A little historical pop-quiz:
- In the form of a question is: "What Is Halloween, 1986?"
- The JeopardyTM clue is that corresponds to the answer above: "The date of the rupture between the Catholic Church and millions of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender individuals."
(excerpted from diary below the fold:
For those Catholics, who had been operating under the optimism of the previous two Pontiffs, their hope was decimated that Halloween when the Ratzinger-penned and John Paul II-approved "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" had made its debut.
so much more below the fold...
So, from the beginning...
October 31, 1986. Halloween. I remember where I was when I heard the news, that day. Do you? On that day, I was in the Seminary, studying to become a priest. In fact, the exact moment I heard the news (which has caused such pain and agony and denial on the part of so many LGBT Catholics) I was in the basement of our seminary, playing pool with three other classmates of mine. Sadly my photographic memory is slipping a bit as I can't be as precise as to note if someone had just missed a shot or whether we were in the middle of racking up the balls for a new game. What I do remember as vivid as vivid could be was the one priest who came barreling into the rec area of the seminary where we were, with the news (in the form of a piece of paper in his hand), giddy. This news was exciting, he was excited. He was also one of the three ordained whose role was to help the group of 20 plus seminarians in my class come to understand if and what a calling to the priesthood meant. When he opened his mouth and began reading the letter from Rome, with an excitement I had never witnessed before from him, punctuating it with a few asides here and there, I realized that this was one of those "grotesque and indelible moments" for me. For a moment there I lost track to the substance of the letter that had him so elated. Oh yeah, the Catholic Church and Homosexuals. Happy Halloween.
Thirty days earlier, John Paul II had a "Letter" read to him, which he then approved, as is the protocol, which was then to be transmitted out to the faithful. The letter was one written by the modern-day Grand inquisitor, namely Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who to this day still controls, as the Prefect, the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. This "Letter" was unique for one very important fact - it was written in English and was to become historic for another critical fact: it would break the silence of the Pope on the issue of homosexuality. Since he took the Papacy in 1978, for 8 years he had remained silent on this very controversial issue. His predecessors had both over seen the Catholic Church carefully and with great consideration, begin to find flexibility and grounds for compassion in its previously very anti-homosexual policies and beliefs, actually bringing the hope to millions of LGBT Catholics world-wide that they may indeed have a place in this Church. For those Catholics, who had been operating under the optimism of the previous two Pontiffs, their hope was decimated that Halloween when the Ratzinger-penned and John Paul II-approved "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" had made its debut,
From the opening word to its closing invocation, the "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons" shows no mercy.
And I think that this very specific document needs to be understood for what it says, what it means, and what it does. Following the release of this Letter, John Paul II makes only one more formal proclamation of this sort on the subject, in 1992, and sadly, in his memoirs Memory and Identity, he just can not pass up one last chance to show an amazing lack of compassion, consideration or respect for an entire segment of his Church who are also made in the likeness of their Creator, as was he. In just three major utterances, John Paul II made being homosexual and a good Catholic diametrically opposed. Imagine being told by your family that you can never be a true equal because of being homosexual. Now imagine that mantra being repeated across the globe for the past 19 years with no abatement and no sign of change. While Catholics may not agree with that sentiment, it is the law of the Church, it is papal doctrine. All that being said, you just might be a little angry, maybe even feeling a lot of injured.
And with the beatifying media already beatifying him, where do you take your anger, your rage and your bruise? The one answer yesterday was clearly "not here at dkos." Fur and anger and ridicule and decorum and everything in-between has been flying since the first postings about the passing of John Paul II. One of the more puzzling reactions I have seen from fellow kossmopolitans are in response to the posts/diaries/comments by those who are angered by the sudden media beatification of a man who, for them and their communities was anathema to civility, respect and Christianity. What really distressed me more than anything else were the litanies of replies to folks genuinely injured by the works and words and actions of this one man from other kossmopolitans telling them to, in essence, behave. Having had some time to reflect on all of this, it struck me that perhaps many people were not up-to-speed on just exactly, in the minds and hearts of LGBT Catholics globally why they were not uniformly going to shed a tear for the passing of the Pope. I'm hoping that with a little elucidation, a great deal of the unnecessary and pretty cruel troll warring can be repaired. One final thought - for people who maintain a "balanced look at the man's work" please remember one very specific thing: this is the leader of the faith that we grew up into and he is the one that told us we are not equal citizens, that we should expect to be hurt and that we are a sin. In plain English, it is very, very personal and very raw. A much more reasoned approach just might be in first acknowledging the brutality of this homophobic man and then trying to seek an opportunity NOT to convince the injured otherwise, but to put John Paul II, a mortal, into perspective.
