Spiritual Direction and the Gay Person

Rating:
Summary: Some helpful information, but generic approach
Review: I originally purchased this book hoping for a specifially Catholic perspective on the spiritual direction of gays and lesbians, incorrectly assuming that since the author is a Jesuit priest, the book would have that perspective. While Fr. Empereur provides a lot of useful information on understanding gayness as a gift to be embraced, and used as a means of journeying closer to God, I found his approach to be too broad for my interest as a gay Catholic who believes that any spiritual approach to God will be through Jesus Christ. There is nothing specifically Christian in the author's approach, which is not to discount the valuable psychological information he provides. I found the book most useful for it's extensive notes and reference to other books on the subject of gay spirituality, rather than a specifically Christian treatment of spiritual direction.

Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful, provocative, insightful, well-researched
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A precursor of sexual EVolution!! Great book
Review: 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!!