What do we make of Truth and Tradition?

How do we find truth in this world when we are bombarded by so many “versions” of it? Is your religion "true for you but not for me?" Is it all relative? Maybe Truth is beyond anything we can imagine. Maybe what appear to be contradictions or impossibilities might have explanations that we can’t grasp in this life. But I don't think it is too complex to grasp. I think, rather, it involves a simplicity that we are not willing to accept or that our minds and hearts are too distracted to welcome. Jesus said “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22: 37-40).  The essence of those commandments is very simple and just as He says, it is what all the teaching boils down to. If we could master just these two simple tasks, we would be saints. We wouldn’t need any other rule or teaching. 

So why so many rules? Maybe its because we are not willing to accept the simplicity and the reality of the task of giving our whole heart to love. It is too hard for us to follow because it requires too much goodness. It requires a singleness of heart. So we need a rule for every situation and an explanation for everything to help us. Unfortunately sometimes it just makes things more complicated. Since we do not have enough love in our hearts to resist the temptation to see ourselves as the center of the universe, we need to have a specific rule about stealing, for example. Not only that, we need an explanation about what counts as stealing. The list of rules and guidelines and explanations is endless and it almost seems ridiculous.

For some people, all these rules and traditions get in the way of focusing ones heart on love above all. It may just create further distraction. 

But I think they can be quite helpful for many people, myself included. For me its a trusty moral compass. While at times my intuition leads me somewhere off the map, at least I can be reminded of which direction is which. Without specific guidelines it could become extremely easy for us to justify something selfish we did or want to do. If there is no clear rule against this very specific thing that is tempting us, then we can come up with almost any excuse to make it seem acceptable in our eyes, even though we don’t realize we are actually deluding ourselves. Most moral guidelines that are part of a legitimate religious tradition (one which has been the tradition of saints and sages) have passed the test of time and passed through the wisdom of good people who knew how to follow the commandment to love in the fullest way. For example, not only did the good spiritual people of the past realize that it was beneficial to pray and/or meditate in order to cultivate love in one’s heart, but also some taught that one should not neglect this practice even for a day. Thus it became a guideline and in some cases, a rule.

What about the Catholic teaching, which states “homosexual acts” are wrong? Is this something that is “true for you but not for me”? This is a teaching that many Saints have agreed to be true (such as Aquinas, Augustine, and even Hildegard of Bingen, a female Saint who challenged the authorities of her time and has been beloved by many feminists). Are we more morally upright than they? I think those who passed on this teaching were guided by a truth that may not be as apparent to us in our times. Founded in the truth that we must love our neighbor, the specific rule was formed that we must be truly united in love and made into a family in order to view our sexual partner as more than just an object for our pleasure. Currently and throughout the history of the Catholic Church and its Jewish predecessors, this could only be done through the sacrament of marriage between man and woman. Will this teaching change now that it is clear that gay and lesbian couples can be committed and faithful partners? I don’t know. If it does, it probably won’t be for a long time, until a new understanding can pass the test of time and the wisdom of current and future Saints.  For gay Catholics today, deciding whether to express oneself sexually is a matter of balancing Catholic wisdom and Tradition with one’s gut feelings. And while Tradition is important and should not be shrugged aside, your own heart and conscience should be primary above any teaching of the Magisterium. Even the Pope has said so!

When it comes to the “truths” we meet in this life, whether they be within our own experiences and tradition or someone else’s, the fact is there is only one Truth. That is the Truth of love.  We must at all times be guided by this simple commandment to love. If we can trust the teachings of the Saints and Sages who have gone before us, it will be essential for us to follow their advice and adhere to the teachings of the Tradition they helped shape. If we believe that times are changing or that God is calling us to a different path, we have to follow our hearts, but we must at all times beware of our own justifications. I think the most important thing is that the word we spread when we preach the truth is that Truth is Love and nothing else. If our teaching is anything other than love it amounts to nothing.  This is the Law and the Prophets.

A destination that terrifies you - Wait! It gets better

I am currently reading the book Virtually Normal by Andrew Sullivan. I was struck by this analogy to the experience of discovering you are gay as a young person when growing up in a not-so-accepting environment:

“I could no longer hide from the explicit desire… an undeniable and powerful attraction to other boys and men. And of course, with all of this came an exquisite and inextricable sense of exhilaration as well as disgust. It was like getting on a plane for the first time, being exhilarated by its ascent, gazing with wonder out of the window, seeing the clouds bob beneath you, but then suddenly realizing that you are on the wrong flight, going to a destination which terrifies you, surrounded by people who inwardly appall you. And you cannot get off. You are filled with a lurching panic. You are one of them.” (Virtually Normal pg. 10-11)

Unlike so many troubled gay teenagers out there, I grew up in a very accepting environment. My family is not Catholic but rather liberal Methodist. But even for me, I recognize this feeling that Sullivan describes here. Even if you know the people around you will be accepting of you, there is still this feeling that comes over you when you begin to discover that you are different. The panic comes over you when you start realizing what this means. My life is going to be very different than what I thought, what my family and friends expect, and what society considers normal. And as you begin to accept it within, the overwhelming implications dawn on you: How will I tell people? Will I be alone? Will people judge me or persecute me? It’s very scary. I imagine it is much scarier when you live in an environment that is not accepting.

As I write these things, I am thinking of the current “It gets better” campaign. There is really no way to avoid the pain that comes with realizing you are gay unless you’re really lucky and somehow it doesn’t affect you. You just have to trust that it really does get better. How? You will be surprised by how well you face each obstacle. And once you’re past one obstacle, you will be stronger and wiser and better able to overcome the next. The panic and fear subsides. At first you feel alone, like there is no one to confide in. But later on you make contacts with people who you can relate to and who have lots of great advice and who bring happiness into your life. 

