Catholic leaders have discontinued a Mass they offered quietly for more
than 15 years to the gay and lesbian community at a downtown parish- the
weekly Mass at St. Ann Catholic Church was the subject of periodic
complaints to the archdiocese.
But until last Sunday,
the local hierarchy had declined to shut it down.
A handful of local
priests sympathetic to the gay and lesbian community had conducted the
Mass.
On a weekly basis these folks and their heterosexual friends and family,
would filter into the pews, and honor that age-old commandment to keep
holy the Sabbath.
Priests and other Catholics interested in building a
better relationship between the Church and the LGBT community would
attend, setting aside whatever divisions might exist the other six days
of the week, and focus on reconciliation, forgiveness, and a little love
between neighbors, according to Change.org.
Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, the interim head of the archdiocese, told
church officials the Mass conflicted with Catholic teaching because it
was offered for the gay Catholic advocacy group, Dignity San Antonio.
Part of the national organization, DignityUSA, it seeks the acceptance
of alternative lifestyles in the Catholic Church.
"The Mass … continues to send conflicting messages about the Church's
official teaching concerning the proper celebration of the Eucharist and
living an active homosexual lifestyle," Cantú wrote in an Oct. 13
letter to the St. Ann pastor, Father John Restrepo, as reported in the Houston Chronicle.
Advocates for conservative reforms prodded previous San Antonio
Archbishops José Gomez and Patrick Flores to crack down on the Mass,
believing doing nothing was a sign of giving into secular culture.
Advocates for the Mass concede that alternative lifestyles conflict with
Catholic teachings, but they argue this Mass was an act of compassion
for a Catholic community wanting to worship free of prejudice.
Last Sunday was the final Mass for Dignity, which previously laid claim
as the only chapter in the nation to offer a Mass on Catholic grounds.
The same Masses in other cities were rejected by bishops, causing the
chapters to meet at non-Catholic churches and settings or disband
altogether.
The news sent shock waves through the tight-knit community, whose 35
active members have attended a Dignity Mass for at least 24 years at
local parishes.
Gatherings included many same-sex couples with children
at the Mass, which was viewed as a critical link to their Catholic
identity.
“Our faith teaches us that the church is a community of people, not a
building,” local Dignity President Fred Anthony Garza said.
“So we will
continue to meet in a more welcoming environment. There are many people
who believe that the Catholic Church needs to do a better job of
providing care for lesbian and gay people and our families, reported mysanatonio.com.
Advocates for the Mass concede that alternative lifestyles conflict with
Catholic teachings, but they argue this Mass was an act of compassion
for a Catholic community wanting to worship free of prejudice.
Catholic doctrine promotes compassion for gay people but considers any
sexual activity outside of traditional marriage to be a sin and
describes homosexuality as “intrinsically disordered.”
"We need to provide good preaching and good teaching to this community,"
said Father Eddie Bernal, one of several local priests to conduct the
Mass.
"I have met some of the most wonderful people in my life in
Dignity. They've changed my life for the better. And I've learned so
much."
Dignity officials said they will pursue an appeal with the incoming
archbishop, Chicago Bishop Gustavo García-Siller, when he takes over
duties in San Antonio next month.
"The decision was highly personal and unexpected," said Dignity's Garza.
"It meant hurt. It means rejection. It means one more thing is
compromised in our lives."
Change.org is seeking help
from people around the world to join in asking the San Antonio
Archdiocese to respect LGBT catholic voices and allow the mass to
continue for another 15 or more years , they say it's 'time to speak
up."
Advocates with Change.org
said the decision to squash this 15-year-old service only hurts the
community.
Instead of focusing on labeling LGBT people as outcasts, they
say to let the Archdiocese know that so many more important issues --
poverty, hunger, homelessness, education, health care -- deserve prime
attention, over efforts to politicize homosexuality.
SIC: SFN/USA