A Bishop's History of the World....

As an erstwhile Memphian, Loose Canon was interested in the comments of Bishop J. Terry Steib, S.V.D., who is "laying the groundwork" for a diocesan ministry with gay and lesbians. The bishop gives a brief summary of history:

"A brief look at history--from slavery to the "march of tears" of our Native American sisters and brothers to the grape strikes in California--reminds us that God's work is always hampered when human beings are afraid of differences in each other. A new ministry with gay and lesbian persons will push open even further the door to promoting understanding and compassion among all of us. It will open the door to "home" for many who are an important part of who we are, and to a segment of our family that has been apart from us for too long."

That's the bishop's summation of history--from slavery to the grape strikes? Gee, LC thinks this is awfully parochial (in a bad sense of the word). But I guess if you think that's all there is to history you probably do believe that being "afraid of differences in each other" is the essence of history. History goes back a lot longer than southern slavery--what does the good bip make of Sodom and Gomorrah (this happened before the grape strike)?

Like the bishop, I believe that gays and lesbians should be welcome in church, but they should also recognize that engaging in homosexual activity is a sin. It the representatives of the Church fail to be honest about this, they are doing no favor to anybody. They should be welcome at "sacramental moments," to use the bishop's language, whatever it might mean, but nobody should risk his or her immortal soul by receiving Holy Communion with grave sins on the soul. Bishops are supposed to tell their flocks this--if they care about pushing open the door to heaven, that is.