Here is a link to the entirety of the "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons."
So, what's the big deal? In a nutshell, in one document, written in English, the Pope defines homosexuality as "an objective disorder." Not to be subtle, he equally refers to homosexuality as "a tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil" and goes so far as to state that homosexuals, in pursuit of civil rights/liberties, etc. should expect that people will act in all sorts of manners towards them, including in an irrational manner (i.e. violently). And why? Because, the Pope states, when one advocates for a right that they do not have a legitimate claim to, this advocacy will understandably evoke irrational reactions from citizens. That kind of reaction should not surprise anyone, according to the Pope. The subtext here is appalling: If you seek equality, which the Catholic Church has determined that you do not deserve, we will not protect you from these assaults, as we told you to expect it. You've been forewarned. Since you insist on demanding that which you are not entitled to, expect to be hurt:
10. It is deplorable that homosexual persons have been and are the object of violent malice in speech or in action. Such treatment deserves condemnation from the Church's pastors wherever it occurs. It reveals a kind of disregard for others which endangers the most fundamental principles of a healthy society. The intrinsic dignity of each person must always be respected in word, in action and in law.
But the proper reaction to crimes committed against homosexual persons should not be to claim that the homosexual condition is not disordered.
When such a claim is made and when homosexual activity is consequently condoned, or when civil legislation is introduced to protect behavior to which no one has any conceivable right, neither the Church nor society at large should be surprised when other distorted notions and practices gain ground, and irrational and violent reactions increase.
The blatant hypocrisy between the first and third paragraph sums best the entirety of this document, which is the operative document in the Church to this day on the subject of homosexuality. Yes, you read it right:
1. It's bad if people hurt you;
2. The reason people hurt you is because you are disordered; and
3. If you seek equality, see point #2.
The fact that even Ratzinger has only the references from Genesis and Leviticus and not one word from Jesus himself and concludes his Biblical grounding for such a position regarding homosexuality by citing a few Pauline passages only further highlights both the unsound underpinning of this position but also the lengths to which some have sought to spin silk out of nothing, let alone a sow's ear.
I have to backtrack to the issue of "objective disorder," the phrase used to define homosexuality. Simply, what is meant is that even if it were genetic, it would be a sin. No matter how or what, the homosexual is sinful, by his or her very being. Here again is what JPII says:
"Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder. Therefore special concern and pastoral attention should be directed to those who have this condition, lest they be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not."
Offering less than no wiggle room, the Catholic Church denies not just the humanity but the POSSIBILITY within for all homosexuals. Talk about damned if you do and damned if you don't, John Paul II seemingly and begrudgingly admits that homosexuals are not themselves inherently a sin (with his "particular inclination" lead) only to sucker punch the reader with the following amorphous and over-extended generalization regarding "more or less a strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil."
Being gay means that I am an intrinsically morally evil person if and when (and by default even when I don't) act on my drive towards wanting to have sex with another man. Intrinsic moral evil. Intrinsic. Moral. Evil. Me. Think about tat for a second, huh? To be defined forever as such. Intrinsically morally evil.
One of the things that most bugged me about Alan Keyes in his pursuit of the Senate seat representing the State of Illinois was his lack of originality in his seemingly daily bizarre and outrageous utterances to the press. Remember his comments to the effect that Mary Cheney was a a selfish hedonist? He ripped that sentiment off the Pope:
This does not mean that homosexual persons are not often generous and giving of themselves; but when they engage in homosexual activity they confirm within themselves a disordered sexual inclination which is essentially self-indulgent. (EMPHASIS ADDED)
As in every moral disorder, homosexual activity prevents one's own fulfillment and happiness by acting contrary to the creative wisdom of God. The Church, in rejecting erroneous opinions regarding homosexuality, does not limit but rather defends personal freedom and dignity realistically and authentically understood.
At every opportunity, this "Letter" makes it clear that no matter what the secular and civil world may think, hold, or even know by fact, the Church was not willing to grant to these people an iota of respect. Homosexuals are evil. As the "letter" concludes it remarks:
As in every conversion from evil, the abandonment of homosexual activity will require a profound collaboration of the individual with God's liberating grace.
{snip}...the conformity of the self-denial of homosexual men and women with the sacrifice of the Lord will constitute for them a source of self-giving which will save them from a way of life which constantly threatens to destroy them.
And just in case there was any doubt as to the extent to which John Paul II's church would extend a hand to help pastor and counsel and work with homosexuals as a result of the "Letter?" They covered that base:
All support should be withdrawn from any organizations which seek to undermine the teaching of the Church, which are ambiguous about it, or which neglect it entirely. Such support, or even the semblance of such support, can be gravely misinterpreted. Special attention should be given to the practice of scheduling religious services and to the use of Church buildings by these groups, including the facilities of Catholic schools and colleges. To some, such permission to use Church property may seem only just and charitable; but in reality it is contradictory to the purpose for which these institutions were founded, it is misleading and often scandalous.
