Catholic Theological Society awards highest honor to ‘married’ gay prof

The world’s largest professional society of Catholic theologians awarded its highest honor to a University of San Diego professor who is “married” to another man.

In addition to being the world’s largest professional theological society, the Catholic Theological Society of America (CTSA) describes itself as “the principal association of Catholic theologians in North America.” It boasts 1,300 members, most of whom hold doctorates in theology or related disciplines.

At the CTSA’s annual conference in June, the association presented its John Courtney Murray Award to Dr. Orlando O. Espin, who teaches systematic theology at the University of San Diego, a Catholic college. The John Courtney Murray Award is presented to a theologian for his or her “lifetime of distinguished theological achievement.”

“Over decades of scholarship, teaching, and dedication to communal engagement, this theologian has wrestled with problems associated with the historical and contemporary legacies of colonization, slavery, racism, and prejudice against LGBT persons,” the CTSA’s official statement on Espin’s award said.

Espin is “married” to Ricardo Gallego. The San Diego LGBT Community Center lists Gallego as one of its staff members.

According to the pro-gay group New Ways Ministry, which has been formally denounced by both the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Vatican for its opposition to Church teaching, Espin “led a workshop on LGBT ministry in the Latino/a community during New Ways Ministry’s Seventh National Symposium in 2012.”

The group also said Espin thanked his “husband” during his speech accepting the award.

The CTSA’s 2016 conference at which Espin was honored featured a session titled “Failures in Sexual Justice: Catholic Feminist Responses and Recommendation.” During this session, theologians presented papers on a female sexual disorder and making “sexual justice more possible for women” within a Catholic framework of marriage; the “normalization of violence in heterosexuality”; and helping “Catholic sexual ethics move beyond the ideological impasse between pro-choice and pro-life positions.”

During a session on “Catholicity and Mission,” a University of Central Florida professor presented a paper titled “Love Beyond Mercy: Respect as a Model for Communion with and among LGBTQ* Persons.” Other sessions focused on Cardinal Walter Kasper’s “vision of divine mercy” and liturgical contributions; women’s ordination as a question of justice; the “sacred components” of breasts in images of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, nursing; and environmentalism.  

The CTSA has a history of supporting theologians who dissent from the Catholic Church’s teaching. From 1973 to 1974, its president was a dissident, pro-contraception priest. Fr. Peter Phan, who was investigated by the Vatican in 2007after publishing a questionable book on interreligious dialogue, and Sister Margaret Farley, who was censured by the Vatican for writing a book arguing theological support for same-sex relationships, masturbation, and divorce and remarriage, are both former CTSA presidents. After the Vatican’s 2012 rebuke of Farley, the CTSA issued a statement supporting her.

Its other past presidents include feminist scholars and Father Bryan Massingale, who engages in activism “for fuller inclusion of LGBT persons in society and the faith community.”