Quote of the Day

. . . Those who possess a sacramental view of the world often realize that any human person or relationship that brings love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, generosity or faithfulness into the world is a sign of God's grace. Perhaps this is the reason so many Catholics defend marriage equality: They have recognized these graces can come forth as much through same-sex couples as heterosexual couples. Those who have a Catholic imagination recognize that a couple's ability to enter into a marriage commitment is not contingent on their anatomies, but on the depth, strength and fruitfulness of their bond.

Given their sacramental view of the world, it is little wonder that so many Catholics dissent from the bishops' disparaging characterization of LGBT persons and same-sex relationships. The hierarchy's position simply does not do justice to the power of the Catholic imagination.

So there is a deep irony in Archbishop Myers' [recent] demand that Catholics who support marriage equality should refrain from the sacrament of the Eucharist. Because it is precisely the Catholic sacramental view of the world that helps us to see the goodness and holiness that can come from LGBT persons and same-sex unions.

– Jamie L. Manson
"Why Do So Many Catholics Support Marriage Equality?
Blame the Catholic Imagination"
National Catholic Reporter
October 10, 2012

Related Off-site Links:
Catholic Imagination and the Gay Marriage Vote Leads to Pure Speculation – Colleen Kochivar-Baker (Enlightened Catholicism, October 8, 2012).
The Catholic Imagination and Marriage Equality – Francis DeBernardo (Bonding 2.0, October 9, 2012).
What My Catholic Faith Has Taught Me – Dan McGrath (God's Politics, September 30, 2012).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Quote of the Day – July 31, 2012
Catholic Attitudes on Gay and Lesbian Issues: An Overview
Jonathan Capehart: "Catholics Lead the Way on Same-Sex Marriage"
Responding to Bishop Tobin's Remarks on Gay Marriage
Beyond the Hierarchy: The Blossoming of Liberating Catholic Insights on Sexuality (Part 1)
Beyond the Hierarchy (Part 2)
Beyond the Hierarchy (Part 3)
Beyond the Hierarchy (Part 4)
Beyond the Hierarchy (Part 5)
Beyond the Hierarchy (Part 6)
The Catholic Thing
The Inherent Sensuality of Roman Catholicism
Rosemary Haughton and the "True Catholic Enterprise"
What It Means to Be Catholic

See also:
Catholics More Supportive of Gay Rights Than General Public, Other Christians – Michael Sean Winters (National Catholic Reporter, March 22, 2011 – via The Progressive Catholic Voice).
Most U.S. Catholics Back Civil Marriage for Gays – Lou Chibbaro Jr. (The Washington Blade, March 31, 2011).
U.S. Catholics Break with Church Hierarchy on Gay Relationships – Cathy Lynn Grossman (USA Today, March 23, 2011).

Image: Kristen Solberg.