The documentary on my life and ministry finally has a title. During the four years it was being produced, we gave it the tentative title "Uncommon Jesuit." Most critics thought that title was too narrow and failed to catch the essence of the documentary. I titled the second book I wrote on GLBT spirituality "Taking A Chance On God: Liberating Theology for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Lovers, Families, and Friends." On the occasion of our marriage in Canada in September, 2008, after 42 years of partnership,my partner Charlie Chiarelli inscribed my ring with the title of my second book, "Taking A Chance On God". He then inscribed his ring "Taking A Chance On Jack". Everyone involved in producing the documentary are convinced that the title "Taking a Chance On God" was the perfect title for my documentary.
Brendan Fay, one of the producers of "Saint of 9/11", on the life and death at the World TradeTowers of Father Mychal Judge, the gay Franciscan chaplain to the NYC fire department, a movie Father James Martin, S.J. of America magazine called "the best documentary on the life of a priest ever made!" Brendan has worked over four years traveling around the country gathering materials for my documentary. He now has over 100 hours of interviews including among many others Mary Hunt, Kate Clinton, Nancy Wilson, Bishop Gene Robinson, Fr. Dan Berrigan, S.J., Fr Robert Carter, S.J, Rev. Robert Raines of Kirkridge, exerps from the Today show with Tom Brokaw, the Phil Donahue show, Russell Barber show, Larry King show, footage from WWII, talks I gave to Dignity and Metropolitan Community Church conventions around the country.
Despite almost 50 years given over to a ministry to bring a message of God's love to LBGT people and challenging the falsehoods in Church teaching on homosexuality, my message has scarsely scratched the surface. In a recent poll among young Christians in the USA between the ages of 16 and 29, 91 percent said that their first association with Christianity is that it is anti-gay. Fundamentalists from the USA have convinced the people of Eastern Africa to pass laws criminalizing anyone who tries to help gay people and sentences gay couples to death.
Precisely at this moment there is a desparate need to produce a powerful witness to the profound goodness and even sacredness of gay relations as part of God's creation. Young GLBT people all over the world need to hear a consoling message that liberates them from false shame and guilt over who they are, a message that clearly proclaims the message of God's love for them!
I hope my documentary can prove to be a giant step in that direction. With adequate financial help Brendan hopes to complete "Taking A Chance On God" this summer. We will have a trailer for fundraising purposes posted on line in about a week. If any of my readers wishes to make a contribution please make out a check to Dignity, NYC, with "McNeill Documentary" entered on the memo line and mail the check to Brendan Fay at 22-22 28th Street, Astoria, New York 11105-2702. Any check made out to Dignity NYC is tax deductable.
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RE: "Despite almost 50 years given to ... challenging the falsehoods in Church teaching on homosexuality, my message has scarsely scratched the surface. In a recent poll among young Christians in the USA between the ages of 16 and 29, 91 percent said that their first association with Christianity is that it is anti-gay."
ReplyDeleteJohn, it's not all that bad. According to virtually every poll of Catholics in North America and western Europe, 70% favor civil unions or full marriage rights for same-gender couples. That's 70% of Catholics who disagree with Rome.
Also, there's a significant movement of young evangelicals away from anti-gay activism and towards feeding the hungry, protecting the environment, etc.
We've made huge progress in the church grassroots in the last 40 years, and you have crucially contributed to that.