Dear Editor:
As LGBT Catholics struggle to find their own identity in the Church surrounded by an environment of homophobia, opposition to that homophobia and self-identification are key to integrity. Not only is this a concern for LGBT Catholics, but some in our broader LGBT community are expressing similar concerns. I believe this not to be motivated by anti-Catholic bigotry, rather out of a very real concern for the harm the Roman Catholic Church is doing to our community, and a call for LGBT Catholics to step up to the plate.
The Archdiocese of Chicago, initially under the leadership of Cardinal Bernardin, kicked the LGBT group Dignity out of all church facilities in the archdiocese, and followed that with the creation of the Archdiocese Gay and Lesbian Outreach (AGLO) Ministry. Cardinal George allowed its continuation in an attempt to control the conversation in the Church. The result is silence regarding LGBTs: rights, couples and their children. Loyalty collides with what is in the best the best interest of the LGBT community.
Dignity is a prime example of what happens when you challenge homophobia in the Church—you get kicked out and are refused use of any Church faculties to celebrate liturgies. Rather, Dignity should be publicly welcomed back into the Church, and the Archdiocese Gay and Lesbian Outreach should be supporting that. It is time for this good-Catholic, bad-Catholic mentality to end.
We are all children of God; don't ever lose sight of that focus. What's next? Will we be asked to sign loyalty oaths before we are given communion because we are LGBT Catholics?
AGLO will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in June. Cardinal George will be presiding at that mass. I am asking and encouraging members of AGLO to do one of two things as a symbol of your opposition to harm Cardinal George has to done to our community. Do not attend the liturgy let the Cardinal preside over an empty Church. Or if you do attend stand at the Cardinal's sermon and turn your back to him.
Joe Murray
Chicago
