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wellstone dem

(4,460 posts)
Fri May 11, 2012, 11:33 PM May 2012

I am proud to be able to call the author of this facebook post my nephew and my godson

"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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I am proud to be able to call the author of this facebook post my nephew and my godson (Original Post) wellstone dem May 2012 OP
wow, you have every right to be proud of this nephew. iemitsu May 2012 #1
Your nephew is following the message of his Jesus -- Love thy neighbor. What a gateley May 2012 #2
I will wellstone dem May 2012 #3
I am an atheist, but... WillParkinson May 2012 #4
Recommended. William769 May 2012 #5
He expresses Catholisism as I would love to see it. xchrom May 2012 #6
I've had a few offers for him from the Quakers as well. wellstone dem May 2012 #7
Yeah - but we do a Parade every sunday - xchrom May 2012 #8
Hmm, you might just have recruited me! wellstone dem May 2012 #9
Hugely appreciated and.... clone that kid! K and R Smarmie Doofus May 2012 #10
That last paragraph actually gave me chills. Control-Z May 2012 #11
Wow. That was beautifully written. Rhiannon12866 May 2012 #12
As well you should be! n/t ProfessionalLeftist May 2012 #13

iemitsu

(3,888 posts)
1. wow, you have every right to be proud of this nephew.
Sat May 12, 2012, 12:19 AM
May 2012

he is bright, sensitive, compassionate, articulate and able to think for himself. and, i think, brave.
you are lucky to have such a fine young man in your family. he is an asset to his community and our nation.
may he influence and guide many.
thank you for this wonderful post.

gateley

(62,683 posts)
2. Your nephew is following the message of his Jesus -- Love thy neighbor. What a
Sat May 12, 2012, 12:26 AM
May 2012

wonderful soul.

Tell him we love him.

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
6. He expresses Catholisism as I would love to see it.
Sat May 12, 2012, 09:06 AM
May 2012

I knew the Vatican II church - the ecumenical church - the social justice church.

Your nephew and god son is Awesome - tell him Thanks.

Oh and the Episcopal Church has many, many, many open and affirming parishes - if he's interested.
Have to get a plug in for my peeps.

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