Catholic leaders are pulling out all the stops. The U.S. Council of Bishops want President Obama to "hit the restart button" on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Catholic bishops in Minnesota claim that bisexuals are going to marry both a man and a woman at the same time. In Chicago, Catholics want to discriminate and still get federal money. And everywhere, more dollars from Catholic offering plates are going to set up offices to block the marriages of loving couple -- just because they are gay, lesbian or transgender.
Bishop Timothy Dolan, head of the Catholic Bishops in the U.S., sent a letter to President Obama full of veiled threats. And like most threatening letters, the bishop's words actually pulled back the curtain on the hierarchy's not-so-veiled efforts to impose Catholic dogma on all U.S. citizens.
As the head of the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) with churches in 40 countries, I can tell you that church dictates against gay people cause real harm, and I will not stay silent. I speak because Jesus sided with the poor and socially outcast people who were daily excoriated by the religious leaders of his day.
I can tell you that dogma that condemns people for who they are props up prejudices and gets played in arson, beatings, family rejection, suicide and job dismissal.
Thank God that the fruits of God's spirit -- love, joy, peace and patience -- emerge as homeless gay and transgender youth come home, transgender persons find a church and gay and lesbian couples marry and raise children. The MCC save lives, souls and families.
We are the families and saved lives that Bishop Dolan condemns. He predicts (threatens?) that if marriage equality is allowed, "a systemic national conflict between Church and State" will ensue. He wants the "formidable moral, economic, and coercive power" to enforce the Catholic definition of marriage.
Bishop Dolan's own words convict him as he claims that finding DOMA unconstitutional will be like comparing the Vatican's views on marriage to "intentional or willfully ignorant racial discrimination" and "ill intent or moral blindness." Dolan complains that Catholic institutions will be held accountable if they discriminate in Catholic programs receiving federal money "where civil rights laws apply -- such as employment, housing, education and adoption services, to name just a few." Really? You endorse such discrimination in social services?
To be clear, Bishop Dolan and the bishops in Minnesota and Chicago know that they are free to teach dogma in church, but they simply may not use federal tax dollars if they refuse to provide health insurance to the children of gay couples, or refuse shelter to homeless gay youth or refuse to hire transgender people as accountants, or refuse a child adoption because the parents are two women, etc.
What may pain the bishop and the Vatican deeply is that social service needs will be met by other agencies that do not discriminate.
Bishop Dolan provides dire warnings, but I say to all those who have been harmed by enforced dogma: the Christ I know went out to meet those who had been rejected. He died because he offended those who would keep the doors closed.
Bishop Dolan! Catholic officials! Listen to your people. More Catholics in the pews support marriage equality than any other Christian faith group. Bishop Dolan, hit the restart button on the Gospel. You don't have to read between the lines to know that we are called to love and serve, not judge and condemn. I call that good news.
And yes, it is imposing on all of us, since marriage by its nature is more than a pact between individuals, it is a social institution.
Why are people still listening to these men who have no experience with marital relations or sex? It's time to stop following and it's time to start thinking. The younger generations are finally "getting it" and realizing that the Church is out-of-date and, in some cases, completely unnecessary.
In case you are not aware of it, the Roman Catholic Church has always allowed Anglican converts to keep their wives AND their priesthood. Also, Eastern Rite Catholics ordain married men to the priesthood.
But here's the kicker: these groups agree with Rome's line that marriage must remain as it has always been: a pact between a man and a woman.
While I agree with some of the things you express, I have to point out that you are misusing the word "dogma." This seems to be very common among anti-religious people and anti-Catholics alike. There is no Catholic dogma regarding homosexuality, but there is doctrine about the matter. Dogma does not equal doctrine.
Examples given:
The articles of faith of the Creed
The various Christological dogmas and Marian dogmas
The doctrine of the institution of the sacraments by Christ and their efficacy with regard to grace
The doctrine of the real and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the sacrificial nature of the eucharistic celebration
The foundation of the Church by the will of Christ
The doctrine on the primacy and infallibility of the Roman Pontiff
The doctrine on the existence of original sin
The doctrine on the immortality of the spiritual soul and on the immediate recompense after death
The absence of error in the inspired sacred texts
The doctrine on the grave immorality of direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being.
