"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them" (Gen.1:27)

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

"Let's Talk About Homosexuality"

Fortunate Families has begun an education series entitled, "Let's Talk About Homosexuality." The eight week series may be found under Education Programs on their Web site. A presentation on a new topic in the series will be posted weekly. Although I have not yet had the chance to read this first week's presentation, I am encouraged that there are groups like this that are doing concrete things to encourage diaglogue and conversation.

Perhaps the parents and other family members of gay and lesbian Catholics are in the ones in the best position to facilitate such a conversation. Popes and bishops often seem so entrenched in merely repeating the old "teachings" that do nothing but drive away faithful gay men and women; and gay Catholics often feel so very hurt and disillusioned by how they've been treated, they walk away from the closed Church door thinking, "things will never change, so why bother?!"

Perhaps gay people need to call upon our parents, sisters, brothers, and friends more so than we have in the past to be not only our quiet supporters who "love us as individuals," but also our advocates in small ways and large.