Saturday, September 10, 2005

Outreach to Gay and Lesbian Catholics

In this August 8, 2005 column by Richard P. McBrien, published in the August 18, 2005 Catholic Herald, he discusses this column by Bishop J. Terry Steib of Memphis. In announcing a new diocesan ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics, Bishop Steib wrote
I have become more acutely aware of the number of people -- the number of Catholics -- who are no longer comfortable in their home. In fact, some are no longer certain that the Church is their home.

Can't have anyone uncomfortable. Or can we? Fr. McBrien later says
It is no secret that any discussion of homosexuality -- particularly one without the standard condemnations -- makes many people uncomfortable, inside and outside the Church.

What does Fr. McBrien mean by "the standard condemnations"? Apparently Church teaching.
It teaches that homosexuality is an "objective disorder" and that homosexual acts are an "intrinsic moral evil." At the same time, the Church insists that the homosexual is a person of dignity who should never be the object of contempt or discrimination.

To Fr. McBrien (and Bishop Steib?), hate the sin and love the sinner is "ambivalence."

2 comments:

  1. We've come to learn that True Christianity makes no demands.

    That's why the Crucifix has been replaced by the "Res-i-fix" over the altars--no pain, all gain.

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  2. Not quite no demands. But if there's no call for repentence, then what's the answer to those who say the Church only asks for money?

    Back in my parish council days, I used to say that before we arrange a round of home visits to talk about the next building fund campaign, we ought to have a round of home visits to talk about something other than money. Like, oh, I don't know, maybe Jesus? That, of course, went nowhere.

    The lack of a Crucifix is a cross to bear.

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