A Call for a Mass for Gays in the Vatican

A Call for a Mass for Gays in the Vatican
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Article by Justin Jones, titled, The Vatican’s Gay Art Goes on Display.
Article by Justin Jones, titled, The Vatican’s Gay Art Goes on Display.
from The Daily Beast.

As a Christian gay person, and former candidate for the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, I propose that in response to the recent massacre of gays in Orlando, Pope Francis I celebrate a Mass for gays in the St. Peter’s Church in Rome.

The Pope’s effusive, rhetorical question, “Who am I to judge?” is promising question, but it remains unanswered. While a non-judgmental tone sounds good, unless it has a clear and tangible impact it doesn’t mean much. Surely his is an historic question, but words without actions mean nothing.

What the secular and religious world needs is an unequivocal demonstration of prophetic support for gay people, especially gay youth: A Mass for gays all over the world is a good first step to let gays know that they are accepted for who they are, and that they are loved unconditionally.

At Mass, Pope Francis I could invite gay priests to come out of the shadows of their closets, allowing them to be completely and utterly honest about who they are. He could call parents of gay youth not to abandon their gay children.

The Pope could remind the world that God delights in straight and gay people, that God made us human, embodied beings. Pope Francis could do this by calling for a reform of the catechism of the church. At a mass for gays, the Pope could finally lead the church out of people’s bedrooms, beyond talk about sex, and to human relationships and the whole life of every person. Such is already the cornerstone of a papacy that proclaims the Joy of the Gospel.

The Pope should allow gays to receive the Holy Eucharist at Mass. It would undoubtedly push back (forever) against the official teaching of the Church. The Pope must change the teaching of the church in regard to gays. He must say that they are not sinners, that their expression of love is not sin. He must affirm them and invite them to the Eucharistic table. He must allow them back into the Catholic family. If the church is truly maternal, it will open her arms in welcome.

In his frequent Gay Apologia, asking for forgiveness from gays, the Pope added, “The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well.”

To be clear, Pope Francis’ word choice is not without reproach. The Pope often says things impulsively, from the sky, at 40,000 miles high. Only afterwards, with reflection does then his Vatican spokespeople tell us what the pontiff really meant. Such verbiage demonstrates Pope’s (sic the Church’s) uncomfortability with gays, gay sex and gay love. Whatever the Italian word really means, Gay people do not suffer from a “condition” nor do they exist in a state of “situation”. Such negative labeling impinges on our human flourishing and marginalizes us. A Mass for gays will show the Church’s unconditional love and support for this community. Rather quickly a people seen as “conditioned” or “situationed” towards love will participate in an action that was never conditional or situational, God loved the world so he sent His Son to save it.

Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin tells CNN, “no group feels more marginalized in the church today than LGBT people.” Yes, for gays who are the most marginalized, forgiveness is an essential part of Christian life. But forgiveness and reconciliation require actions, not mere words. A Mass for gays is the action needed.

It is sad to point out: the world is not safe for gay people. The recent massacre of gays in Orlando emphasizes that despite the gains in gay marriage, the current wave of gay ascendancy in the secular world is still met with resistance in the secular world and hate in the religious world.

The Orlando Gay Massacre sheds a glaring light on the latter: it puts two religious traditions on notice, the Muslim and Catholic tradition; both have to change their teaching on homosexuality.

Haven’t we learned enough from the Church’s lack of action during the Orlando Gay Massacre? Holding a mass for gays at the Vatican is the type of action the gay community thirsts for – presence, inclusion and acceptance.

I call out to you again, Pope Francis, please celebrate a Mass for gays. Invite gays throughout the world to make a pilgrimage to Rome in order to participate with you.

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