I'll include a teaser below, but it's worth a read in its entirety:
When I was in my early twenties I remember visiting my spiritual director ... I don’t recall what I said specifically, but during a private talk with my director, I made an offhanded, homophobic joke about a number of the seminarians whom I suspected to be gay. After a momentary pause, he said “You know Bill, you’ve been ministered to by gay men your whole life, you just didn’t know it.”That really cuts through the crap. You can intellectualize and analyze the recent Vatican instruction all you want. You can conjecture about what it means. But know this, you too have been ministered by (celibate) gay men all your life.
Chances are that your favorite priest, the guy that was there for you when your mom died or whose homilies also spoke to you at just the right moment is gay. "So what" you think? You may not care personally what the sexual orientation is of your gay priest, but the Church with a big C does. And has made it clear that "those people" are not welcome.
The big C Church is taking a big risk here I think. Would you stay somewhere you weren't valued? Would you stay at a 24 hour a day draining job where all your work and contributions are dismissed based on something you're not actively doing but can't really help. No matter that you've been faithfully celibate? No matter that you have woken up every day to serve God's people. The Church has effectively put up a big "Irish need not apply" sign.
I think it's clear what I think about this issue. But I think Bill McGarvey makes a good point. We are the church, and if we value the wonderful ministry done by our priests, some if not many of whom are gay, what responsibility do we have to stand up for them? To value them? To appreciate them?
And what will we do if one day we wake up and they couldn't take it anymore and are just gone?
(cross-posted on Sollicitudo Rei Socialis )
5 comments:
I want to be clear that when I talk about "gay priests," I mean as Bill McGarvey describes "the overwhelming number of good, celibate, gay priests who have dedicated their lives to the church and served the people of God so well."
The topic I'm looking to reflect on is human dignity. I'm not advocating that we should condone a breaking of the vow of celibacy - by gay or straight priests. I'm not looking to debate sexual morality either. There's enough of that on other catholic blogs.
I'm just talking about valuing and respecting the men who have made sacrifices and commitments and have served us and God every day.
I don't think the big C Church is practicing gay bashing. You know how I feel on the topic as well. I have no problems with gay priests. I don't think it's appropriate for any priest to advocate or in any way promote "gayness." That is, don't wave the gay flag, don't revel in it as if you're proud of it. I'm not saying to be ashamed of it either. If he is gay, he should be a priest who happens to be gay, not a gay who happens to be priest.
I love compassionate people. Gay or straight. My pastor may be gay for all I know, but it matters not an iota to me, because it is never made an issue of any significance.
Susan: Amen. There's so much more I could say, but it's late, my brain is mush and I've not been in a real cerebral place lately. So thank you for saying it.
Do you believe that gay and lesbian people, in loving relationghips, can be practicing Catholics. Or must they forsake their families to have the love of the Church?
Jordan - I'm not speaking for the Church here or my community, but from experience.
Some of the most devout, committed and active Catholics I have known have been men and women who happen to also be in long term committed same sex relationships.
In my opinion it's not up to me to judge, but to be as openhearted, loving and welcoming as my friends are.
The latest Bishops' document I think would put a different spin on this, and I'm not in a place or mood to debate it - for one thing I haven't read it. But I would imagine it's got some amazing people I know wondering what they're doing in a church that doesn't welcome them and I don't blame them. But if they left, I know the Church would be the poorer for it.
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