-SCOUT

Letter to a Young Gay Catholic

In case you haven't read it, here is James Alison's "Letter to a Young Gay Catholic." What a beautiful piece. Tell us what you think in the comments.


Letter to a Young Gay Catholic


http://www.jamesalison.co.uk/texts/eng52.html

Should Catholics support "gay history" in public school?

A US News poll asks: "Should Children Learn Gay History in Public School?"
California recently passed a law that will require school curricula to include the contributions of LGBT people in history in the same way that history classes are required to discuss the roles of African-Americans, Native Americans and other minority groups.

Unfortunately there are some Catholics (along with most conservatives) who oppose this law because they fear children will be exposed to morally questionable material and there will be no policy for parents to opt-out.

The California Catholic Conference posted this message from Archbishop José H. Gomez. In it he says:

"...Senate Bill 48, would require school textbooks to teach about the sexual orientations of figures in American history. This amounts to the government rewriting history books based on pressure-group politics. It is also another example of the government interfering with parents’ rights to be their children’s primary educators."

This law is about including important and accurate historical information regarding the contributions of LGBT people in society. Are those who oppose the law afraid that kids will learn there were actually some gay people who have made a positive difference in the world? The fear is probably that kids exposed to this information will think being gay is OK and therefore will have no problem engaging in homosexual activity if they so desire.
The fact is, the new law has nothing to do with the morality of homosexual activity. If some Catholics are afraid of pro-gay indoctrination in schools, they can read this section from the new law's text:

"A governing board shall not adopt any instructional
materials for use in the schools that, in its determination, contain:

   (a) Any matter reflecting adversely upon persons on the basis of
race or ethnicity, gender, religion, disability, nationality, sexual
orientation, occupation, or because of a characteristic listed in
Section 220.
   (b) Any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda
contrary to law.   (Source: http://e-lobbyist.com/gaits/text/345035)

Note the last part: No "doctrine or propaganda."

The real issue here is that there are young people who go through all 12 grades who hear not one word mentioned about LGBT people. For some of them, all they know is the hateful slurs they hear in the hallways or from their families.

Check this out:

"While LGBT people represent a sizable and important part of the state, mention of the LGBT community’s role in California history and contemporary society is virtually non-existent in textbooks and other school instructional materials.
In schools where LGBT people are included in classroom discussions, results have been positive. The Preventing School Harassment Survey in California found that schools where the majority of youth report having learned about LGBT people in the curriculum, only 11% of students report being bullied, but that number more than doubles to 24% if the majority of students in a school say they haven’t learned about LGBT people.iii
Furthermore, the 2003 Preventing School Harassment Survey found that students who have learned about LGBT people at school were more likely to feel they have a voice at school and make positive contributions at school." -(Source: http://www.eqca.org/site/pp.asp?c=kuLRJ9MRKrH&b=6451639 bottom of page, "Resources": SB 48 Fact Sheet (.pdf))

Catholics ought to support this law. Section 2358  of The Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

"They (homosexuals) must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition."

Even if you believe homosexual sex is wrong, the California law is not about that. It is about compassion and respect. The only "rewriting of textbooks" that's going to happen is going to be the adding-in of an accurate history which has been excluded due to the fear and discrimination that our society has against homosexuals.
I am very sorry that there are Catholic parents worried about their kids learning some LGBT history.  Learning this history will not affect the sexuality of your child.
This history is not about promoting gay sex either. It is about people who have shaped history, who were gay, and they deserve to be included in the textbooks.

-SCOUT

Catholic Charities USA partners with Gay Catholic Tom Sheridan

A gay Catholic, Tom Sheridan, founder of the Sheridan Group was sought out by Catholic Charities USA to team up in the fight against poverty.
Both organizations say the partnership is about fighting poverty and has nothing to do with gay activism. Some say however that the partnership goes to show that Catholic Charities USA is still the most supportive of the LGBT community than any other Catholic organization.

  Here's the article from Catholic Culture:

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=11040

The direction of change is one-way

 The Catholic Church will continue its resistance against the so-called “homosexual agenda” for perhaps a long while to come. But where is the future headed? Though there will be set-backs at times for those pursuing gay-marriage rights, adoption rights, and anti-discrimination laws, the push for change is headed in one direction only: forward in favor of the LGBT community.

The Catholic Church, grounded in deep traditional values, exists in a society of constant change and growth. The benefit of such an institution and spiritual home is that it doesn’t follow the whims and fads of a changing society. Instead it remains firm ground to support the spiritual and moral life of the faithful.

But nothing can stop the forward momentum of change when it is led by people who need that change and will keep fighting until they get it. Gays and lesbians want not to suffer any longer. They want their committed relationships honored and recognized at the same level as straight couples because their love is just as strong. They want equal opportunity to adopt because their vocation to be parents is just as real.

But many Catholics believe the moral obligation thus far is to resist, until the leaders of the Church say otherwise.

Will they say otherwise someday?

As Catholics we believe that the Truth is not something that can just change. But I don’t believe the “Truth” on these matters has been fully understood just yet.

I think the Catholic Church will ever so slowly move along toward a greater understanding of the LGBT inner experience as more gay Catholics speak up – not in a hostile manner but with love and respect for the Church. As time passes and society in general becomes more comfortable with LGBT people, the Church will also become more sensitive to our needs.

-SCOUT