Following is the text of the Oct.

6, 2012 e-mail to NCR correspondent Dan Morris-Young Dear Dan, I have received mostly positive feedback from the Parish on all that we have done around Ref. 74. Although some disagree with my own position (which I keep out of Parish publications and out of the pulpit, out of respect for the people and the Archbishop), they appreciate the call to thoughtfulness and, I think, object to the strong push coming from the Washington State Catholic Conference. One parishioner did leave me a copy of the Bishop of Newark's letter, noting her support of his position--but we are, I think, still friends. Yet, the most important experiences have been beyond the Parish (those at St. Joe's are used to me, as I have been calling folks to a more discerning posture since this first began). This week I received two messages, one from a woman in her late 60's who had been married for over 40 years. She lives in Olympia and has been struggling with the messages she gets in her Parish, and she wrote to tell me that my essay gave her hope for herself and the Church. The other message was also from an older woman who said that the issue had driven a wedge in their family, until they read my article and found a way to talk to each other. This is why it is so important, not that people vote my way, but that people are told they can be good Catholics and discern various responses-the absence of this teaching is the greatest tragedy in the Church's current course, I think. The commentary should already be on the website. It was sent out in our "e-blast" last week, along with my usual Bulletin column (that one was on Eucharistic ministry, called "The Abundance"). You should be able to find it, though. I don't tend to forward things to the Archbishop's office or to the communications bureau, though I imagine they get the Bulletins from all the Parishes. I did, however, send it to my Provincial, since I know that--even though it is not opposing the Archbishop--some will read the call to conscience as opposition. He fully supported its publication. I very much do not want to make this about a clash of the Archbishop and me; to me, this is not about persons but about visions of the Church. I truly believe that the movement of the Holy Spirit among the People of God can only work if people receive the tools to responsibly decide issues of public policy and personal morality. I know their are people in the Archdiocese, though I am unaware of the Archbishop's own views, who believe I am sowing seeds of discord and would prefer to have me out of town; but I have heard nothing of that nature from the Archbishop's office. St. Joseph is a fairly progressive Parish, politically, and I suspect (like most of Seattle) strongly in favor of Ref. 74. Though it will not be universal, and I have been very moved by parishioners who have come to speak to me about how, in prayer, they have come to oppose the Referendum--even though they are very supportive of gay rights and other progressive issues. Yet, for them, marriage--the word, the institution--are of a different order, and they cannot support it after praying about it. We had a wonderful conversation and I think I surprised them by supporting them very strongly, telling them how valuable they are to the Parish. It may not be my conclusion, but the Spirit moves in each of us, and if we listen, that is what we should do. I tell people that, and I actually believe it! Between Ref. 74 and the intervention in the LCWR, the Catholic community in Seattle has been severely hurt, in my experience. It has not just exposed polarities, but it has made people feel--with incredible power--how little their voice or their prayer matters in the deliberations of the Church leadership in the United States and in Rome. At St. Joseph, we have been something of a life-raft (together with the Cathedral Parish and several others) for those who believe that the movement of the Spirit in the People of the Church should be taken seriously. Gay men and women (and women generally, especially around LCWR) have felt hit hard, but at St. Joseph that has led to great mobilization and spirit, not against the Church or its leaders, but in favor of the Church and reaching out to all the community. Rather than the old days of looking for a place out of the way (a Dignity mass or something like that) the LGBT members of our community want to show that they are part of the whole life of the Parish, and are doing much to show that. That has been one of the graces. In about a week they are hosting a night of story-telling by people who are gay, or have gay children, or are just touched by the life of gay women and men in the Church. That kind of life has come from these events. And the truth is, there is great integration, even with those who may disagree with Ref. 74--almost everyone in the community wants us to be respectful and united. Thank God. St. Joseph is about 106 years old, founded as a Jesuit Parish when the Bishop at the time needed ministers in this part of Seattle (we spun off from the original Jesuit parish in town, Immaculate Conception). The church has a long history in the "Catholic ghetto" of Capital Hill, where huge houses were filled with 10-15 children each! (If you had a 12th child, the bishop would come to baptize him/her.) St. Joseph went through a tough time in the '70s and the school (begun by the Holy Names Sisters) almost closed, but was renewed by the leadership of a principal who just retired after 38 years. Now it is one of the leading schools in the region and the largest Parish grade school (600 children) west of the Mississippi, drawing students from all over town. The Parish itself has about 1250 families and is very involved in social justice work. It remains a key Jesuit parish in the region. Hope that all helps. Call if you need clarification. John, SJ

John D. Whitney, SJ Pastor St Joseph Parish 732 18th Ave E Seattle, WA 98112 206.300.6010 (cell)