A Body With Many Parts

Democracy was born in the modern age out of the desire for religious freedom. One of the primary tenants of democracy is respecting the dignity of others and equality for all humanity. The history of the United States indicates that pilgrims who came to the new world frequently did so in order to escape the "established" state churches of Europe. Since they held minority beliefs they were persecuted and sought freedom in a new land. In our time, the European Union has included the principle of equality and human rights in its treaty among her member nations, including equality for gays and lesbians. The new constitution of the European Union makes this principle a core value of the countries that make up the EU and, if ratified, could go a long way in guaranteeing total equality for sexual minorities in Europe.

Poland joined the European Union recently, and signed a treaty guaranteeing equality for all. In spite of this, they have not overcome the bondage of the Roman Catholic Church when it comes to prejudice against sexual minorities.  The Mayor of Warsaw banned Gay Pride events because he claimed it conflicted with a Catholic Holiday. This is a direct violation of the treaty with the remaining member states of the European Union. With Poland being the home country of Pope John Paul II his influence runs very deep. The Roman Church continually attempts to disrupt the political processes of any government that tries to grant equality to gays and lesbians. This happens in the United States in the threat to deny sacraments to politicians who take stands that do not agree with the church.

The holiday that the Pride march in Poland may have coincided with is the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is a day to honor and celebrate the Body of Christ. It is a day to remember the Christian belief that Jesus gave his body as a substitute for the sins of all the people of the world. There is no place in Scripture or rational theology that would claim that the sacrifice was only intended for heterosexuals. In fact Jesus said that this good news was for the entire world and all creatures. Homosexuals are included, not excluded, according to Jesus.

The Feast of Corpus Christi is also a day to remember that we are all a part of Christ’s mystical body. Believers are to reflect Jesus in our daily lives and actions. The body of Christ is made up of people who are diverse, unique and special. Each person in the body of Christ today has a contribution to make that should be appreciated. ^"Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body." (I Corinthians 12:14-20)

For some reason the Roman church and the fundamentalists in America and other places do not want to do anything that would give the slightest hint that sexual minorities exist in any legitimate way. What the governments may not recognize is that every time they deny sexual minorities legitimacy, they promote an environment that leads to hate and violence. If the Mayor of Warsaw and the President of the United States denigrate gays and lesbians they create an atmosphere of hate and intolerance. This environment leads to ever-increasing problems and possible violence. Democracies are supposed to defend minorities and provide justice for all, but obviously not when one religion wants to be promoted above another.

What those who attack gays, lesbians and other sexual minorities should remember is that we are all part of the Corpus Christi, the body of Christ. Attacking weaker members of the body simply harms the whole body no matter how you look at it. Jesus said it clearly, "'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 12:40) It is amazing the number of times so-called good Christians have called Jesus, their Savior, "faggot" or "dyke" It is also amazing to remember that "whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me." (Matthew 12:45) When the church fails to defend her gay and lesbian members, she is failing to defend Jesus. Christian sexual minorities are part of Christ’s body, whether others like it or not.

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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