Former priest Michael Herman was among the attendees at 'Here In Faith: Creating a Welcoming Catholic Community through Prayer and Story,' which took place Sat., June 14, at the Water Tower campus of Loyola University Chicago, 25 E. Pearson, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Herman talked with Windy City Times about the Catholic Church; his own past; and religion and politics.
Windy City Times: Is it Father Michael Herman?
Michael Herman: It's just Mr. Herman now. I am no longer a priest; I resigned about three years ago.
WCT: What are you involved with currently? Are you still involved with Catholics Affirming Homosexual Leadership?
MH: This all a part of my history: I was a priest for the Archdiocese [ of Chicago ] for 17 years. Then in 2005, when I was working with Catholics Affirming Homosexual Leadership, the [ Vatican ] published a document saying they wouldn't ordain gay seminarians or gay candidates in the priesthood. At this time I came out in the press against the [ Catholic ] church's position at the end of 2005 and resigned from the active ministry in 2006. These events all led to my current involvement … as the development director of Chicago House.
WCT: Could you tell me a little about Chicago House?
MH: Chicago House provides housing for people with HIV and AIDS and it's been around for 23 years. It's kind of a grassroots organization here in Chicago. I've been here since I left the church in July of 2006.
WCT: What has been your involvement with Here in Faith?
MH: Since I had been very outspoken in public [ a source for the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times and the Windy City Times in 2005 ] about the church's position, some of the gay and lesbian Catholics have invited me to share in conversation [ at Here in Faith ] …
They came up with the idea and wanted my help on how to be more visible and more present across the archdiocese as well as particular parishes and particular groups where Catholics can be comfortable … [ instead of ] feeling hopeless as gay and lesbian Catholics sharing their faith.
And that's where the name [ Here in Faith ] came from—we want to be more present as gays and lesbians in the church and not just pretend we just blended into the woodwork. We want to be more visible.
WCT: What barriers still need to be broken for gays and lesbians to be more outspoken in the Catholic Church?
MH: The people that are trying to organize [ Here in Faith ] are pretty faithful Catholics who struggle with a lot of questions with the church; our hope is to help others that struggle with feeling welcome [ in the Church ] . We want to begin to make space for gays and lesbians in their local communities because, while there are a number of churches in Chicago that are welcoming, others don't allow gays and lesbians to be known much.
WCT: Like a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy?
MH: Exactly. Our hope is to bring people together to hear from churches that have been more successful in creating a gay and lesbian presence at their parish and possibly create a network where people are more comfortable doing that. One of our missions is to help people feel like they can be themselves in their faith communities and be active as gay and lesbian Catholics. We want to create welcoming spaces for each other in these communities.
WCT: What advice would you give members of the Catholic GLBT community who are struggling to feel accepted by the church and who want to get more involved?
MH: I would say that there are other gay and lesbian Catholics struggling to be more present in their church communities and [ that others should ] try to mesh with them; it is possible but there are challenges. There are other people to connect to … to support each other. Our hope [ with Here in Faith ] is to spread welcoming communities throughout Chicago.
WCT: With the controversies being raised in the media over comments made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Father Michael Pfleger in mind, what are your views of religious leaders getting involved in politics?
MH: I certainly think there is a role that religious leaders need to play. I don't think religion is something separate from the world; they kind of interplay. I think [ as a religious leader ] you always have to be driven by the needs of the community and, unfortunately, religious leaders as well as political leaders get caught up in their own ego and aren't looking at the effects of what they say with the wider population.
It's tricky. I have great respect for Michael Pfleger; he has done tremendous things and given attention to really important issues in the city of Chicago and to the church, unfortunately, even though he has apologized for it, I don't think what he said was best thought out. But in terms of the African-American community and some of the needs of the community where he has ministered for over 30 years on the South Side, he has been tremendous. [ Amid his controversial statements, ] he has done so much that has been effective and has called for change in his community; I think that is a really positive thing.
