The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston—those wonderful people who brought us the pedophile priest scandal—welcomes everyone to services. As long as you’re not gay, that is. The diocese has ordered St. Cecilia Parish to cancel a Mass to commemorate gay pride because, well, it commemorated gay pride. The parish had noted its plans in a church bulletin, which was enough to send conservative Catholics into orbit (assuming they believe the earth is round).
“The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia Parish invites all friends and supporters of the LGBT community to a Mass in celebration of Boston’s Pride Month,’’ the notice in the parish bulletin read. “The theme of the liturgy, ‘All Are Welcome,’ honors Christ’s message of hope and salvation to all people. We will also celebrate the diverse community that finds its home at St. Cecilia.’’
The Archdiocese couldn’t move fast enough to pull in that particular welcome mat. “The wording and placement of a bulletin notice announcing that the St. Cecilia Rainbow Ministry will be joining the parish at a Mass on June 19 may have given the unintended impression that the Mass is in support of Gay Pride Week; it is not,’’ Terrence C. Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese, told the Boston Globe.
During his sermon on Sunday, Rev. John Unni of St. Cecilia’s told the congregation, “You are welcome here, gay or straight, rich or poor, young or old, black or white. Here, you all can say, ‘I can worship the God who made me as I am.’” Unni, who is classic case of someone caught between the devil and the deep blue sea (you figure out who the first is), received a standing congregation for his remarks.
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Instead of the Mass, St. Cecilia’s Rainbow Ministry will hold a prayer service. In a fit of magnanimity, Donilon said the Archdiocese had no problem with the prayer service—because it was being held on the sidewalk outside of the church. Too bad the Archdiocese couldn’t didn’t throw pedophile priests in its midst out on the street nearly as fast.
Photo via Pat Greenhouse/Boston Globe
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Enrique
I was Catholic and left because I’m gay. That said, I believe this parish should be commended for their attempt to become more welcoming. The priest likely knew that the Archdiocese would knock this attempt down, but it’s symbolic.
This particular priest, and many other clergy around the country, are showing that “Christian” is not synonymous with anti-gay. Any attempt as lgbt inclusion in the church should be praised.
Ryan Parker
I thought this was really good of that priest. He may not be able to change the Archdiocese’s agenda, but he can help the people of his priest become more open and kind people. He’s making a good example, which I think is nice. I’m from Boston, and not a christian, and would eagerly thank this priest for not being a Michelle Bachmann type christian.
Ryan
ah shit I didn’t mean for my name to be up there. Oh well.
Drake
I hope the cruel Catholic hierarchy doesn’t make Fr Unni Fr Eunuch. Let’s hope that there is some real consciousness raising going on, and not mere feel good platitudes after which gays are still out in the cold.
Enrique
@ Ryan, the majority of Christians aren’t like Michelle Bachmann. The media is just one-sided and only shows the ones who are. This particular congregation has a large percentage of lgbt congregants. I’m not the only gay person in my church either. When I decided to find a lgbt-friendly church, I thought it’d be hard. Imagine my amazement when I found out there were dozens, one right down the street, and others within walking distance.
And to all, as far as the RC Church goes, there’s more than just this one congregation. Check out http://www.catholicsforequality.org if you’d like. And you can also check out http://www.BelieveOutLoud.com, an interdenominational organization working toward lgbt inclusion in all churches.
The crustybastard
And a great big THANK YOU to the Roman Catholic Church for not tying gay people to stakes and slowly incinerating us anymore.
Sure, you’re forcing gay people to pray outside in the gutter like animals, but even so, that’s real progress!
Christ, what a bunch of assholes.
The crustybastard
@Enrique: the majority of Christians aren’t like Michelle Bachmann. The media is just one-sided and only shows the ones who are
Really? Blaming the media? LOL.
Yeah, my state’s antigay constitutional amendment passed by 75% because of the MEDIA.
Enrique
@ Crusty, I am not exactly a big fan of the RC Church myself. I left that church because I’m gay and they say it’s a sin. But even though there are a lot of ignorant bigots in that church, there are also some genuine understanding people.
Not every Catholic church closes its doors to gays on the grounds that they are living sinful lives. Some have seen the error in their ways and openly accept gay people fully into their congregations. Don’t be so judgmental. Only God has the right to judge. That goes as for them judging us AND us judging them.
Enrique
And yes, the media is much to blame. But I failed to mention fundamentalist Christians and Bible literalists as well. The bigotry they’re teaching is wrong. But there are a lot of Christian organizations trying to get them to see the error of their ways: like ‘Believe Out Loud,’ a coalition of welcoming churches.
The crustybastard
@Enrique:
Who the fuck are you to tell me I have no right to respond in kind?
Im not a christian and am not bound by Christian rules. They’re the ones with responsibilities to their god, not me. their own rulebook says that they’ll be judged by the same measure they’ve judged, and they deserve all the mercy they’ve shown. Thus it should come as no surprise that I judge christians as they have judged me: blanket condemnations are exactly what they have earned.
Every catholic is a party to their church’s persecution of gays and a party to the child-rape coverup. Every. One. Every Christian who is a member of a bigoted congregation is guilty of bigotry. Every. One.
If I’m a member of the Shining Monkey Brigade, and the SMB starts doing some ugly shit, then if I stay I’m guilty by association. That’s what that term means.
Enrique
@ Crusty, There’s no need to get nasty with me. In many ways, I’m on your side. After all, I’m gay, and I have experienced the bigotry that certain denominations of Christianity promote. I am ashamed of so-called Christians who promote bigotry toward lgbt people. I am no longer a Catholic, because I knew that some of the things they were doing and teaching were wrong, including their treatment of lgbt people.
But for you to attack all Christians is unfair. There are some great Christians out there who will welcome you into their congregation whether you are gay or straight, black or white.
I am actively working to help rid Christianity of their anti-gay bigotry, and I am a member of a church that has been lgbt-friendly since the beginning of the lgbt rights movement.
I get kind of upset when people bunch all Christians up together as a bunch of gay-hating lunatics. That’s simply not the case, nor is it the norm. I’m not telling you that you don’t have a right to respond to issues like this. I’m simply saying that you should praise Christians who are supportive of lgbt rights, and you should encourage them to confront those who aren’t.
the crustybastard
@Enrique: There’s no need to get nasty with me.
If you’re going to get nasty with me, I’m going to get nasty with you, sport. Don’t presume that because you’re a Christian you have a right to give me lessons in morality. That’s a real bad habit you Christians seem to acquire.
Just because — today — there is a minority of Christians that aren’t bigots doesn’t excuse Christianity from its ongoing obsession with bigotry. Furthermore, you’re not “on my side” merely because you’re not as bad as they are, Kapo.
Finally, I don’t bear any obligation to “praise” Christians for merely doing what they’re supposed to do. What’s more, I neither expect nor receive any praise for being a better Christian than most Christians.
The Christian flock has never been the driving force behind modernizing Christianity. Secularism is the modernizing force.
Ron
I was actually at the St. Cecilias for mass this morning. I had no idea what went on the last couple of weeks and the homily, which was really controversial in my opinion, nearly made me cry at the end of it. There was no standing ovation, but everyone clapped at the end when father Unni said, “All are welcome.”
I know there’s still a long way to go in relations between the GLBT community and the church, but I’m really glad to see that at least someone on the church’s side is making progress at all.
That being said, some of my relatives who were there with me didn’t take to the message so well. One of them spoke with a parishoner after the mass, and apparently there is a big division amongst the congregation there.
For me, it seems like a small step, but it’s symbolic that there is some hope for equal treatment. Cudos to Fr. Unni.