I wonder if everyone here is speaking past each other, because they’re looking at the situation from different perspectives. Both sides have a piece of the truth.
Let’s look at this from the side of the Catholics in the situation. These people came to protest for whatever their reasons and the Catholics reacted defensively. They felt that they were doing the right thing, because they felt that they were protecting the Cathedral from being desecrated. Whether or not the group was going to desecrate the Cathedral will never really be known, because it did not happen. There is a good here. That good is that the Catholics protected the Cathedral.
From the other side, which I believe is what Wxboss is saying, we must always be missionaries of life to others. These people who came to the Cathedral are obviously very broken and very hurt. Justifiably or not, they feel hurt by the Catholic community. We, as brothers and sisters of life, have a moral duty to ensure that people understand that it is not our intention to hurt them.
We must not think that the road to hell is paved with gentleness, because that is not true either. If that were true, men and women such as Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Calcutta, John XXIII, John Paul II and many others are guilty of sending many people to hell. These were the most gentle souls in the world and yet they are among the giants of holiness in the Church’s history.
We have to find our balance. I am always reminded of Teresa of Avila and Francis of Assisi who converted the most sinful priest in the town by promising him that they would not think any less of him, because he was an adulterer, child abuser, drunk and abused the sacraments. In both cases, the priests involved were brought to their knees by the love that they received from Francis and from Teresa. When Teresa was asked why she did not denounce the man she responded, “Why should I? Everyone else has done that and what good has it done?”
From reading the article I see that both sides are doing the same thing over and over again and not stopping to think like Teresa of Avila. Everyone else has done this before and what good has it done? The in your face protests has never softened the hearts of the Catholics and the harsh reaction of Catholics has done nothing for the person who is committing sin. At some point, people become immune to these positions, because this is just what they expect from the other side.
Maybe, if not on that scene, at least on this thread, we may take to heart the words in the constitutions of the Franciscan Brothers of Life. I think these words can be helpful to anyone.
**“The Brothers of Life of the Order of St. Francis are bound, under pain of eternal damnation, never to deny anyone the gift of life that God wishes that each man receive through our perfect acts of charity. And if a man meet any of our brothers and go away a sinner, let the brother do penance for himself and the other. For such a man has left, because he has failed to perceive Christ in the brother, not through any fault of Christ, but through what is lacking in the brother. Let the brother assume his sins and the sins of others, that like our Holy Father Francis, he may imitate Christ crucified who assumed the sins of humanity.
Obviously, that brother failed to show the charity that Christ revealed to our Holy Father Francis. When he saw a leper he embraced him and kissed him, even though it was repugnant to him. And from that point, sin which had been frightening to Francis was no longer a threat to him or to his brothers, because it was revealed to him that sin is only as strong as we allow it to be.
Therefore, every brother must submit to the will of our Holy Father Francis who commanded us never to raise our voices or our condemnation against any sinner, no matter how grave the sin. Let us always remember the admonition of our Holy Father Francis. We are more sinful than the worse sinner whom we encounter. The only way for us to attain life is to admit that our sinful state is worse than that of any other man, becasue we know Life and we do not embrace it. Only when we open our arms and hearts to the sinner will we receive life from Christ. For Christ deigns to bestow life on the Sons of St. Francis through every sinner whom they embrace.
If Christ has deemed to call us to consecrate our lives to him, we who are the most wretched sinners in the world, how much more does Christ wish to call those who are less sinful than we are? Therefore, let every brother look at all men as better and holier than himself and remember the words of our Father Francis, ‘we are the worst of slime.’ No man, no matter how great his sin is as worthless as we and yet God has been merciful to us and called us to himself.” (Constitutions of the Franciscan Brothers of Life, “Our Life of Penance”).**
I believe that all sides of this issue and many other issues, need to acknowledge their sinfulness in order to open themselves to Life. Only when we see ourselves as being in greater need of forgiveness than the next person can we truly convert another. This is the issue at hand between the activist gay community and defensive Christians. Both sides need to step down and admit their sinfulness. Someone has to lead the way.
I know where I can begin stepping down. My heart is arrogant. My faith is weak. My mercy is lacking and my charity a matter of convenience. I have not always loved with purity of intention nor have I embraced the sinner as my better. Only God can calculate the difference between the punishment that I deserve and the mercies that I have been granted. May God continue to have mercy on my soul should die before I wake and may he grant me the graces necessary to begin again, if he should deign to grant me another day of Life.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
