| I am writing to you as an openly gay man who
embraces and celebrates his sexuality as a Sacred Gift. I am also writing as a
member of the Church and as a person who, like so many others, longs for a just
and more loving society. |
| I am writing to ask you to publicly welcome
and embrace Gay and Lesbian people, including those who are members of the
Catholic Church, and to enter into open dialogue with us. Surely the time has
come. |
| After many centuries of persecution, Gay and
Lesbian people are finally finding a voice, claiming a place, celebrating the
hope of freedom. Increasingly, people of good will around the world are
encouraging us in our struggle for liberation and justice. |
| In the Church, too, there are signs of hope.
Catholic teaching now says that homosexual women and men "must be accepted with
respect, compassion and sensitivity", that they "should have an active role in
the Christian community" and that "every form of unjust discrimination in their
regard is to be avoided". In some dioceses there are also genuine efforts being
made to develop dialogue and pastoral care. |
| Despite these signs of hope, however,
Lesbian and Gay people continue to face entrenched hostility and discrimination
in both society and Church. In families, schools, parishes, workplaces, secular
institutions and Church structures we are still routinely silenced and excluded.
Both the teachings and the attitude of heart of many in the Church continue to
provide a foundation and a justification for those who condemn, reject and
harass gay people. |
| Within the Church community itself there is
still real oppression and deep-seated fear. It remains true that reputations,
careers and lives can readily be destroyed if people are named as Gay or even
Gay-friendly in our Church , despite official claims of tolerance. The imposed
silence, the invisibility, the neglect, the exclusion and the active rejection
that Lesbian and Gay people continue to endure in our Church are an insult to
the Heart of Christ and a scandal for the People of God. |
| A stark and deeply symbolic example of this
rejection occurred late last year. In both Melbourne and London two Catholic men
, one a priest , were officially refused Holy Communion because they came
forward in the Church proclaiming that they were gay. The symbol they wore was a
Rainbow Sash. |
At the time, Archbishop Pell and Cardinal
Basil Hume gave different reasons for this refusal, but the message was the
same: those who come forward in the Catholic community proclaiming that they are
Gay will be met with one of the Church's strongest sanctions, they will be
refused Communion.
| This rejection is a blow to the heart for
Gay and Lesbian Catholics and Christians, and for all who seek a more just and
loving society. It will encourage those who oppress Gay people. It will crush
the spirit of Lesbian and Gay Catholic youth: What future will they see for
themselves in a Church that condemns them to silence and invisibility or to
public rejection? |
| The time has come to break this silence, to
challenge this rejection, to call for a change of heart in the Church. If not
now, then when? |
| We are therefore writing to you to ask you,
to call you, to offer leadership and loving service. You are called the "Servant
of the Servants of God" Will you be a servant for Gay and Lesbian people? Will
you dare to do something new for love and justice? |
We ask four things of you :
-
Will you publicly welcome openly Gay and Lesbian
Catholics to Communion, and will you call the Bishops of our Church to do the
same?
-
Will you encourage Gay and Lesbian clergy,
religious and laity to "Come Out", i.e. to openly acknowledge their sexual
orientation, so that our young people may have mentors and role models and so
that the rich gifts of all of God's people may be honestly celebrated? Will you
guarantee that the ministries, careers and reputations of those who "Come Out"
in the Church will be protected?
-
Will you call all Bishops to set up diocesan
ministries to Lesbian and Gay people and their families, along with education
and support programs in schools and parishes, so that intolerance, prejudice and
hatred may be overcome by the Love of God?
-
Will you meet with Lesbian and Gay people from
around the world, with Bishops and theologians, and set up "Structures of
Listening" in dioceses and in the Universal Church? Will you let our voices be
heard and our wisdom and experience be honoured?
|
| Will you seek, with us, a new appreciation
for human sexuality in all of its diversity and beauty? |
| We ask you to consider prayerfully all that
this letter puts before you. We realise this may take some time. However, Love
and Justice call incessantly, and so we hereby inform both you and the whole
Church that : |
-
We will continue to come forward in the Church,
proclaiming publicly that we are Gay and Lesbian people who embrace and
celebrate our sexuality as a Sacred Gift.
-
We will continue to call the Church to be a
voice of justice, a promise of Liberation and an advocate for those who are
oppressed and silenced.
-
We will wear the symbol of the Rainbow Sash with
dignity, hope and pride.
For the Love of God, please listen to us.
Signed by the convenors of the Rainbow Sash
Movement (Australia) |
|
|
|