Therefore, a dogma is a doctrine "to be believed by divine and Catholic Faith" that has been proposed by the Church to be "divinely and formally revealed."
Thus, all dogmas are doctrines, but not all doctrines are dogmas.
Secondly,
dog·ma
/ˈdɔgmə, ˈdɒg-/ Show Spelled[dawg-muh, dog-]
noun, plural dog·mas or ( Rare ) dog·ma·ta /ˈdɔgmətə/ Show Spelled[dawg-muh-tuh]
1. an official system of principles or tenets concerning faith, morals, behavior, etc., as of a church. Synonyms: doctrine, teachings, set of beliefs, philosophy.
2. a specific tenet or doctrine authoritatively laid down, as by a church: the dogma of the Assumption; the recently defined dogma of papal infallibility. Synonyms: tenet, canon, law.
3. prescribed doctrine proclaimed as unquestionably true by a particular group: the difficulty of resisting political dogma.
4. a settled or established opinion, belief, or principle: the classic dogma of objectivity in scientific observation.
whatever "moral authority" it had long ago, yet claims itself the final word on matters outside
it's domains.
Perhaps it sees itself under a little too much scrutiny these days? Perhaps the Bishops who
have done so little to protect the most vulnerable members of the flock find it advantageous
to create yet another distraction.
If they were so devoted to Jesus Christ wouldn't they simply accept all people as their
brothers and sisters, wether they are "members" or not? Is the concept "Live and let Live"
beyond their understanding?
Churches do not have the right to determine what American law may say on the matter of Marriage, Divorce and Adoption. That's why the First Amendment was written, to protect us from dogmatic theological rules and laws. The Catholic Church is not the maker of law anymore.
I will stand with my gay brothers and sisters in their fight for total equality. I will stand with them as they fight for the rights I already enjoy. And I am proud of President Obama for refusing to defend DOMA any more. It is the right thing to do.
Sounds fair, right?
If the Catholic Church is getting involved in campaigns against LGBT people's right to marry...or any political issues...then their tax-exemption should be revoked. If they want to involved themselves in politics let them pay for the privilege.
At least they're not the ones justifying socially trendy issues just to make their doctrine more palatable to the general public.
Like that's a bad thing? Once again, for the slow learners, the last time church and state rode in the same cart in this country they burned people at the stake.
http://tinyurl.com/34nz4zn
But if Dolan wants a fight, bring it on.
There's a lot of angry former children who would happily not take him prisoner.
In America we have freedom of religion not freedom from religion. For centuries Catholic hospitals have been treating the indigent, Catholic Charities have been succoring the poor and Catholic schools have been teaching both citizens and immigrants with excellent results.
You may now bring up documented abuses of children. Because of the sheer size and scope of the Catholic church the number of abused children is far, far higher than any abused by other denominations. This is strictly a numbers thing. Who is going to sue the judgment-proof pastor of a rural out-of-the mainstream sect with 200 followers in three counties who abused seven children? (Reported in the local paper two months ago.)
Frankly, I think the US should start funding results not ideology. If a Mormon or Catholic program is successful, by all means throw money at it. If not--stop.
But what do I know? I am a Spanish/Irish Atheist who prefers common sense to political correctness.
Common sense dictates that anyone working for a program or institution sponsored by a particular church follow the rules laid down by that church. Since children have no choice about attending, I can appreciate why prayer is not allowed in public school. However, if you are in or work for a Salvation Army program, be prepared for some serious prayer.
All Habitat for Humanity days on site begin with a prayer because it is sponsored by churches where I live. This doesn't keep me from volunteering on the painting crew.
I also remember him telling us that you don't have to be Christian to get into heaven. He was disgusted by the idea that someone like Ghandi could go to hell because of his beliefs, despite the great things he did. He said that as long as you are a good, loving, charitable person, you are living a Christ-like life and it doesn't matter which religion you do or do not follow.