My nephew, same sex marriage, and the Catholic Church
My nephew (and Godson) posted the following on his facebook page yesterday. I can't think of when he has made me more proud.
"To all of my LGBT family, friends, and colleagues,
I am ashamed of how my Church is treating you. I am ashamed of how the Pope has condemned you, and I am ashamed of how the bishops have fought the efforts to give you the respect in you deserve in our society. But most of all, I am ashamed of my fellow ...Catholics who will not speak out to protect you.
I considered myself a Catholic because I believe in the eternal and unfathomable love of God, Jesus’s teachings of peace and acceptance, and the commitment to compassion and service. I grew up in a small Benedictine community where we focused on these values of acceptance, service, and compassion. I went to a Catholic high school where openly LGBT students were protected and affirmed. I was proud of the respect that community had for you.
Now the larger Church’s teachings have become filled with hatred and the bishops pour money into political games designed to discriminate against you. The bishops oppose any recognition of your human dignity. They tell lies about what it means to be LGBT and cite false studies calculated to hurt you. Worst of all, they ignore Christ’s commandment to love and serve you.
I will never have to suffer the hatred and violence you have faced. I will never feel the judgment and personal attacks to which you have been subjected your whole lives. But as the Catholic Church turns its back on you and raises its fists, know that I feel abandoned and attacked with you. Know also that there are many Catholics, ages 9 to 90, who are speaking out against the Church’s actions and who support you for who you are.
I trust that our society is changing for the better despite the actions of the Church and that you will be given the respect and security which you deserve. I trust that in 50 years, we will look back on our society's treatment of LGBT people with shame and disbelief. I believe that in 50 years it will get better. But in 50 years, I will not forget what the Catholic Church has done to you now.
I will continue to work for peace and justice. I will continue believe in God’s love and Christ’s compassion. I will continue to pray to the saints. And at some point, I may return to a parish that teaches love and not dogma. But this I will not do: I will not recognize the authority of the Pope and the Bishops any longer. I will not give another penny to the Catholic Church. And, above all, I will not sit in silence as the Church voices hatred."
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