tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post7527600110943509141..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: Out and About - May 2009Michael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-65544270729184642502009-06-01T13:33:13.628-05:002009-06-01T13:33:13.628-05:00Hi Terry,
Thanks for stopping by and sharing you...Hi Terry,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing your perspective.<br /><br />I guess the first thing that came to mind when reading your comment was Jesus' reminder to us that whenever two or three are gathered in his name, he is present. I also think that many people in Jesus' time no doubt thought that he and his small band of friends looked "dumb" too!<br /><br />I don't think it's about popularity or the biggest crowds, etc. That's not how I measure "success."<br /><br />Also, our "sidewalk Eucharist" was never meant to "compete" (i.e., take people away from either the Mass inside the Cathedral or with the Rainbow Sash-organized presence at this particular Mass. Rather, it was a relatively spontaneous decision taken on my part earlier that morning to offer a Eucharistic experience to those whom I knew were going to be there so as to support the folks wearing the Rainbow Sash, but who at the same time did not want to accompany them into the Cathedral and experience the spiritual abuse of being denied Communion.<br /><br />I also disagree with you that there is a "huge lack of interest" in a fully inclusive Church. It seems very clear to me that given the huge numbers leaving the "official" Church, many people are not being spiritually nourished there and are thus seeking alternative, more life-giving ways of expressing their Catholicity in response to the Gospel message of justice, inclusion, and compassion.<br /><br />One positive sign of Catholics who are dedicated to staying and working for (in the words of <A HREF="http://www.progressivecatholicvoice.org/enewsletters/index_Oct07.html#LaySynod" REL="nofollow">Lena Woltering</A>) "a church that Jesus would recognize" is the recent formation of the <A HREF="http://thewildreed.blogspot.com/2009/04/something-exciting-and-joyous.html" REL="nofollow">Catholic Coalition for Church Reform</A>.<br /><br />As for the small number of LGBT people willing to participate in events like the Rainbow Sash, I think that this speaks volumes of the reality that many LGBT people have simply given up on the Church. In many ways that's very sad and a great loss for the Church. Yet I also realize that these folks (and many others who have left) need to do what they need to do in order to maintain their spiritual health and their personal integrity.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-77405256658124717992009-06-01T12:24:23.949-05:002009-06-01T12:24:23.949-05:00Michael, Your photo seems to document the fact tha...Michael, Your photo seems to document the fact that the Rainbow crowd gets smaller and older every year. And believe me, I'm not attacking you, but the eucharist on the sidewalk looks pretty dumb. For one thing there is only 3 of you - contrast that with a full Cathedral for every Mass on a Sunday. Doesn't that tell you something? Where are the homosexuals clamoring to participate in these events?<br /><br />I think there is a huge lack of interest for your version of church.Terry Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09819523933502820341noreply@blogger.com