Her self-awareness extends and invites us in, forcing us to consider who we are. There was a relational quality in her writing, one that acknowledged the others in her life. While the title may lead you to think that this book only applies to your reading list if you are gay, know someone who's gay, or have an interest in the topic, let me toss you this: I gained as much insight about my own vocation as a married woman as I did about Tushnet's vocation as a celibate gay. It's not easy to read, in part because, wow, she's not so different from me, is she? It's honest and raw and it will make you examine assumptions you might not have even known you were carrying. Tushnet has, in just over 200 pages, given us a glimpse that's raw and challenging. This topic affects us all: it impacts those who face same-sex attraction, whether they're the ones struggling with it or the people on the sidelines watching and (hopefully) supporting. I mean, who am I to speak of it? But then again, who am I to keep quiet? Tushnet has, in just over 200 pages, Meet one of the hardest books I've been asked to read and one of the most important books I've read and one that should be a must-read for everyone today.īeing gay isn't just a hot topic, it's a hard topic. I mean, who am I to speak of it? But then again, who am I to keep quiet? This topic affects us all: it impacts those who face same-sex attraction, whether they're the ones struggling with it or the people on the sidelines watching and (hopefully) supporting. Being gay isn't just a hot topic, it's a hard topic. Meet one of the hardest books I've been asked to read and one of the most important books I've read and one that should be a must-read for everyone today.
Gay and Catholic is the fruit of Tushnet's searching: what she learned in studying Christian history and theology and her articulation of how gay Catholics can pour their love and need for connection into friendships, community, service, and artistic creation.more Instead of enjoying mocking what she termed the "zoo animals," she found herself engaged in intellectual conversation with them and, in a move that surprised even her, she soon converted to Catholicism.Īlready self-identifying as a lesbian, Tushnet searched for a third way in the seeming two-option system available to gay Catholics: reject Church teaching on homosexuality or reject the truth of your sexuality. The only child of two atheist academics, Tushnet was a typical Yale undergraduate until the day she went out to poke fun at a gathering of philosophical debaters, who happened also to be Catholic.
The only child of two atheist acad In this first book from an openly lesbian and celibate Catholic, widely published writer and blogger Eve Tushnet recounts her spiritual and intellectual journey from liberal atheism to faithful Catholicism and shows how gay Catholics can love and be loved while adhering to Church teaching.Įve Tushnet was among the unlikeliest of converts. Eve Tushnet was among the unlikeliest of converts. In this first book from an openly lesbian and celibate Catholic, widely published writer and blogger Eve Tushnet recounts her spiritual and intellectual journey from liberal atheism to faithful Catholicism and shows how gay Catholics can love and be loved while adhering to Church teaching.