CAN DIGNITY ( OR AS IT IS SOMETIMES DISGUISEDLY KNOWN, THE GAY AND LESBIAN MINISTRY) BE CALLED A CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION?
The quick, truthful, if brusque, answer is NEGATIVE !
However, fairness and sensitivity would require an explanation for such a cryptic reply to the question. I will attempt to explain my view but in my explanation I think it necessary and useful to use the word
ANALOGY. This word implies that, in a certain case, there are some factors which are similar to the point in question but others which are intrinsically dissimilar.
For example, I use the term ( speaking analogously) Mafia. Whether or not there is an objectively real Mafia or Cosa Nostra is a secondary issue in this context. As I struggled to articulate to myself the assessment process needed for an adequate reply to the original question, I proceeded as follows:
There are some persons in an Organization called the Mafia who might financially support Catholic functions in another framework. They might encourage their wives and children to attend Catholic services. They might readily identify themselves as Catholic. They might even , on special occasions, partake of the Catholic liturgy and devotion themselves.
However, these persons might, at the same time, engage in practices which are INTRINSICALLY antithetical to basic Catholic teaching, belief and practice. They might engage in extortion, drug trafficking,violence,prostitution and even murder.
The two poles in these people are essentially dissonant. One pole says: I am a Catholic. Does this mean that this person accepts the FULL package of Catholicism? So often we have heard the Media stars trumpeting: I am a Catholic myself but I don't accept the teachings of the Church----ad nauseam! Are you a practising Catholic? A collapsed one? Collapsing? In name only? He still insists,however, that HE is a Catholic.
The other pole of this Catholic says: I engage in behavior which is expressly forbidden by the Church I claim as my own. Further this behavior is supported and approved by the ORGANIZATION I embracethe Mafia !!!!!
Our rational conclusion,then, inexorably insists,that although these are Persons who CALL themselves Catholic, they cannot maintain that the Organization they cling to ( Mafia) can be called a Catholic organization. This is because of the inherent un-Catholic behavior practiced within the Organization itself.
Even if the membership of that Organization is mostly ( or totally) Catholic by name, it cannot,in any way, be called Catholic. It might be an organization of Catholics but that is all. And,again, this is because of the intrinsic contradiction between the two poles. IN truth , it is not Catholic.
Granting that there are many differences between Mafia and Dignity, I hold that there are some powerful similarities. I make this claim against the background and understanding of the meaning of ANALOGY. I hold that Dignity and its various progenies ( some of which exist in some Catholic parishes) can be assessed in an analogous manner as was the Mafia.
The members of these groups specifically call themselves Catholic, even absolutely Catholic. They attend Mass regularly. They say Catholic prayers. They contribute to the care of the poor ( AND their Pastors).They engage in many acts of charity for the marginal of society.
However,at the very least, by its silence,Dignity ( and the others) support,approve,encourage behaviors which are intrinsically antithetical to the teachings, belief and practice of the Catholic Church.Dignity, as a posture, does not regularly remind members of the obligation of chastity for ALL people, homosexual and heterosexual. It prefers to leave it to the members to decide.
The Church teaches that ALL sexual behavior is sinful and illicit outside of marriage.There is really no dialogue. There is only God's Will. And believing Catholics bet their souls on God's Will through His Catholic Church.
The various behaviors so common in the homosexual community need not be catalogued here but it is important to note that I speak of behaviors,i.e. what people do! Not what people are. The homosexual behaviors are specifically forbidden by the Church, inspired as She is by the Holy spirit to speak as She does ! Such forbidden behaviors arebluntlysinful. In some instances,at least, they are supported ORGANIZATIONALLY----by silence and by flagrant public behavior!
The basic and unchangeable Catholic teaching on the use of the sexual/genital drive is that such use is confined EXCLUSIVELY to the married state ( defined as a union between a man and a woman joined validly before God). Heterosexual sexual behavior outside of marriage is similarly condemned and is considered sufficiently serious as to exclude such persons from partaking of the Holy Eucharist.
