Church?
church" yet, in our prejudiced society, to
state that we are affirming and accepting of
gays, lesbians and bisexuals, makes us, in
the minds of some people, a "gay church."
No church should be an exclusionist club
that accepts only those with whom we
happen to agree. And no church can be
such if it is truly part of the Church of Jesus
Christ. The Christian Church encompasses
people of all persuasions and, in doing so, it
is never a "gay church," "an
African-American Church" or a "female
church." It can never be segregated in this
manner. And yet, because it encompasses
all of humanity, it is all of the above. It is a
gay church, a straight church, a female
church, a male church, an African-American
church, a White church, and the list goes on
and on.
The Catholic Church of the Americas has
never limited its ministry to any one segment
of society. We exist for all God's children.
And because the Church should mirror Christ
in its service to humanity, we feel a certain
responsibility to those who are most rejected
by society, just as Jesus did. We welcome
those who society and other churches have
rejected. By doing so they have failed to live
up to Christ's command to love others.
Christ Himself is the perfect example of
acceptance and inclusiveness. He often
spent time with those who were considered
to be the worst of sinners. By doing so he
showed them that God loved and accepted
them just as much as He loved and accepted
those "righteous" people.
example then it must do the same. It must
reach out to the rejected and disenfranchised.
It must be accepting and affirming of ALL who
seek its comfort. It must open wide its loving
arms to embrace all of humanity, just as Christ
did. If it rejects some, then it rejects Christ
Himself. "Whatsoever you do to the least of my
brothers and sisters, you do unto Me." (Matthew
25:40)
The simple answer to the question, "Are you a
'gay church'?" is no. Do we have members who
are gay, lesbian or bisexual? Yes. Do we have
members who are straight? Yes. Do we
welcome and affirm them all? Yes, for this is
Christ's Will.
