{"id":5073,"date":"2010-10-16T14:49:31","date_gmt":"2010-10-16T14:49:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2010\/10\/it-gets-better-by-making-catholics-seem-worse.html"},"modified":"2010-10-16T14:49:31","modified_gmt":"2010-10-16T14:49:31","slug":"it-gets-better-by-making-catholics-seem-worse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2010\/10\/it-gets-better-by-making-catholics-seem-worse.html","title":{"rendered":"“It gets better” … by making Catholics seem worse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, this left me speechless. <\/p>\n

Openly gay Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson has decided that the best way to attract people to his cause is by tearing down others. <\/p>\n

Here, as part of the “It Gets Better” project<\/a> (designed to help young people cope with their homosexuality), he goes after Southern Baptists, Mormons and the Catholic Church — and more or less decides that not only are they all “flat out wrong,” but that he alone “as a religious person” knows the mind of God. (Funny, on his laundry list of “wrong” religions, he doesn’t mention Islam, or the Muslim countries that retain capital punishment for homosexuality.) <\/p>\n

As a friend pointed out: “Remember the stink when Benedict began the Anglican ordinariate, how he was ‘trolling’ for members? THIS is what trolling looks like.” <\/p>\n

It’s not pretty. Robinson is entitled to his opinion, and his own moral theology.  We can respectfully disagree about his conclusions.  But I can’t respect the way he has gone about brazenly dismissing (and, in fact, misrepresenting) the moral teachings of others.  <\/p>\n

This sort of proselytizing is both uncharitable and offensive.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/b>  For a Catholic response to the tragedy of gay bullying and suicide, check out Fr. Jim Martin’s excellent post and prayer. <\/a><\/p>\n

UPDATE II:<\/b> My brother deacon, Scott Dodge, has some sage thoughts<\/a> on the Robinson video. And Scott has also reminded us of how Pope Benedict addressed a question about young people and homosexuality during his recent visit to Malta. It’s worth re-reading. <\/a><\/p>\n

<\/object><\/center>
Related:<\/strong>
Homophobia in the Church? Really?<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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