Does Size Count?

When it comes to truth, size and power do not always make it so. I'm sure that Pope John Paul II would say that being a sexually active homosexual is incompatible with catholic doctrine. The Roman Catholic position is conflicted. They say they recognize that there are gay people in the church, but they also say that they must not have sex. Sex outside of marriage is sin, and marriage is limited to between a man and a woman. Therefore, to fully participate in the Roman church, one must refrain from sex.

The Roman Catholic Church also holds that sexual minorities are "sick" and in need of treatment to be set free of the illness. The church sponsors treatment centers that reprogram men who are tempted to have sex with other men so that they will no longer be gay. Many gay men have sought to be priests in the church, because it is a way of excusing themselves from marrying women in order to keep their sexual orientation a secret from their families. Yet, they enter a life of constant struggle and guilt because they are also expected to remain celibate. Naturally, not many, if any, can truly meet this standard perfectly.

All of these ideas come from old antiquated flawed concepts about natural law and original sin. Some in the Roman Catholic Church still think that sex is evil, homosexual and heterosexual, and marriage is only a means to justify giving in to our desires so it will not count as sin. Sex is not the original sin of humanity, however. Pride, shown in the desire to be like God, is the original sin of the book of Genesis, not sex. The Bible doesn’t teach that sex itself is sin. In reality, God made humanity to enjoy the pleasure of sexuality and certainly would not condemn one for participating in that which is given to us as a gift of God. Sexual activity only becomes sin when it exploits and abuses others, or is based strictly on selfish gratification. There are many examples in nature of the wide variety of sexual natures that God has designed. Human beings are no exception. Thank God that part of the beauty of creation is sexual diversity. Contrary to the Vatican, we are not to fear this diversity but appreciate and be thankful for it.

Thank God the Roman Catholic Church is not the only one. An Internet search will find a wide variety of independent catholic churches that are not subservient to Rome, and do not always follow the same doctrines as John Paul II. Some of these churches are more conservative than Rome. They may perform their masses in Latin or hold a very strict view of sexuality. Others, take a more liberal and honest view of sex, much like that I have explained above.

A recently released pastoral letter reads, "The National Conference of Independent Catholic Bishops finds the use of rhetoric such as "our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage," and "our government should respect every person and protect the institution of marriage," as divisive words, carefully chosen by a man (George Bush) bent on creating an atmosphere of fear and intolerance. [Gay men and lesbian women] share the same desires of most Americans, and indeed of most citizens of the planet, to protect the sanctity and preserve the integrity of the institution of marriage." There are many Catholic Bishops independent of Rome who support sexual minorities.

The Canons of the Ecumenical Catholic Church uphold marriage as a sacrament between two Christians, regardless of whether they are male or female. The Archbishop of this denomination, Mark Steven Shirilau sent a letter to Pope John Paul II after the Pope had condemned the Episcopal Church, a part of the Anglican Communion, for consecrating an openly gay bishop. Archbishop Shirilau wrote, "In truth, the election of Gene Robinson leads the whole Catholic Church forward in God's love. You, not the Anglican Church, are the one that holds back our Lord's command. Please rethink your views against gay marriage and contraception and lead the Church boldly forward into the third millennium." The Roman Catholic Church has lost touch with the reality of life, but there are still many options for liturgical and catholic Christians who are gay. God does not condemn gays and lesbians neither should the church. It seems the smaller groups have often learned this truth, while the larger and more powerful ones choose to ignore the acceptance of all people. I'll stand with the smaller groups with integrity any day. It’s not always the size that truly counts.

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Robert Buchanan is a minister of the Ecumenical Catholic Church and a psychotherapist who lives with his partner of many years in Durham North Carolina.  He is the author of  Love, Honor & Respect: How to Confront Homosexual Bias in Christian Culture and serves as director of the Institute for Inclusive Christianity. a training program for ministers and clergy who do not discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, or because of financial, familial or social status.  Additional resources for inclusive Christians can be found at our Resources page.

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Last modified: 07/09/05