Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person

I was joked about reading this book by my lifetime best friend (The man that I love). He said that spiritual direction is spiritual direction. Given that caveat, The author did an excellent job of bringing much that is in Catholic theology to bear on the peculiar spiritual reality of gay people. Though I disagreed with some of the statements, not all, that were more of a psychological/sociological nature which gave unfounded views of why we are so hated that seem at variance with what little research has been done, as well as some what we might call genderist statements, the core understandings, that relate directly to our situation/experience, were absolutely true at least for me. I originally had read a copy of this book on loan from a friend. I bought it for myself and have reread it and am giving it to friends who are gay and trying to grow spiritually. I read somewhere that gay men are alienated from God. Though the author deals with this possible alienation extremely well(Something that I indeed have experienced.), it has always seemed to me that many gay men are indeed very spiritual, that even in our alienation we are trying to find God again. Perhaps the reason why so many of us have ended up in the clergy. It is sad how many of our churches try to hide that fact; how many of us have lived trying to survive by pretending to be what we are not. At any rate I would recommend this book to any one interested in spiritual growth whether as a spiritual director working with gay people or for a gay man or woman who is interested in his/her own spiritual growth.

The reclaiming of sexuality as an integral part of one's god-given personhood, and the futile attempts of church to compartmentalize sexual sins is discussed in a very articulate manner. Empereur is well spoken...and helps one to feel the "ah-ha" of knowing for the first time whet one has known intuitively about sexuality, but which is rarely spoken: that it is a gift from God. And Gay people are a gift from God. And whether gay people should or should not "engage" in sexual activity is almost a moot point. To try and define what is and what isn't is "sexual activity" is for the birds. What a beautiful way to talk about God, God's creation, our personhood and our belovedness!! As a gay man, I am indebted to Empereur for his courage to write so honestly. And as a Catholic I would love to tap his wisdom as a spiritual directee!!

One does not have to be Roman Catholic to appreciate the many spiritual insights offered in this fine work. While not avoiding the moral issues which surround homosexuality, this book offers sound pastoral insight to the unique and challenging spiritual quests of homosexual persons. This book has much to say about the spiritual significance of the suffering experienced by homosexual persons as a result of bigotry and discrimination. Furthermore, the book does not give homosexual persons a "sexual license" but rather a perspective from which they can understand the centrality of their sexuality to their personhood. I enthusiastically recommend this book for anyone interested in the spiritual quest of the homosexual person.