Rainbow Sash Movement (Gay/Lesbian Catholics) Call on Catholic Bishops to Enter into Common Ground Dialogue

    WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- As our Catholic Community gathers to
 celebrate the Holy Eucharist in the Nations Capital, at the Basilica of the
 Immaculate Conception on November 14, 2005 at 5 PM, the Rainbow Sash
 Movement's delegation will be present wearing Rainbow Sashes. The Sash will
 identify us as Gay/Lesbian believers. This Plenary Liturgy will begin the
 annual fall meeting of US Catholic Bishops. It is unfortunate that Cardinal
 Francis George of Chicago and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, DC
 have threatened to deny us Communion. We denounce such a threat, and challenge
 such behavior among Catholics.
     We are calling on the Bishops to enter into a common ground dialogue. With
 each passing day the atmosphere between Gay/Lesbian Catholics and the Bishops
 is being poisoned by clueless statements that are emanating from the Vatican.
 Threats to deny gay men ordination are an attempt to deflect the spotlight
 from the real enablers of the sex abuse scandal. There appears to be a growing
 inability among the bishops to engage in honest, civilized discourse on the
 common ground of Faith.
     Instead of compromise and moderation, our bishops engage in bullying. They
 use the Eucharistic meal not as the sign of God's invitation to all people to
 become one, but as a weapon to beat those who disagree with them over the
 head. Thinly veiled threats are issued against those who don't toe the line.
     Those who find themselves in disagreement with the bishops are often
 demonized, marginalized and refused Communion. The actions of the Bishops in
 the current unfolding child sexual abuse scandal, has splintered Church unity.
 There appears to be an attempt to corral Catholics into a false sense of unity
 and knee jerk fundamentalism in order not to deal with the systemic corruption
 of the Church.
     The bishops need to ask themselves what can bring Catholics together as a
 people. What kind of thoughtful response is possible in the face of a
 fundamental belief in one's own inerrancy? Such a position leaves no room for
 God or discernment. St. Paul said "now we see as through a glass darkly ... "
 This simply means we cannot have complete certitude regarding God's will. It
 is so easy to condemn and more difficult to love. How can we love God, whom we
 have not seen, yet hate our neighbor, whom we have seen because he or she is
 of the wrong sexual orientation? We encourage other Catholics of Good will to
 stand with us. This is not about protest it is about love of Church.
 
     To find more about the Rainbow Sash Movement please visit our web site
 http://www.rainbowsashmovement.com , or call 312-266-0182.
 
 

SOURCE  Rainbow Sash Movement