Rainbow Sash Movement

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.