A lot of brouhaha has
been made of the recent election of Pope Francis. There has been a stream of
emails celebrating and lauding the fact that he is the first non-European and
the first Jesuit. While these little tidbits of information are a cause of
celebration for the Church, I believe we should focus our attention on the hard
facts of what really affects the Church today and what role Pope Francis will
play in opening the Church for the spirit of love and change to sweep into it.
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| (Image Taken: Juan Mabromata/AFP/Getty Images) |
Honestly, regarding the choice of cardinals for the pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope
Francis) was far from inspiring. With a history of vocally opposing same-sex
marriage and gay adoption, and stigmatizing the “love” between people, he ought
not to even have been in a position of authority. Such an act is an abuse of
power and an injustice. The demeaning actions of those in authority have wide
reaching repercussions, especially when preached from the pulpit.
The church equates homosexuality with sin,
which goads innocent people with guilt, shame, depression, self-loathing and
often suicidal tendencies. For each vocal condemnation of homosexuality there
are forty times as many acts of violence inflicted upon homosexual and
transsexual people in different parts of the world. The sanction for these acts
inevitably stems from religious intolerance for queer people. The tumult and
ostracism not only cripples queer individuals, but also their families and
their close friends. How can an organization which claims to be built on
the foundation of love be so violent towards its own people? How long will the Church
wield its power through a dynamics of shame and guilt, rather than love? Would
the Church ever accept the onus of violence it inflicts through its intolerance
for queer people?
In an
interview just before his death, the late Jesuit Cardinal
Carlo Maria Martini, a man of dialogue and a good listener, stated that
questions about sexuality and the human body “are important questions for
everyone and sometimes they seem even too important. We have to ask ourselves
if people are still listening to the advice of the Church regarding sexuality. Is
the Church still an authoritative point of reference in this field or is it
just a caricature in the media?” In order to rouse the Church which “is 200
years behind the times” he suggests that the Pope and the bishops choose“12
unconventional people to take on leadership roles.” I pray that these twelve
people would in honesty and humility have a warm and open
dialogue with those whom it considers its sexual outcasts: its own homosexuals,
lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, divorced men and women, and also its
closeted priests and nuns.
Fortunately the spirit of
love has already begun to stir within the Church. At least there is a glimmer
of hope. Though this is an episode in New York at the McQuaid Jesuit High
School, the decision taken by Father Edward Salmon S.J. has takeaways for all
of us anywhere. When it had been rumoured that two gay students would not be
allowed to go on a prom together, an online petition had been formed supporting
them. Father Edward Salmon wrote a letter to “to open up a horizon of hope, to
let a ray of light break through heavy clouds” in the McQuaid family stating
that homosexuals “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity” and
permitted the two boys to attend the prom. Such deeds show exemplary courage by
leaders who strive to build communities of love. We can only hope that we
witness many more such instances of goodwill and love. Perhaps the Holy
Catholic Church needs time to evolve on its position regarding homosexuality.
We can only pray and hope that Pope Francis’ papacy would evolve on its
position on homosexuality.
While many readers would
like to assume that such changes are happening in the US and Europe, and wonder
how it affects places like India, it is imperative that they are aware that
those who tread in silence on the horizons of their society are now beginning
to voice their understanding of themselves and their rights. In societies like
ours, thousands languish in needless guilt and acute self-loathing. Hopefully
in honesty and love, those who have been contemplating suicide because of their
difference, would stop themselves and the thousands who have been silently
suffering would not. Moreover, those queer people who are forced into marriages
against their choice would not do so. If the church has to play a meaningful
role in improving people's lives, it has to embrace the complexities and
challenges in integrating their sexual and spiritual lives. Rather than shutting
its doors on people, it ought to invite its outcastes to share at the banquet
of the Lord. The living examples of the Holy family are those individuals who
live in love, despite the opposition and tumult in their life.
References
Martini, Carlo Maria. “The Final Interview.” TheTablet. 8th
September, 2012.
Amey,Ben. “McQuaid Juniors Allowed to go to Ball Together.” http://rochesterhomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=380002&fb_action_ids=10151322095250872&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%2210151322095250872%22%3A119349794922757}&action_type_map={%2210151322095250872%22%3A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map=[]
