Ethan Walker
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored in 2017 by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) and has received both praise and criticism for its stance on LGBT issues. While some Catholics have objected to the statement for not being Catholic enough, others have signed it, believing that it aligns with Catholic theology and could foster unity between Catholics and Evangelicals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of signatories | More than 150 |
| Who signed it? | Conservative evangelicals, including Peter Wolfgang, president of the Connecticut Family Institute, and Denny Burke, one of the initiators of the project |
| Who opposed it? | Catholics, same-sex marriage opponents, egalitarian Christians, LGBT activists, conservative religious figures, politicians, human rights organizations |
| Where was it signed? | Nashville, Tennessee |
| When was it signed? | August 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
Catholic signatories of the Nashville Statement
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".
The Nashville Statement has been signed by more than 150 conservative evangelicals, including Peter Wolfgang, the Catholic president of the Connecticut Family Institute. Wolfgang has stated that he hopes the statement will "re-assert Evangelicalism’s historical faithfulness to Biblical morality and shore up the alliance with Catholics on those issues". Other Catholic signatories include the writer of Crisis Magazine's article "The Nashville Statement and Why It Matters to Catholics", who states that they "gladly signed the statement".
The statement has also received support from other Catholics who did not sign it. Ryan T. Anderson, a Catholic intellectual, has expressed fear that "evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage". The writer of the Crisis Magazine article encourages Catholics to welcome the statement, hoping that it will lead to "greater unity and collaboration among Catholics and Evangelicals".
However, some traditional Catholics have criticised the statement for not being Catholic enough, as it does not condemn contraception or divorce.
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Catholic opposition to the Nashville Statement
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female".
The Nashville Statement has received opposition from various groups, including some same-sex marriage opponents and Catholic individuals. Catholic priest James Martin SJ replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people". Catholic intellectual Ryan T. Anderson expressed concern that "evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage".
Some traditional Catholics have objected to the Nashville Statement for not being Catholic enough. For example, it does not address or condemn issues such as contraception or divorce. However, other Catholics have expressed support for the statement, believing that it re-asserts evangelicalism's historical faithfulness to Biblical morality and strengthens the alliance with Catholics on these issues.
The Nashville Statement has sparked debate and discussion among Christians, with some arguing that it elevates one's stance on homosexuality to a salvific issue, while others see it as a necessary defence of traditional Christian values in an increasingly secular society.
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Catholic criticism of the Nashville Statement
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female". It sets forth the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.
The Nashville Statement has been criticised by liberal Protestants, egalitarian Christians, LGBT activists, and several conservative religious figures. Catholic priest James Martin SJ replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people". Catholic intellectual Ryan T. Anderson criticised the statement, saying he "[feared] that 'evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage.'".
The Statement has also been denounced as harmful to LGBT people. An opposing statement was published by Christians United, a group of signatories, on 30 August 2017. The Nashville mayor, Megan Barry, wrote that the "so-called 'Nashville statement' is poorly named and does not represent the inclusive values of the city & people of Nashville". The Episcopal Bishop of Central Florida, Gregory Brewer, described the statement as "tone deaf to the nuances of Jesus".
A Dutch version of the Nashville Statement was published on 4 January 2019, which was signed by 200 leaders from the Netherlands' orthodox-Protestant communities. This version included a 'pastoral chapter' that stressed that LGBT individuals were entitled to pastoral care and recognised that religious communities had failed to show sufficient compassion towards them. This version received some support in orthodox Protestant circles, but was widely criticised by most religious leaders, politicians, and human rights organisations.
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Catholic indifference to the Nashville Statement
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female". It sets forth the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.
The Nashville Statement has been criticized by egalitarian Christians, LGBT activists, and several conservative religious figures. Some have accused the statement of being harmful to LGBT people, and it has been described as "tone-deaf to the nuances of Jesus". In response to the Nashville Statement, Catholic priest James Martin SJ wrote his own set of affirmations, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people". Additionally, Catholic intellectual Ryan T. Anderson expressed concern that "evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage."
While some Catholics, like Priest James Martin SJ and intellectual Ryan T. Anderson, have expressed opposition to the Nashville Statement, there does not appear to be a widespread Catholic response or indifference to it. The Catholic Church's official teachings on sexuality and gender roles may align with some aspects of the Nashville Statement, particularly regarding the affirmation of heterosexual marriage. However, the Catholic Church has also emphasized the inherent dignity of all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
It is worth noting that the Nashville Statement has sparked a broader discussion about the role of religion in public life, particularly in the United States. The statement's release prompted responses from politicians and human rights organizations, highlighting the ongoing cultural and religious debates surrounding gender, sexuality, and the interpretation of religious texts in modern society.
In conclusion, while some individual Catholics have spoken out against the Nashville Statement, there does not seem to be a unified Catholic indifference to it. The statement has sparked a range of responses across religious and political spheres, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of these discussions in the 21st century.
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Catholic indifference to the Nashville Statement
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement expresses support for marriage between one man and one woman, for faithfulness within marriage, for chastity outside marriage, and for a link between biological sex and "self-conception as male and female". It sets out the signatories' opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.
The Nashville Statement has been criticized by egalitarian Christians, LGBT activists, and several conservative religious figures, including Catholics. While no Catholic figures are listed as signatories to the statement, some Catholic individuals and organizations have expressed indifference or opposition to it.
Catholic priest James Martin SJ, for example, replied to the Nashville Statement with his own set of affirmations and denials, beginning with "I affirm: That God loves all LGBT people". Martin's response indicates a departure from the strict interpretation of Scripture put forth by the Nashville Statement, instead emphasizing God's love and inclusion of LGBT individuals.
Another Catholic intellectual, Ryan T. Anderson, expressed concern that "evangelical leaders either don't know what the word chastity means or don't defend its requirements in marriage." Anderson's critique suggests a perceived lack of understanding or inconsistency in the Nashville Statement's interpretation of Christian theology, particularly regarding the concept of chastity within marriage.
While not specifically mentioning the Nashville Statement, the Catholic Church's teachings on human sexuality and gender issues may be seen as indifferent or indirectly opposing the Statement's assertions. For instance, the Catholic Church's emphasis on the dignity and worth of all individuals, as well as its teachings on the importance of compassion and respect, could be interpreted as contrasting with the Nashville Statement's perceived insensitivity and exclusion of LGBT individuals.
Additionally, the Catholic Church's official position on same-sex marriage, as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, states that "homosexual persons are called to chastity" and that marriage is "by its nature...a covenant between a man and a woman." This position allows for a degree of inclusion and recognition of LGBT individuals while maintaining the traditional definition of marriage, which differs from the more absolute opposition presented in the Nashville Statement.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some Catholics did sign the Nashville Statement. Peter Wolfgang, a Catholic and president of the Connecticut Family Institute, signed the statement, hoping it would "re-assert Evangelicalism’s historical faithfulness to Biblical morality".
The Nashville Statement is an evangelical Christian statement of faith relating to human sexuality and gender roles. It was authored by the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW) in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2017. The statement affirms the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, and expresses opposition to LGBT sexuality, same-sex marriage, polygamy, polyamory, adultery, and fornication.
The Nashville Statement was signed by over 150 conservative evangelicals, including James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, and Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council.
The Nashville Statement received a mixed response. It was praised for its clarity by some, while others denounced it as harmful to the LGBT community. It faced opposition from some same-sex marriage opponents, as well as egalitarian Christians and LGBT activists.
