May 27, 2005
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Much More Than Jazz from Memphis
I knew it would happen eventually because I think I know the real feelings of Catholics toward gays and lesbians. Today Andrew Sullivan points to a link to a pastoral letter written by Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD, bishop of Memphis, Tennessee, entitled "Church is home to all people of God." Bishop Steib's sentiments are certainly my own, but I think he speaks for all Catholics when he says,
As I listened [to gays, lesbians, and their parents], I could not help wondering: how deep is our river of faith if we are not actively working to be sure that all are welcome in their own home _ the home given to each of us when we became members of God's family through baptism? How far will we go to ensure that all are valued for the unique gift each one is? How much, I asked myself, will we allow our hearts to grow if we simply lay aside preconceived notions of who does or does not belong? And finally, I wondered: how great will God's love be in each one of us if we follow the example of Jesus who loved all, lived for all, and died for all?
Read the whole thing. It's not very long, but it seems to me to be the only position open to authentic Catholics. Given the rants of the pope and radical right wingnuts, it truly is ironic.
ED
Comments (1)
This is exactly the type of message I want to send in the sermon I will be delivering at Edgewater Presbyterian Church on July 17 entitled, "Come to the Water." I was invited by the governing Elders to become the first Roman Catholic to address the congregation from the pulpit. Quite a neat honor! I've got people hyping the event throughout the city; hopefully I can pack the church. A good number of Catholics and Lutherans will be attending. I'm going to challenge the institutional Church and Cardinal George, too, on this issue.
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