Monday, October 15, 2012

Supportive Catholics in the closet?

I've complained frequently about Roman Catholic "don't ask, don't tell" on the subject of marriage equality.

Roman Catholics are heavily supportive of marriage equality, while their bishops relentlessly campaign against it, underwriting hate campaigns in numerous states.

Now, several Bishops have turned on their flock, essentially excommunicating them if they are supporters of marriage equality.

Abp Cordileone (San Francisco):
Gays and lesbians who are in sexual relationships of any kind, he said, should not receive the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Abp Myers (Newark):
 Catholics who do not accept the teaching of the Church on marriage and family (especially those who teach or act in private or public life contrary to the Church's received tradition on marriage and family) by their own choice seriously harm their communion with Christ and His Church…..If they continue to be unable to assent to or live the church's teaching in these matters, they must in all honesty and humility refrain from receiving Holy Communion until they can do so with integrity; to continue to receive Holy Communion while so dissenting would be objectively dishonest. 
  Abp Nienstedt (Minnesota):
Catholics are bound in conscience to believe this teaching. Those who do not cannot consider themselves to be Catholic and ought not to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. 
This comes from a letter in 2010, (reported here at GMC at that time), in which Abp Nienstedt also told a woman that her eternal salvation depended on her rejecting her gay son.

 So, to my many Catholic friends participating in "don't ask don't tell", who support and love us and vote for marriage equality:

Now what?

Will you become "spiritual refugees" too?

Will you stand up for your beliefs, at such a cost? LIke this teacher? Will you try to reform The Church?  Or will you stay in the closet?

Will you stay, or will  you go?

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