Rainbow Sash Movement

The California Supreme Court ruling has legalized gay marriage for Californians. The old anti family argument just does not jell for most reasonable people. The Rainbow Sash Movement must express both its joy at the ruling in favor of Gay Marriage, and at the same time its disappointment in the response of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops. In matters such as birth control, choice, gay marriage and stem cell research Catholic voters will judge for themselves. The Catholic Bishops can only speak for themselves. 

Their support of discrimination against GLBT families is grounded in fear of change. Change takes place when the theory of dogma hits the reality of people’s daily lives. More and more people are getting to know Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) people, and with this knowledge come changes in attitudes.

 Presently there are 60 million Catholics in the country, and nobody speaks for most of us in political matters, not even the Pope. We in the Rainbow Sash Movement understand that politics can bring out the worse in people as exampled by the nonsensical apology from Rev. John Hagee to Bill Donohue of the Catholic League. The apology leaves Catholic bigotry among fundamentalists roughly the same way a baby leaves a diaper.

With this victory for GLBT families comes the threat from voices emerging from the Dark Ages of a fundamentalist camp to challenge the ruling on the November ballot. The GLBT community should not be intimidated by this; rather if this attempt is made we should shine the media spotlight on the intolerant forces that hide under the mantle of religion. This victory, like Massachusetts, is the beginning of a Renaissance in this country around the issue of priveledge versus equality. I do not lightly dismiss the dangers and the difficulties of such a potentional November challenge, but I firmly believe we can overcome it.

In my opinion, there were many people who worked for this transformation in California Law. Therefore, thankfulness is appropriate. On behalf of the Rainbow Sash Movement I would like to thank the various hard working GLBT political, religious, and cultural organizations that worked tirelessly on this effort. We must always be mindful and appreciative of the significant part our straight allies played on this journey.I would also like to thank the California State Supreme Court for their just decision.

To my sisters and brothers in the GLBT Communities of California, now is a time for geysers of joyful tears, enjoy the moment, this indeed is a instant of celebration for the rich and the poor, and the young and the old of our community. It is also a time when ethical and political principles lead the California State Supreme Court to legalize Gay Marriage, and not the forces of intolerance.

God bless 

Posted by Joden at 11:38 AM | Permalink

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Justice, Thomas Aquinas remarks, is of its very nature social since it is defined by egalitarian relations towards others. This indicates that our relationship to one another trumps every other issue of dogma, and belief. We know from the bible that in every situation God sides with the poor and the out cast. It would also appear; God had little patience with a religious establishment that speaks with a forked tongues. Catholic Social Justice Teachings are based on Christ and our relationship with him and each other.

Gay/Lesbians/Bisexual/Transgender (GLBT) people are told on hand that we are welcomed into the Church, on the other that we are morally disordered, and have no right to human rights. The question than becomes, is our relationship with the Church leadership just? If in our minds it is not just, than what is our responsibility as Catholic GLBT persons? Should we be challenging this type of hypocrisy, by engaging in the charity of struggle by identifying and unmasking the manipulation of Teaching Magisterium to justify homophobia? Or should we be silent in the face of this injustice?

Historically, Biblical passages taken out of context have been used to justify such things as slavery, the inferior status of women, and the persecution of religious minorities. Such attitudes have led the Teaching Magisterium to declare that homosexuality is immoral,  while the “Sense of the Faithful” in the Church have begun to look at sexual relationships in terms of the love, mutual support, commitments and the responsibility of the partners rather than the sex of the individuals involved. Justice demands integrity in dealing with the message of Pentecost, inclusion and tolerance as the steps for unity.

Unfortunately, some of us have become awestruck and accustomed to seeing Catholicism embodied in ornate churches, incense-filled ceremonies, and solemn, brocaded ecclesiastics, and have forgotten the call of Lord through Hosea, "For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than holocausts" (6:6). This fixation with theater and not genuine liturgy is what we experienced with Pope Benedict XVI’s visit.

I encourage you to pray for members of the Rainbow Sash Movement as we begin our journey to Pentecost. Remember the closet mentality, and those that promote it are never justified. We are children of God, and while some will deny that by their actions, Christ stands with us in our just struggle to deny hypocrisy a presence at the Eucharistic table.

Posted by Joden at 08:55 AM | Permalink

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