Dreadnought Comes In From The Cold

[UPDATE    the following entry has been annotated by Pertinacious Papist as follows:

"I was doing an online search for something involving Cardinal Ratzinger's Principles of Catholic Theology, and for whatever reason I found a link to (Fr.) Joseph S. O'Leary's Homepage: Essays on literary and theological themes. It seems O'Leary has dropped identifying himself as an ordained Catholic prelate and taken to "wearing his civvies," as it were. "

 

CORRECTIONS: The last sentence here contains three errors. I was never a "prelate", have not ceased to identify as an ordained Catholic minister, and wear exactly the same clothes as I did when the author knew me in Pittsburgh in 1983.

"Moreover, he's apparently moved more openly in the direction he was trending back when he was a regular commenter on our blog, back when "Dreadnought," the gay-oriented Catholic still opposed the legalization of same-sex marriage, a subject that already drew a great deal of O'Leary's attention."

 

COMMENT: I have indeed become more convinced of the value and importance of gay marriage, heartened by the recent Irish Referendum.

 

I am rather flattered that Professor Blosser finds my least comments worthy of such intensive commentary. I think it's regrettable that he refuses to study more substantive work on the same themes, for example the books of the excellent James Alison.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRngy5QA5G0 

http://americamagazine.org/issue/renewing-tradition

https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/alison

http://vox-nova.com/2011/05/16/benedict-xvi-on-homosexuality-a-creative-interpretation-by-james-alison/ ]

Years ago I tried to reason with John Heard, aka Dreadnought, a young Australian lawyer, who used his terrific eloquence influentially to block the progress of legislation tending to gay marriage in Australia. http://josephsoleary.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/02/fisking-dreadno.html I am happy that he has now changed his mind, and even thanks those who disagreed with him in the past. He has issued the following remarkable statement: http://ymlp.com/zr0KSh

 

 

AUSTRALIAN MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Media Statement
Thursday February 21st 2013

SAME-SEX CIVIL MARRIAGE EMBRACED BY FORMER OPPONENT OF REFORM LAWYER SAYS CAREFUL REFORM NEEDED TO ENSURE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND FAIRNESS FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS

In a cover article in today's Australian edition of the Spectator, John Heard says social conservatives and people of faith need not fear same-sex marriage.

Mr Heard had previously written and spoken out in defence of traditional and religious definitions of marriage. He now says he believes these need not be at risk from allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Instead he states, "those same-sex-attracted men and women who want to contract a civil marriage may represent an arrest in this decline (of marriage), a return to commitment and stability".

Commenting on his change of mind Mr Heard said,

"After many long years of discussion and consideration, and whereas I previously held a different view, it is important now to state clearly that I no longer oppose efforts to reform the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth) to provide for same sex civil marriage."

"I have always believed in the value of marriage and family and I have come to believe that the benefits and rigours of civil marriage and adoption should be extended to same sex attracted men and women."

Australian Marriage Equality National director, Rodney Croome, welcomed, Mr Heard's article saying it will encourage those social conservatives and people of faith who oppose marriage equality to reconsider their position.

"John's article challenges those Australians who believe in the benefits marriage bestows, to open their hearts to same-sex couples and their families sharing these benefits."

"John joins many other Australians who have come to support marriage equality and he gives me great hope more Australians, including our national leaders, will follow the same path."

Mr Heard said he hopes the Spectator article will put an end to the use of his former view to promote "an anti-reform agenda", and encouraged Australians to support reform.

"Inasmuch as some organisations and individuals continue to refer to my previous statements on this matter, and some persist in doing so despite written clarification from me, I now reiterate publicly what I have communicated privately. No one should use my name, image, or previous statements to promote an anti-reform campaign or agenda."

"I acknowledge with gratitude those interlocutors over the years who challenged me to reconsider civil marriage reform."

"I encourage all Australians to join together now to get the job done."

The article can be found here:
http://www.spectator.co.uk/australia/australia-features/8849571/aisle-of-plenty/