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Monsignor Harry J. Byrne, JCD * * * Comment/contact:larchstar@aol.com

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Location: 3103 Arlington Avenue,, Bronx, NY 10463, United States

July 28, 2007

GAY AND CATHOLIC

Cecilia, a friend of mine, is a vivacious Italian- American woman of forty. Her marriage to Marco, born in Malta, has produced two daughters, Rosa and Eleanora. They seem, in disposition and attractiveness, to be two distillations of their mother. Cecilia, among other activities in church affairs, gives reflections and meditations during Lent but in the hall of a neighboring parish. Her talks are well attended. Her own pastor does not favor such a role for a woman.

Chatting with Cecilia one day, I asked how things were going in her own parish. “Oh,” she replied, “I’ve switched to another parish. You know my brother, Sam, the gay one. He has been with his partner for over twenty years. Sam is very devout. He attends Mass regularly and is a member of the Padre Pio Association. He receives Communion.”

“Rosa and I and Sam,” she continued, “attended Mass together one Sunday. In his homily, the priest excoriated homosexuals on a number of accounts. As he warmed in his fervor, My daughter leaned over towards me. ‘Let’s get out of here,’ she said. ‘I can’t take this.’ I began to gather my things together and started to get up. Sam, my brother, my gay brother, caught my arm. ‘No,’ he said. ‘we’re staying. This is the Church of Jesus, not the church of that priest.’ We stayed for that Mass. But we soon enrolled in another parish.”

Comments, please!

2 Comments:

Blogger Jimmy Mac said...

There are untold many of us who are still Catholic as well as gay & lesbian. I, for one, did not choose martyrdom as my “cross to bear.” I currently attend a parish that is open and conducive to my spiritual nourishment and development. I had to leave a lot of “frogs” before I found this place. It it would change tomorrow, I’d be history.

My faith is based on the love of God, not membership in a church or parish that does not welcome me. If I have to choose between Catholicism and sanity …. you can guess the answer by yourself.

July 31, 2007 at 4:37 PM  
Blogger Lucita said...

Thank you Msgr. Byrne and jimmy mac for addressing this issue. My daughter left the Church for a similar experience - our parish priest denounced gays & lesbians as not 'good Catholics and/or Christians'.
Although this is not my choice of lifestyle, I can understand the relationships. I don't think God is judging people based on being gay or not. I beleive that God invites anyone to his house and to heaven as long as they believe and have strong faith and keep the commandements. There is no commandement that states - Gays not welcome.

August 2, 2007 at 9:37 AM  

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