Quote of the Day

[Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson] can think and say whatever he likes. He has freedom of thought, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. I firmly defend his right to say what he said.

I also firmly defend the rights of others to respond, whether to criticize his choice of words or the theological basis of his claims.

When you speak publicly, you are inviting everyone who hears you to respond. Different responses carry different weights. It’s a fact of life, though, that actions have consequences. So if you speak publicly and people respond negatively, that’s a consequence. If you speak publicly and your employer terminates you, that’s a consequence, too. Freedom of religion and freedom of speech remain intact. It’s simply cause and effect.

When you say something publicly that is as vile, crude, and offensive as what Robertson said, you probably ought to expect strong and swift reactions. I defend your right to think it and say it, but you have to put your big boy pants on and deal with the consequences.

– Thom Curnutte

"In Case You Didn’t See It Today"
Faith in the 21st Century: Musings of a Millennial on Faith, Life, and Spirituality
December 19, 2013

Related Off-site Links:
Duck Dynasty Star Phil Robertson Makes Anti-Gay Remarks, Says Being Gay is a Sin – Cavan Sieczkowski (The Huffington Post, December 18, 2013).
Duck Dynasty Star Rants Against 'Homosexual Behavior,' 'Islamists,' and 'Shintos' in Epic Interview – Hunter Walker (TPM, December 18, 2013).
Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Suspended for Comments About Gays – Chicago Tribune (December 19, 2013).
Duck Dynasty Family and Fans React to Phil Robertson's Hiatus After Offensive Comments – John Rogers (Associated Press via Huffington Post, December 19, 20123).
Sarah Palin, NOM, and Westboro Baptist: Right Wing Furious Over Duck Dynasty Dad’s Suspension – David Badash (The New Civil Rights Movement, December 19, 2013).
Conservative Christians Rally to Phil Robertson's Support – Sarah Pulliam Bailey (The Huffington Post, December 19, 2013).
The Creator of Duck Dynasty Played a Gay Porn Star in the Movie The Fluffer – Kate Arthur (BuzzFeed, December 19, 2013).
Five Things to Remember When Discussing This Duck Dynasty Mess – The Boeskool (December 19, 2013).

UPDATES: There Are Two Americas, and One is Better Than the Other – Josh Barro (Business Insider, December 20, 2013).
Phil Robertson's America – Ta-Nehisi Coates (The Atlantic, December 20, 2013).
Duck Dynasty Fallout: GLAAD Reeling from Biggest Backlash in Years, Says Rep – Jethro Nededog (Yahoo! TV, December 20, 2013).
Dear Phil Robertson, You Can't Group Homosexuality With Terrorism and Bestiality and Then Use the Bible as Your Defense – Michelangelo Signorile (HuffPost Gay Voices, December 20, 2013).
Duck Dynasty and Quackery – Charles M. Blow (New York Times, December 20, 2013).
When You Defend Phil Robertson, Here's What You're Really Defending – Josh Barro (Business Insider, December 21, 2013).
Let Me Explain ‘Freedom of Speech’ to All the Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty Supporters – Allen Clifton (LGBTQ Nation, December 22, 2013).
Duck Dynasty Fans Are Sending Me Ridiculous Hate Mail – Josh Barro (Business Insider, December 22, 2013).

The Theology of Gay Pride

As I've done previously (see here, here and here), I'll be sharing throughout June a series of informed and insightful writings to mark Gay Pride Month . . . or, as I now like to think of it, Queer Appreciation Month.

I begin this year's series with a wonderful piece on the theology of gay pride written by fellow Catholic blogger Thom. It's a thoughtful reflection that Thom originally wrote last year for his must-read blog Faith in the 21st Century. Enjoy!

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An Introduction to the Theology of Gay Pride

By Thom, OFS

June is Gay Pride Month.

Gay Pride is, simply, being proud of being gay, being proud of who God created you to be, recognizing the gift of human diversity, and that one's sexual orientation is inherent, not "learned."

June came to be recognized as Pride Month because the Stonewall uprising ("Stonewall riots") took place in June 1969.

Some Christians, who for various reasons do not like "Gay Pride," will often point to the use of the word "pride," and say that pride is a sin.

Pride is, of course, a sin. But sinful pride is not what is referred to by "Gay Pride."

Sinful pride is the desire to be more important or attractive than others, not recognizing the good work of others, and loving oneself excessively. Dante, when speaking of the "seven deadly sins," says of the sin of pride that it is "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one's neighbor."

If we consider pride (superbia) as vice, its corresponding virtue is humility (humilitas).

Gay Pride, then, is not sinful pride. This sort of pride is the antonym of shame, not humility. Shame has been used for centuries to control and oppress gay people. Therefore "Gay Pride" is liberation from that oppression, and not the vice of superbia.

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.

[– from Psalm 139]

NEXT: Bi God, Somebody Listen


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Dan Furmansky: "Why We Have Pride"
LGBT Catholics Celebrate Being "Wonderfully Made"
Gay Pride: A Celebration of True Humility
A Message to a Young Man of Integrity

Image: Michael J. Bayly (March 2012).

Message to a Young Man of Integrity

Thom is a young man in Ohio who maintains a blogsite entitled Ad Dominum.

