Catholicism

Students at a Catholic university in Portland are petitioning their school to do something new: Write sexual orientations and gender identity into the school’s non-discrimination policy.

Last week, students with mouths covered in duct tape paraded around the campus of the University of Portland to end what they say has been a legacy of discrimination at the school.

This same conversation is happening at Catholic universities all over the country, as increasingly queer-friendly young people come up against university’s traditional, anti-gay policies. Both Notre Dame and the Catholic University of America have had very public discussions about the role of schools in requiring a strict adherence to Catholic orthodoxy as students on campus pushed to create gay-friendly student groups.

So, Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle, songwriter and poet laureate of the existentially anguished, identifies as a feminist and has even said that his feminist ideals conflict with his Catholic faith. When I first heard this, I was quite surprised. Why? Well, listen to one reason, a song called "Bad Priestess" (lyrics).

Hello, hello! Ready for some thought-provoking links? I knew you were!

• Today, in bad taste... anti-abortion group Life Always is comparing aborted fetuses to people killed by the earthquake in Japan. The always-astute ColorLines reports on the wrongheadedness of this tactic.
• TransGriot writes about the importance of having trans* people in US cinema, and not just as characters.
• Did you see the New York Times' claim that all of Washington D.C.'s influential pundits are young men... and Ann Friedman's response? Feministe gives us a run-down.
• Also at Feministe, Chally Kacelnik speaks of voting in Australia and the passing of fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones.
• Alvin McEwan muses on the irony of bishops denying queer people housing, and Frances Kissling talks about the life of Geraldine Ferraro, an influential pro-choice Catholic politician, both on AlterNet.
• Comic lovers, have you heard about the Black Panther's apparent change into the American Panther? Arturo at Racialicious has questions and words for Marvel.
• Some of us at Bitch HQ were unhappy to see this announcement about Mad Men's hiatus. Meanwhile at Philly, Ellen Gray explores the curious decision to include a documentary about 1960s divorce on the Season 4 DVDs. What's your take?
• The Crunk Feminist Collective ponders intimate partners' reactions to the media, asking "How can I get next to you if I can’t get next to your politics?"
  
• At the Atlantic, Sady Doyle asks what many action-film-lovin' gals have been wondering: How did we get to Sucker Punch?
• Nancy Goldstein at the American Prospect discusses the importance of "Preserving the Triangle Factory Fire's Lessons."
• Annette Bourdeau at Moviefone shares her five favorite screen adaptations of literary heroines. It's a start but is too short and limited, methinks. What are yours?
• Speaking of adaptations, AfterEllen interviews iconic lesbian author Sarah Waters about the experience of having one's novels made into TV programs.
• Are you a student? Feministing shares ideas for Sexual Assault ACTIVISM Month on your campus.
• At HuffPo, Linkins argues against the claim that political liberals are silent about invading Libya.
• Recently at a safety seminar, a Toronto cop told students that "Women can avoid sexual assault by not dressing like 'sluts.'" In protest, awesome local women are marching past police headquarters on Sunday for the Slutwalk!

What else have you been reading this week?

As a radical feminist, raging homo, and recovering Catholic, I’ve rarely, if ever, felt compelled to wax poetic about any organization affiliated with the Catholic Church. Then I met a Sister of Mercy, and my dogmatic belief in Catholicism’s all-encompassing evil was shot dead on the spot. The Sisters of Mercy work internationally to promote social justice in ways that are often political and sometimes piss off the Vatican. In the United States, they are one of the groups of nuns currently being investigated by the Vatican, ostensibly because they don’t wear habits, live independently, and are committed to fixing societal problems even if it means occasionally pooh-poohing some of the Church’s archaic stances on things like abortion, condoms, and solutions to the AIDS crisis. Read on for more on the history of The Sisters of Mercy and its founder, Catherine McAuley!