Guest submission by Anthony Paz |
Let’s talk about something hard. Let’s talk about the LGBT community and the Catholic Church. This big question comes up all the time in the news – what is the rightful place for homosexual relationships in society? Bishops have been outspoken on the legal, social side of this issue and will continue to be. I don’t want to talk about this teaching right now. We know what they are saying, and, let me be clear, that is the teaching of the Catholic Church: sex between persons of the same sex, just like any sexual activity outside of sacramental marriage, is considered harmful to those who engage in it. It is important to talk about why the bishops teach this. We must also acknowledge that this deeply-held belief offends and hurts some people. That is not the intention, but it is the reality. However, a more important teaching so often gets lost in this very public, very divisive discourse: what the Church teaches about the way gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer people should be treated.
That teaching is pretty simple: LGTBQ individuals are to be treated like everyone else. In fact, because of the historical ubiquity of inhuman treatment toward gays and lesbians, Catholic social teaching demands that we go above and beyond in our compassion, mercy and hospitality toward this part of the population. In a very real sense, gays deserve preferential compassion and mercy from Christians because of Christ’s special concern for those who’ve been marginalized and hurt before.
It is unfortunate that so many members of our community who happen to be gay have suffered most in the name of cold, hard, “Christian” doctrine. Mostly, the hurtful things and rejection that they have felt comes not from a true understanding of sexual ethics, but from a sort of veiled homophobia. Confronting this type of homophobia common in his mostly Catholic homeland, Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said last week the following: “Anybody who doesn't show love towards gay and lesbian people is insulting God. They are not just homophobic if they do that, they are actually Godophobic because God loves every one of those people.” I was thrilled to see such a strong statement from a bishop condemning homophobia.
Christians have valid reasons for questioning the sexual ethics that dominate the media and society, which span topics from pornography to extra-marital sex to body image and beyond. None of those valid reasons are “because they’re different,” “I don’t get it,” or “I feel threatened by it.” However, it seems to me that inhospitable, homophobic, insulting, violent language and action against our gay brothers and sisters stem from these kinds of reasons and not from the actual teachings of the Church. The true teaching of the Church is that all people have inherent dignity and value. Sexual orientation does nothing to change that.
For me, this dignity is foundational. First I love my neighbor. Perhaps I’ll talk about sexual ethics or just war theory or environmental sustainability once a loving relationship is established and can be trusted. Just as Christ extends love to me first, I hope that members of the Church, including me, will do better at leading with merciful, welcoming love.
Students, faculty, staff and others who are gay: you are completely welcome in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. You are always invited to visit campus ministers in our offices. You are truly, totally loved by the God who made you who you are, just like everyone else here at UP. Don’t let anyone make you feel differently.
