I really don’t get this whole welcoming bit. If the Church proclaims the Truth, those who wish to know the Truth will seek it out and come to the Church. Perhaps the Church needs to proclaim that it has the fullness of the Truth and that other philosophies and religions just don’t measure up to Catholicism (well, obviously better worded than that, but you get my drfit). When I was searching for the Truth as a Jew, I didn’t need the Church to welcome me to church.
I think if the Church worrried less about offending others and just proclaimed the Truth unabashadly, people will listen…eventually.
I want to be very clear that I do not recommend, or support on the part of any of the clergy, a dilution, let alone an apology, for settled doctrine.
Theoretically, you are correct: And in support of your premise, the Church does take somewhat of a “hard” (unyielding) position on non-validated heterosexual marriages, remarriages after divorce, and other objectively forbidden situations in which people have chosen to estrange themselves from the Church. I think what Dolan is suggesting has to do with pragmatics – again, method & approach.
Let me put a difference case to you:
I had a friend many years ago who had been, in the past, in some kind of marriage situation which I learned did not prevent her from receiving Communion (her current marriage was valid), yet she had been made to feel guilty about whatever the canonical circumstances were. (I honestly forget the details, but I knew at the time.) So she operated with an overabundance of caution and attended Mass but refrained from Eucharist. It came out little by little that she felt unwelcome. Later (fast forward to today) the Church has realized that it needs to take more initiative in the realm of people in ambivalent situations like hers. That includes outreach to the divorced, which the Church has acknowledged She has been lacking in.
It’s not a matter of softening doctrine. Hopefully you understand that I am in conplete agreement with you about that. I seriously doubt that Dolan intends to soft-pedal objectively sinful matters. It’s a matter of embracing “the lost sheep” through positive rather than negative means, as a method. It’s about communication.
Some people in the Church are very confused about the mere attraction to homosexuality, and assume that such attraction prevents them from ever being equal members of the Body of Christ, regardless of their behavior. Naturally, they’re wrong, but the hyper-awareness is often there, on the part of those attracted, and on the part of some who are in the Church. As long as the message does not further confuse, I see no problem with it. OTOH, I very much see a problem (scandal) created by admittedly active homosexual couples attending Mass, bringing their lovers to Mass, and receiving Communion together. This has happened often in my region, and occasionally still does.
Tolerance for the attraction does not translate to tolerance for the behavior. Two very different animals.
Some parishes (pastors) have not at all been clear about that.. Such pastors act afraid to reiterate Church teachings along with the “tolerance” and “welcome.” Such leaders are not doing anyone any favors, including the homosexual couples involved.
I think it is properly , always, a two- or even three-pronged process of welcoming, evaluating, and becoming educated in what is and is not acceptable to believe, to practice, as well as what it means to be an authentic witness instead of a cause for scandal.