Catholics Demonstrate In Buckhead Over James Martin Invitation

ATLANTA, GA -- Dozens of protestors gathered Sunday outside of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Buckhead to show their displeasure over an invitation to Father James Martin to speak. Martin has been invited by Archbishop Wilton Gregory to speak at the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown and St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Decatur. Protestors were demonstrating their opposition to what they call Martin's pro-homosexual agenda.

“We're simply protesting two things,” said Dr. Kelly Bowring told CBS46. “One, that Archbishop Gregory directly invited Father James Martin to speak. It wasn't that it just happened. He invited him. And secondly that Father James Martin himself is coming to the diocese to speak with a pro-gay agenda.”

“He is promoting active homosexuality,” Diane Duquette told the station. “He says there is nothing wrong with that.” The protesters are demanding Archbishop Gregory cancel Father Martin's speaking events.

According to the Archdiocese, Martin is scheduled to present “Building a Bridge: Showing Welcome and Respect in our Parishes to LGBT Catholics” on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur, and Sunday, Oct. 21, at 9:30 a.m. at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown.

Martin is the author of Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. According to the National Catholic Register, the book was praised by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, and organizer of the World Meeting of Families.

But critics said Martin's book did not address Catholic teaching on celibacy and chastity, or address the issue of Catholics who are LGBT while observing the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

Martin is also the author of “Jesus: A Pilgrimage,” “Seven Last Words,” “The Abbey” and “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.”

In a statement, Archbishop Gregory said, “Several weeks ago I was asked by one of our pastors to invite Father Martin to share his perspective on ministry to the LGBTQ community as part of a larger, local parish conversation. I did not hesitate to support that pastor in extending the invitation. A second parish then asked to host Father Martin during the same visit.”

He added that Father Martin is a priest in good standing of the Society of Jesus and a Consultor, appointed by Pope Francis, of the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication.

“Conscious of the considerable misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding Father Martin’s message as it relates to the church’s teaching, I renew my confidence in both the pastors and the presenter, said Archbishop Gregory. "I ask that you please join me in a spirit of respect for the dignity of every person of God as we welcome Father James Martin to the Archdiocese of Atlanta.”

Read CBS46's report here.

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