The Bishops’ “Guidelines”: A Parent’s Response

I’ve long maintained that the most effective advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are these same people's parents and family members.

Whereas those opposed to the reality of LGBT people and rights frequently dismiss people like myself as “gay activists” and “militant secularists” determined to promote an anti-family “gay agenda”, it’s much more difficult for them to dismiss the loving and affirming words and actions of parents of LGBT people.

I was once again reminded of this when my friend Georgia had a letter published in the November 17 edition of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (see below). This letter was in response to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recent document, Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination.

Georgia and her husband Conrad are the proud and happy parents of two children – one gay and one straight. Georgia and Conrad are also members of Catholic Rainbow Parents.

_________________________

Learn to Accept

The Catholic bishops’ latest regressive statement on homosexuality is a sad commentary. It betrays unprecedented levels of institutionalized self-rejection. It is no secret to Catholics or non-Catholics that significant numbers of Catholic priests, bishops and beyond are homosexual persons. Their persistent inability to fundamentally love themselves lies at the heart of their twisted policies regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) persons.

But we will not allow their problem to become our problem. We Catholic families of well-adjusted, functional, out-of-the-closet GLBT adult children and grandchildren reject out of hand the bishops’ notion that any human person is automatically called to celibacy and silence by virtue of his or her sexual orientation.

We know from real-life experience that homosexuality is a normal variation of the God-given gift of human sexuality. It is a gift that our adult children are called to express lovingly and responsibly.

We hope that the church can eventually learn to love and accept itself on this issue, and be open to the wisdom and love we have gained as parents of GLBT persons.

Georgia Mueller


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Making Sure All Families Matter
Catholic Rainbow (Australian) Parents
Grandma Knows Best
When "Guidelines" Lack Guidance
Be Not Afraid: You Can Be Happy and Gay.

For more Catholic responses to Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination, visit the CPCSM website.