Rights Activist, especially in the
field of Spirituality." In particular the Awards website mentions the fact that
she co-founded the pro-homosexual, "social-justice" organization New Ways
Ministry.

Sr. Gramick's public life has been dedicated almost exclusively to promoting
the idea that homosexuality is a legitimate "alternative" lifestyle and is morally
acceptable to the Catholic Church. On account of the nature of her "ministry",
in 2000 Gramick - along with the co-founder of New Ways Ministry, Father
Robert Nugent-was ordered by the Vatican to discontinue all ministry with
homosexuals. The Vatican statement charged that Gramick's teachings on
homosexuality "have caused confusion among the Catholic people and have
harmed the community of the Church."

In her public response to the Vatican notification Sr. Gramick made clear
her intent to disobey the Vatican order to remain silent and desist from
ministry. Since then she has continued to be active in the effort to promote
the homosexual lifestyle, as well as homosexual "marriage", and has
continually and vocally condemned Catholic teachings and documents on
homosexuality.

Bill Donahue, president of the U.S. Catholic League, expressed his disgust
at the honoring of Sr. Gramick with the Mother Teresa Award in a statement
to LifeSiteNews.com: "Surely they could have found someone more worthy
for this award than Sr. Jeannine Gramick," he said. "Any person who to this
day is still trying to rescue the reputation of the disgraced child-molester
Paul Shanley is not worthy of any commendation."

Paul Shanley is the defrocked priest who in February 2005 was found
guilty of the statutory rape of a minor and received a sentence of 12 to
15 years in prison. Since his sentencing Sr. Jeannine has continued to
defend the innocence of Shanley, who in the past had been an ally of her
efforts to promote homosexuality.

While the Mother Teresa Award has previously been given to non-Catholic
artists and public figures, generally in recognition of artistic achievements,
it seems that this is the first time the award has been given to someone solely
in recognition of advocacy contradicting everything Mother Teresa worked
for, and that would most likely have horrified the founder of The Missionaries
of Charity.

While Mother Teresa and her order, The Missionaries of Charity, made an
explicit point of offering medical and spiritual assistance to AIDS victims
suffering from the physical and spiritual fall-out of homosexuality, she was
always known for her outspoken defense of Catholic moral doctrines.

To respectfully contact the Mother Teresa Awards write:
Mother Teresa Awards
St. Bernadette Institute of Sacred Art
PO Box 8249
Albuquerque, NM 87198 USA

e-mail: info@motherteresaawards.com

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
VATICAN DISCIPLINES DISSIDENT MINISTRY TO HOMOSEXUALS
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/1999/jul/99071401.html

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2006/dec/06121906.html
_____
Catholic League
for Religious and Civil Rights
http://www.catholicleague.org/