Homosexual telephone service backed by bishop

A 1 LEEPHONE counselling service set up by a Catholic organisation for homosexuals has been given the backing of at least one bishop in London. But there is no guarantee that the organisation will always recommend Catholic teaching on sexual morality.
Since November 6, the organisation, Quest has been running a telephone answering service at weekends from premises in Earls Court, central London, with the cooperation of a Catholic organisation.
The volunteers who man the switchboard will be helped by a priest. they have been given introductory training at Clapham convent in which Fr Ronald Salmon, a local priest, has been involved. But not all Quest members are Catholics, nor will all the telephone volunteers be.
A Quest spokesman said: "Quest is a Catholic organisation for homosexual people; its membership stretches across the broad spectrum of society and embraces all forms of professions. One of its functions is to change the Catholic Church's attitude towards the gay person.
"Members of Quest are both practising gays and Catholics. !hough the organisation is a Catholic one, some of its members are also from other Christian faiths."
The Quest 'linkline' service has the backing of Bishop David Konstant, Bishop in Central London. He said: "There are people in real need. This is a way for them to remain in touch with the Church. I don't know enough about the current description of Quest to make any comment about it as an organisation, but the linkline is trying to offer counselling advice to people in need — this may be professional advice or specifically on Catholic questions or it may be like the Samaritans, just someone to talk to,"
Before its opening, which coincided with the 8th birthday of Quest, Fr Michael Hollings concelebrated Mass for the task ahead at St Mary of the Angels, West London.
The organisation also plans to stage a play called Gate 13, on November 28, described by Quest as "an engaging presentation of some of the Church's responses to the needs of its homosexual members." After the performance there is to he a discussion with Fr Norman Brown from Westminster, and a clinical medical officer, a counsellor and therapist and the author of the play.