i am a Catholic and mother of a lesbian daughter. It wasn’t until after college that she came out to the family. At first I was shocked, but never felt as if she was different and “disordered”. Our Catholic Church, while declaring love and acceptance for the LGBTs, does not truly love and accept them. We hear from the those in higher positions who just talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk with our children. I do know there are priests out there who, behind the scenes, love and accept them. But to speak out may put them in postilions of being silenced or faculties taken away. Why is our church so afraid? My daughter’s relationship with her wife has not destroyed heterosexual family life! They have been faithful to one another longer that many heterosexuals. Let’s not stand behind the falsehood that “heterosexual family life is perfect”. Let’s focus on truth. The divorce rate, infidelity, child abuse, spousal abuse, child abandonment…it’s all out there and statistics, too. So let our church work with helping those while keeping an open heart and dialogue with the LGBT community.
Contrary to what is touted as a fact, gays don’t wake up one morning and say, “Well, today seems like a perfect day to be gay.” It’s not a choice. They, too, are made in the image and likeness of God. They are his children, too. My straight son is no different than my lesbian daughter. So for all the family, friends and straight allies let’s keep the dialogue open and pray that our church will be a more welcoming and open church. Let us always show respect even though we have not always experienced it as we walk with our children, family and friends. We can stand strong in our beliefs.
I look to St. Thomas Aquinas and his writing on conscience, a well-informed conscience, one guided by the Holy Spirit. My conscience is the voice inside me. My conscience is my guide to all the actions in my life that I will answer to God for. My conscience tells me that all are children of God!