Homosexual sexual behaviour is forbidden by the Church and by the main stream of Jewish and Christian thought. The various levels of these behaviors ---anal,oral,masturbatory, visual/pornographic or verbal categories are all at variance with the position of the Church.
(Ed. note: this might explain the fury of the secular culture against things Catholic)
So, one pole says: I am a true and loyal Catholic but the other pole says: I engage in behavior which is explicitly forbidden by the Churchor at the very least--- I support ORGANIZATIONALLY what is forbidden by the Catholic church. In effect, I clearly engage,agree with or approve of that which is clearly forbidden by the Church.
Unless one engages in bizarre mental manipulations lamely citing some definitively censored way out thinker, the above dilemma places the Dignity advocate in a severely conflicted mental and spiritual state.
Of course, some Catholic persons find dignity exactly meeting their needs,on either a personal level or on a misguided,well intentione d support for some one suffering from same sex attraction. It must be stated that the Catholic church always endorses and encourages compassion for anyone who struggles with temptation.However She makes it clear that true compassion does not mean endorsement of behavior which is sinful before God.
To feel for the pain and the confusion of God's children does not have to preclude reality and truth. Indeed, real love means that one has to show non-support and even opposition to behavior which can corrode God's life within the souls of active homosexuals.
Those groups which are truly Catholic ( such as Courage) are fuelled by real compassion----which is enlightened by authentic Catholic teaching. None of the Catholic groups is oppressive or uncompassionate. But they are demanding of sacrifice,growth and self control. These groups are truly Catholic because they strive to function according to Catholic teaching. This is clearly set down, officially, in the Catholic catechism. In # 2357, the following statement is made to articulate what the Church teaches:
under NO circumstances can they ( sic: homosexual acts) be approved.
In the very same section, it states that homosexual persons ( like every one else ) MUST observe chastity. Obviously, chastity would demand fidelity to the principle noted above, i.e. ONLY men and women married to each other have a right to God's gift and reward of sexual love. ALL others, including heterosexuals as well as homosexual persons are required, in effect, to live in a celibate way.
Part of the rigor of following Jesus Christ !
It seems to me from what I have read and heard from Dignity sources that this is precisely why they and so many others have raged at the Church and why they do NOT follow the Church's teaching and practice. It seems patently clear to me that Dignity ( and spinsoff thereof ) can in no way be called Catholic. .
The conclusion I reach seems ( to me) logical and obvious. If unable or unwilling to face the dilemma, some people opt to look the other way. Is it a DIGNITY denial that this is really the situation? Is there an oxymoronic note to the ACTIVE homosexual
The horns of the dilemma! He desperately wants to be a faithful and believing Catholic yet he does not want to embrace the Biblical (Levit.) description of HOMOSEXUAl behavior as Toevah ( disgusting in the sight of God).
Many pastorally oriented persons are extremely well meaning and eminently sensitive to the suffering of others.
But it is not helping but destroying others to suggest that God didn't really mean it ! To delude others or to allow another to delude himself is not really pastoral.
It is hostile to human peace of mind--- and certainly to eternal salvation !
It is not pastoral nor helpful to pretend that Dignity is a Catholic organizationeven if it is peopled by many Catholics some of whom might be clerics---even of the Highest order !
To look at the implications of analogy, one might reflect on the title: CATHOLICS FOR A FREE CHOICE . This is patently oxymoronic and totally inconsistent with and antithetical to the Catholic view of the right of all persons to life. That organization can argue for abortion on demand and insist that because it has many (?)who claim to be Catholic,it ought to be a Catholic organization. The assault on reason is unbelieveable. The street urchin when presented with such claptrap might easily say that It's a crock
This sometimes torturous ratiocination can lead only to one conclusion:
Dignity is NOT a Catholic organization !