I visit Thom’s site fairly regularly and have discovered that we have certain things in common. For instance, we are both drawn to the beauty of nature, are involved in anti-war activism and other forms of progressive social activism, and have the same taste in T-shirt messages! He comes across as someone I could definitely sit down with and have a long and interesting conversation over a cold beer (or a glass of good Australian wine!).

As Catholics, Thom and I also struggle with our Church’s stance on gay sexuality and its expression. Yesterday, Thom posted a very personal reflection about his journey from the Apostolic Pentecostal church of his childhood and youth, through his time with paganism, to his discovery and current involvement with Roman Catholicism. I greatly admire Thom’s brave sharing of what has clearly been, at times, a very difficult and painful struggle.

I was particularly moved by the following experience that he shares:

Countless, tearful hours were spent in secret trying to “pray away the gay.” For anyone who has ever engaged in this spiritual activity, you know that it is an exercise in futility.

Thom also talks about the fiery evangelical preacher from his youth who would “preach and scream . . . while leaping about in the front of the church.”

“It didn’t matter what he happened to be preaching about,” recalls Thom, “he always managed to sneak in ‘the gays.’ Or, rather, ‘faggots.’”

One thing I’ll say about the Roman Catholic Church’s anti-gay rhetoric, it’s certainly more sophisticated (what with its terms like “intrinsically disordered” and its appeals to “Natural Law”) than the crap Tom had to endure. Still, it’s crap nonetheless. It’s also demeaning, disrespectful, and potentially demoralizing - and Catholics such as Tom, myself, and countless others know it. Furthermore, we have to live with the pain of this awareness everyday. Indeed, contrary to what the Vatican insists, it is not our “same-sex attractions” that is the “cross” we bear, but the pain and oppressiveness of the Church’s intellectually dishonest and morally bankrupt teachings on homosexuality.

I posted a lengthy response to Thom’s June 3 reflection on his blog, a reflection that he aptly entitled “Integrity.” Yet because of the limitations of Blogger with regards to length of comments and number of links that can be included in a response, not everything I wanted to say and share came through. So I’m posting it here on The Wild Reed – for Thom and for all gay Catholics struggling with the Church’s latest shift to a reactionary and exclusionary position with regards to human sexuality – and homosexuality in particular.

_____________________________________

Dear Thom,

You certainly are a man of integrity.

Thank you for sharing your journey (your ongoing journey) with such honesty. It’s a powerful testimony and will, I’m sure, inspire and be of help to others.

I’ve thought, prayed, and written about many of the issues and questions that you raise. If it’s all right with you, I’d like to share a few of my thoughts and direct you to some of my writings.

Much of what you reflect upon and write about is to do with what it means to be Catholic. I appreciate your questioning and exploration of this important question. I also appreciate your willingness to address the difficult issues around sexuality and spirituality. You are correct in your observation that the institutional Church is fixated on sex. I agree with author Eugene Kennedy when he says that this obsession is rooted in the Church’s own “unhealed wound” around sexuality.

The “Theology of the Body,” that Clayton [of The Weight of Glory blogsite] recommends is certainly something of which you need to be aware. It gives a good insight into the current thinking of the institutional Church on the issue of sexuality. Accordingly, it is extremely limited and non-reflective of many people’s experience of the sacred in their lives and relationships. Personally, I prefer the “Wisdom of the Body” as explored and articulated by folks like Evelyn and James Whitehead and Joan Timmerman.

Also, theologian Luke Timothy Johnson has written a helpful critique of the Theology of the Body. It can be found here. You also may find the writings of Joseph O’Leary of interest, as well as Daniel Helminiak’s thoughts on the “non-negotiables of human sexuality”.

Clayton, of course, is correct when he says that “there is a place for every human heart in the Church established by Christ.” Leaving aside the question of whether or not we can say that Jesus actually founded a Church at all (Hans Küng’s scholarly thoughts on this matter can be found here), I think it’s important to remember that for many of us (Catholics included) this “Church established by Christ” isn’t limited to Roman Catholicism. What we ultimately are part of is the Mystical Body of Christ. This to me is the most wondrous and important thing to hold on to. And as Dorothy Day said: “That the Mystical Body includes only the Roman Catholic Church is heresy. The Mystical Body is the inseparable oneness of the human race.”

Thom, judging by the integrity and compassion you embody, and your openness and willingness to search and journey, I believe you’re very much held in God’s loving and transforming embrace. Your questions and struggles are holy endeavors, leading you ever onwards on your journey. Many gay people have been lead away from various forms of organized religion, and as you’ve observed, sometimes it’s for their (our) spiritual survival and continued growth that they move on.

The Roman Catholic Church is driving away its gay members – and now more so than ever. In my work I often talk to people – gay and straight – working within the Church. The situation is becoming intolerable for many. One can easily despair, but then I look around (from Holland to Minnesota) and see amazing “underground” Catholic communities arising and flourishing. The hierarchy may well be abandoning us, but the Spirit stays with us and leads us on.

My prayer is that you remain trustful and open to this Spirit – wherever it leads you. And that you’ll continue sharing your journey on Ad Dominum.

Peace,

Michael


See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Answer to a Troubled Liberal Catholic
Better Late Than Never
One Catholic Gay Parent Who Isn’t Leaving the Church