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