In assessing proposed legislation, the Bishops should keep as their uppermost concern the responsibility to defend and promote family life.
I could go on to expound on the 1992 statements of the Pope, but it is as unnerving and hateful as was the 1986 Letter. What I would point out, though, in wrapping up this diary is the last piece cited above "In assessing proposed legislation, Bishops..." No separation of Church and State, no rendering to Caesar his due, just a complete and open invitation to make a mockery of tax-exempt status and play politics with the congregation, and all with the explicit approval of the Holy Father. Remember the Letter was written in English - its principle audience the American Church.
My mom got up and walked out of mass when during the homily the priest played a video from the Bishop of the Diocese urging all the faithful to vote DOWN the Tampa gay rights ordinance.
This would be the same diocese whose proposed method to help close the gap in their books because of the Child Molestation Crimes was to suggest that their benefit package for their employees would be reduced. Yup, to help pay for the sins of their priests, the diocese suggested that the teachers, school workers, etc. should have less health coverage, less retirement funds available and less vacation and sick time. Luckily this hypocrisy hit the media and the diocese retracted.
Update [2005-4-4 14:36:24 by dadanation]:
Having just returned from my doctor's appointments, nothing shocked me more than to have seen this diary on the Recommended List. This is a first for me, as far as I know... I had a moment of being "post shy" right after I actually posted the diary, mostly because I realized I had said far more than I was planning on saying, telling far more than I had intended.
What amazes me is the manner in which the comments read, and by that I mean that on the whole, with the trolling crap notwithstanding, the string of comments and replies reads neither disrespectful in tone nor in complete harmony, which is precisely how I feel with the passing of both John Paul II as well as how I feel about my almost imprinted relationship to the Catholic Church. I should let everyone know that the trolling at the close of the diary (some of the more misinformed, vile and homophobic I've run into in a while here at dkos) should be both expected from this poster and resoundingly ignored. He means to be incendiary.
But his comments also underscore a fundamental hypocrisy. Given that in the Halloween Letter, the biblical foundation upon which the Letter seeks to ground its position is a paltry reference in Genesis, two from Leviticus and then NONE from the Gospels and passing notes to 2 Pauline comments, am I the only one chuckling at the comment by the one trolling poster that when asked about eating shrimp (a Leviticus no-no) this person claims that the OT laws do not matter to the "New Testament types." So an entire Church Law is predicated on not one word from the Son of God, but solely then (since according to him the OT is irrelevant) on two Pauline comments?
The fundamental trap set by the Pope in this Letter which I know I cited already once in the diary, deserves to be repeated:
"Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder. Therefore special concern and pastoral attention should be directed to those who have this condition, lest they be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not."
There is not just a hint of preordained judgement in this section, there is an outright heresy. That by virtue of what may be (or may not be; this Letter will use the ambiguous to its advantage as often as it can) an inante characteristic bestowed upon a child of God, this person, created in the likeness of his/her Creator is already evil. No amount of pennance, or contrition is sufficient to cleanse this individual of the sin that they have not yet committed. Furthermore, in this section, the Pope has relegated a entire community to being nothing more than weak, non-blessed and evil beings, insidious, with a tendency that is ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil. There is nothing salvific offered the homosexual, no cleansing or act which would ever make him or her no longer an objective disorder.
Make no mistake, this Letter makes no equivocation; to be homosexual is to be the embodiement of evil, regardless of the person, no matter the person. Every homosexual, even if living a chaste life, is still -- as the document puts it so bluntly -- someone who has an objective disorder. If you don't see the trap laid by the document, I guess i am not explaining it as clearly as it reads.
Homosexuality, according to this specific document, is an objective disorder. In plain English, evil. No matter if inate or environmetal, it matters little to the judgement preordained by the Chucrh herein -- you are evil. Your inclintions are immoral, aimed at destroying the family and your need to manipulate good people to advocate for your own civil rights is yet another example of your hedonism and selfishness and evil nature. There are no oases in this desert of anger and condemnation. None.
The final point here is that the Pope staked out two very clear options for homosexuals in the Catholic Church:
* Lie about who you are, pretend, go through all the motions, deny your soul and your God the gift of actualizing your being and be miserable; or
* Leave.
Someone someday will have to answer for the galling sense of hubris in this document. But to be told that I am damned and evil before I have ever had the chance to be human and understand my Church, my faith and my God is simply wrong.