Rainbow Sash Movement

As a Church we are still trying to figure out which way to go concerning the matter of conscience. We are caught between St. Augustine, and St. Aquinas. Both believe in the moral conscience, with different takes on it. St. Augustine felt that our moral consciences needed to be formed properly, and that we should always submit to the Truth as defined by the Teaching Magisterium. St. Aquinas on the other hand believed that we must follow our moral conscience even when it is wrong. The Church has no clear cut direction on the Prmacy of Conscience, much of the Church’s statements are contradictions in what rules conscience or Teaching Magisterium. 

Recently Judy Lee of Florida, Gloria Carpeneto of Maryland and Gabriella Verlardi Ward of New York were ordained priests. The immediate  church response was swift, excommunication. Are the orders valid, yes they are. They were ordained over the objections of male dominated clergy in order to follow their call to priesthood. These women were faced with the decision of what to do when the Church tells them they cannot be ordained, and their consciences tell them the reverse.

Which will be followed conscience or Teaching Magisterium? Clearly these women followed their conscience to honor the call to be of service to the “People of God” in the role of priest. The Rainbow Sash Movement supports their ordination, contrary to the Vatican
naysayer’s we believe they have followed their conscience in this matter in seeking God’s truth, and goodness. St. Aquinas said if our conscience and church teaching are in conflict, we must obey our conscience.

The Church must begin to listen to the lived experiences of the laity not only in the ordination of women, but also the dignity of Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Catholics. If the only argument supporting these two positions is tradition certainly the Church officials should provide some support for their positions.

I understand Conscience as the dialogue between God and the individual within their internal forum. The outcome of our meditation will either support a angry god, or a loving God. We see in the ordination of these women a movement of the Holy Spirit. We believe "The Church puts herself always and only at the service of conscience." (Veritatis Splendor)

Posted by Joden at 12:13 PM | Permalink

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Catholicism in both the Gay and Straight communities is becoming more cultural than intellectual. Much of the gems of our faith are not known by most young Catholics today. In fact I believe most Catholics today to be theologically – phobic. Our Catholic families are smaller; our scandals are on the front page our daily newspapers. The situation is much the same as it was in the end of the 15^th century. The late 15^th Century witnessed Popes presiding over sexual intrigues, and murders in the Vatican. Corruption was rampant in the Church. However, these dark times produced such saints as St. Ignatius Loyola, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. Let us pray in our own time God will send us such saints.

With the passage of Gay Pride month and all its parades and celebrations, we must not lose sight of human frailty even in the GLBT Community. We have come a long way. Some of our community media such as, Aaron Hicklin, Editor in Chief of “Out Magazine” seem to think that “We may have rationalized our inequality over the decades as the product of entrenched, irreducible homophobia, but as opinion polls in California attest, that edifice is crumbling.” I am not so sure I would agree with Aaron our Civil Rights Journey is far from over, and homophobia like racism and sexism is a mental sickness that will be with us for a while even though polls may not support that. Some would have us forget Stonewall because of image; others would have us sell our souls to corporate greed as sign of progress. Neither position sits well with the have not’s of our community whose daily lives are lived from pay check to pay check, and not from the illusion of Corporate cosmetic equality.

If our concern is only about image than we will continue to make the same political mistakes of selling out part of our community, in order that another part may have rights. I believe our journey of pride must be grounded in the lives of most of our community, and not just the image makers who make $80,000 a year plus. Worrying about 401(k) accounts, cell phone contract, and condo purchases is more about status than it is about integrity. Many of the working poor and poor in the GLBT community are finding it increasingly difficult to keep the basics, a roof over your head, food on the table, and enough to pay their utilities, health insure for many is out of the question. The struggles of GLBT seniors are totally ignored by much of our GLBT media.

The Gay Community like the Church would rather celebrate its success rather than look at its failures. We have a very diverse community that represents society at large. Poverty dramatically affects many members of our community and yet our focus is on rights that may or may not serve us well, and not jobs. If we forget we are community that needs to lift each other up in the good as well as the bad times, we have sold ourselves out for the illusion of comfort. It is time to begin to recognize our diverse community, and not idolize it based on economic success for some. I do not want to fix blame, but I do want to right wrongs.

Most of Jesus parables concern the kingdom of God. By its nature that kingdom is present to us, all we have to do is believe in that kingdom, and the Christ who gave so much for us and walk in faith. Just maybe hope, charity and love may give us what image and success is incapable of giving us – peace. It is my hope that the Holy Spirit will send us true wisdom to replace illusion with reality.

Posted by Joden at 05:49 PM | Permalink

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