Rainbow Sash Movement

The War in Iraq continues, saber rattling against Iran continues, and a steady flow of casualties continues. The Poor get poorer, and what pre occupies our bishops, SEX. This is a reflection of dysfunctional and clueless leadership in crisis. They are so preoccupied with bed room issues, they are unable to look beyond what is between the sheets.

Charles E. Curran, STD, from Southern Methodist University, will discuss "The Life and Legacy of Pope John XXIII" as part of the Most Reverend Bishop John McCarthy Lecture Series at St Edwards University. This apparently has the fanatical right in the Church fuming with Catholic Bishop Gregory Aymond of the Diocese of Austin, Texas leading the charge.  He objects to Fr. Curran’s presence at Edwards University on the grounds of their disagreement about the issue of sexuality.

Bishop Aymond has issued a letter to his diocesan priests requesting that they not publicize the lecture that is scheduled to be held Thursday, October 18th at the St. Edward's campus as part of the Most Reverend Bishop McCarthy Lecture Series. When will these guys understand they, not their priests are publicizing this event by their public media opposition?

In conjunction with this we have the outing of Vatican highflier Monsignor Tommaso Stenico in a secretly filmed TV sting where he tells a young man he saw nothing sinful having gay sex and then ask the young man if he “likes” him. Than tries to pull a Senator Craig deflection, just because I have sex with another man does not mean I am gay.

The circus continues. Last Sunday, at the Catholic Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in San Francisco, Archbishop George Niederauer was celebrating mass. He gave Holy Communion to members of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. A charitable organization that raises money for people living with HIV/AIDS they engage in Gorilla Theater and dress in nuns drag. Yep this upset the fundamentalist wing of the Church once again.

This focus on sexuality, and the prominent place it holds on the Church’s radar is a scandal. Perhaps this is why the sexual abuse of children by the princes of the Church and their dwindling number of priests is so telling.

We need to get back to the basics, and focus on Christ. God forbid if one day we find out Christ had sex. Let’s be clear on this matter many Roman Catholics do not accept the teaching of the Church on glbt people – hopefully the day will come when their voice will be heard and justice, reason and good sense will prevail and God’s Church will come closer to the truth it claims to guard.

 

Posted by Joden at 12:26 PM | Permalink

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Today the Church is at a point of decision. Will it be a Church of Law, or love? Will Christ be confined to tradition, or will he be freed from the oppression of clerical tradition. Vatican II was a response to that question, but not an answer, for the answer we must begin to listen to one another. What Vatican II did for lay Catholics, and I truly believe for Gay and Lesbian Catholics was to allow a dialogue to begin about faith.

Is our Catholic Faith to linked to cultural taboos?

"You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see, Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and I heal them." 

 Gay and Lesbian Catholics must begin to open their minds and hearts to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our mists. Our Bishops do not speak to us, or for us. It is time we place our faith solely in the hands of Jesus Christ, and walk in that faith. The privilege of Discipleship calls us to act with humility, charity, joy, and love.  Remember the scribes and Pharisees believed they were the voice of God in law, and liturgical service. Our modern day scribes and Pharisees aka Bishops have learned nothing from their predecessors encounter with Jesus, and so fall into the same traditional pit.

The on going scandal in the Church should be viewed as an opportunity to renew our faith in Christ, and renew the life of the Church. It is time to break the autocratic tradition of the Bishops. In so doing we call these Pharisees to repent of their arrogance, and remember we are all Children of God.

The Church cannot champion human rights by excluding gay and lesbian rights, and remain faithful to the Gospel. By doing so their support of human rights and life issues are seen as false and hallow. I would call on them to open their hearts to the gay and lesbian face of Christ; they must begin to challenge their homophobia if they are truly followers of Christ. Reason not prejudice must prevail.

The gospel of Mathew in the 15 chapter highlights what I think is the problem in the Church today.

This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me:
In vian do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precpts.

I hope that reason will prevail. The prophet says, "Come, let us reason together." It is important that the people of conscience exercise conscience and become more prophetic, rather than pathetic.

The Bible has become a book of many interpretations. We will change our values, when it is convenient for our prejudices, but if it is not convenient we don't want the pain of change. Will the Church return to the Gospel Value of love, or will it find its shelter in the law? Will the Church be a place of love or law? The answers to these questions will determine  if  are, or are not followers of Christ.

Posted by Joden at 02:01 PM | Permalink

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