His strange conception of the Cross is even more evident from another post of his from yesterday entitled Good Friday. In it he states that "HIV/AIDS was the Calvary of the gay community", as he describes how AIDS decimated the work force of a Dupont Circle cafe (word to the wise - don't dine in Dupont Circle). I'll be the last to doubt that AIDS is a horrific disease wrecking havoc upon its victims and their grieving families. However, it is NOT analogous to the Passion and Death of Our Lord. Let's be real - the bulk of AIDS cases come about through gay sexual relationships - always sinful. If an alcoholic were to die from cirrhosis of the liver, would anyone have trouble linking that disease to his/her drinking? Of course not - so let's drop the politically-correct blinders when it comes to gay folks falling prey to AIDS, who are reaping a tragic but very preventable consequence of sinful behavior. What we commemorated yesterday was the sinless Son of God offering Himself as a sacrifice for our sins (including gay behavior).
It is when one suffers unjustly for doing good that we liken that suffering to that which Jesus endured (and even that suffering pales to the Crucifixion). Such is the case with Father Guarnizo (yes George Neumayer and the rest of us "Taliban Catholics" have it right). It is also the case with Father Michael Rodriguez, Father Gerhard Swierzek and many others who've been punished precisely because they are faithful.
For those who either:
- Think that a post during Triduum should be more "spiritual" or
- Think that I should stop bringing up Father Guarnizo's situation
There are other blogs offering excellent meditations on Easter; I'd suggest you read them. However, there is a danger in letting our consciousness about Father Guarnizo's situation just fade - a danger to us as well as to him. To my fellow St John Neumann parishioners, will we allow ourselves to be so shallow, will we allow our memories to be so little, that we won't recall the harm, the injustice that occurred in front of our faces just last month? If so, what kind of people are we? Will we be the ten disciples who cowed, or will we be the Marys, the Johns, the Magdalenes who at least stood by His Cross? Of course we can and must continue to raise our voices as well as our prayers for him and for all unjustly-treated priests.
I have not forgotten, and I pray for Father Marcel constantly. You are quite right, as ever. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteOK, I wrote emails, I cancelled all contributions to the Cardinal's Appeal and to the parish. I sent money to Fr Marcel and a letter of thanks. I prayed and am praying, but this is not a democracy, we can't vote them out. What to do now but pray and remember?
ReplyDeleteWe're here, we're queer, we're Catholic; get used to it.
ReplyDeleteCatholic you may well be, but if by "queer" you mean you are pursuing a gay lifestyle, your Catholicism will avail you nothing should you be so unfortunate as to die unrepentant. I'd suggest you hightail it immediately to Confession and stop playing games with your eternal salvation while you have time left on earth. Else, the consequences will be horrifying beyond comprehension and inescapable.
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