Prominent American nun condemned after producing writings advocating masturbation, gay sex, divorce
The Vatican has denounced nun Margaret Farley in response to her book Just Love: A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics, which supports the practices of female masturbation, gay sex and remarriage after divorce.
Sister Farley, who taught Christian Ethics at Yale Divinity School, is now being condemned by the Catholic Church for her differing views on what the Church views to be controversial and unacceptable.
The Vatican released a statement which says in her book, Farley ignores key points of the Sacred Scripture, which claims that masturbation is “gravely disordered conduct” and gay sex is an act of “grave depravity.”
Farley herself is also particularly unpleased, saying in a statement on Yale’s website, “I can only clarify that the book was not intended to be an expression of current official Catholic teaching, nor was it aimed specifically against this teaching. It is of a different genre altogether.”
Sister Farley said in her statement that her viewpoints are “contemporary interpretations” that move away from “taboo morality.”
As the Vatican denounces nun Farley, controversy has unfolded on both sides of the spectrum.
Many US Catholics, as well as other prominent members of the Catholic Church, have come to her defense.
Catholics have held vigils outside of churches and created a petition which already has more than 50,000 signatures in response to the Vatican denouncing nun Farley.
President of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, to which Farley belongs, Pat McDermott said she has “profound regret” over the Vatican’s decision to denounce Sister Farley.
Sister Farley was a past president of the organization.
Still, the Catholic Church remains unmoved and continues to strongly deny support for Farley’s book and viewpoints.
Pope Benedict continues to hold his firm belief that the Church can only continue to thrive if it sticks to its core beliefs.
