Rainbow Sash Movement

Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Trangender (GLBT) Catholics are often not heard in the halls of Vatican bureaucracy. None the less, we understand that “without love, you are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” Many of us feel alienated from the Church because of statements that run contrary to diversity that is our Church. We feel self identification in the Church is a call to integrity.

Why fear the Gay face of Christ? Why fear integrity, and embrace dishonesty? Questions that I believe need to be answered by the Pope. There is even a question as to whether he is hiding his own sexuality. The light of self identification is the pathway to truthfulness.

The Holy Father is coming to the United States not to visit, but on business. He comes to address the culture of change that is taken place in the Catholic world in the US. He sees as troubling various social issues that include Gay Marriage, Abortion, and Stem Cell Research. Absent on his Papal radar will be the Clergy Sexual Abuse scandal, and the troubling financial issues that are plaguing various Arch/diocese that are destroying the Church’s moral authority in the secular world.

The Vatican’s spin artist, the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Sambi, is busy trying to re-image the Pope, worrying association with Cardinal Ratzinger the Pope’s other persona, might remind people of days when Dogma was conceived of as an external shackle under his unrelenting rule of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. To put in plan terms, ether my way, or the highway.

It would appear that Joseph Ratzinger’s enduring agenda — rooted in Bavarian Catholicism and his experience of Nazism — has been modernized to fit his present reputation of a closed and narrow-minded individual. Perhaps the most difficult situation for the Holy Father will be his inability to engage people like Pope John XXIII. Isolated in his academic citadel, he prefers closed and controlled meetings.

One of those closed door meetings will be a meeting with all the Bishops of the United States, at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, on April 16, 2008. He will  attempt try broker unity between the progressive bishops, and the non progressive minority. Clearly two of the major issues that will most likely be discussed is the wafer wars with politicians, and how to reign in errant Catholic Universities.

There is no private meeting planed for the victims and families of clergy sexual abuse. The Pope does not want to bring to much attention to this issue on his US PR trip. This is a shameful example of how clericalism, and not pastorial outreach guides this Popes actions. Ego not love is the order of day.

I hope and pray the Pope respects the American political process, and that he will not try to influence our political landscape like he has done in Italy & Spain, and is presently trying to do in the UK. This is not a feudal political environment, he should behave as a guest, and not the long arm of the Vatican privilege.

Posted by Joden at 09:13 PM | Permalink

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The Pope’s journey to the United States comes at unique and challenging time. Some see his visit as a frantic attempt to stop the budding culture of change that is taking place in the US Church. Others see his journey as an attempt to stop the hemorrhaging of the moral authority brought on by hierarchal irresponsibility. And still others see a potential for schism developing among Catholic Universities that must be addressed. History will judge the success or failure of the Pope’s US journey, and the people of God will either listen to his message, or ignore it.

Will an autocratic culture be able to find common ground with a culture of change? We are all agreed that it is natural that Church leaders would want to take the Pope’s visit as an opportunity to spread the Christian message across the United States. The question; however, is how best to do it?

It is difficult to believe that the Jesus, who interceded on the behalf of a prostitute, would be able to relate to the Pope’s phobia of Gay Marriage in particular, and in general sexuality. The Gospel vision of tolerance and compassion has been replaced with the yoke of blind obedience. I believe the moral question facing the Pope and his bishops is how to best serve the interests of the People of God. A servant listens and than speaks, is this Pope capable of that?

The hierarchy thus far has chosen confrontation with change rather than productive engagement. Many in the International GLBT Community interpret the Popes constant vitriolic diatribe against gays and lesbians as a sign of hostility, and fear that is not based in love. These attacks are interpreted by the gay and lesbian Catholic community as another slap in the face; another rejection.

 As an active Catholic who attaches importance to diversity and tolerance I get embarrassed at most pronouncements that come from the Vatican these days on subject of sexuality. I believe silence can be a sin so some of us like the Rainbow Sash Movement will take this as an opportunity to begin a very symbolic public conversation with the Pope. The medium of our conversation will be ashes and whistles. Does the Pope have the courage to be with and listen to his fellow public sinners, or will he commit himself to the abyss of silence and fear, that brings so much pain to the Body of Christ.

The Pope continues to represent his position on Gay Marriage with unfounded invectives, such as Gay Marriage will affect the Sanctity of Marriage, therefore be destructive to the family, and Gay Adoption is doing violence to children. Our public question continues to be how gay marriage will affect straight marriage negatively, and how can a loving home do violence to children? We are  again met with silence

The Popes journey offers opportunity, will he have the vision to grasp it, to communicate, to find common ground and to seek to proclaim the good news in a way that does not damage anyone. We pray for holy communication, but that cannot take place if we are not willing to listen to each other and have our actions guided by charity.

God bless.

Posted by Joden at 05:47 PM | Permalink

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It is hard to believe that Ash Wednesday was a month ago. During Lent we recall with great joy the wonderful mercy of God, which overcomes all forms of intolerance. Christ death on the Cross reveals God’s love for all not just the men who presume to know God’s will, and punch all sinners cards.

The Rainbow Sash Movement recently released a press release dealing with the Pope’s visit to the United States. I believe this visit will give the Pope an opportunity to acknowledge in sorrow his failure, thereby acknowledging that evil is part of our lives. God’s mercy is given freely to all who open themselves to this wonderful gift, and this includes the Pope and his bishops.

I cannot believe the Pope would visit these shores and not meet with representatives of victims groups, of those abused by the Pope and his bishops. This is one of the reasons we are calling for dignified protest against his visit. Certainly the  Lenten penance of Pope and his Bishops should help prevent them from lying to themselves about the matter about the disastrous condition of the Church. The Pope and his bishops have blamed everyone for the Church’s difficulties accept themselves. It is far easier to blame someone else, rather than take personal responsibility for the state of the Church, and its moral bankruptcy.

My prayer is that Pope will take this opportunity to open a respectful dialogue of hierarchal abuses in our church. The Pope and his bishops are very good at pointing out others shortcomings, but when it comes to themselves their faults and shortcoming become invisible. Or the truth is so bleached with Church speak, that it becomes a way to distort the realities of the present day Church.

I would invite the Pope to pray with everyday Catholics to include Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender persons. To move beyond his fear of scandal to be seen with sinners, and really walk in Christ’s sandals, and not the sandals of false images and stereotypes.

 My invitation is for the Pope and his bishops to wear ashes, and sack cloth to show their abject sorrow for what their leadership has done to our Church. Only by replacing the princely vestments with sackcloth and ashes will they be able to regain their moral standing and spiritual leadership of the Catholic Church.

We push Christ away, when we push people away from the Church. Only through the sign of ashes will the hierarchy be seen to walk with Christ.

God Bless

Posted by Joden at 07:55 PM | Permalink

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