Friday December 21, 2007
Original Now Deleted St. Frances Cabrini Parish 'Statement of Reconciliation'
STATEMENT OF RECONCILIATION
We, the members of St. Frances Cabrini Parish, claim as our own the words of
the Apostle Paul. "There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is no longer
slave nor free, there is no longer male and female: for all of you are one in
Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
As members of one body we are grieved by the separation of many of those
Catholics who identify themselves as gay, lesbian, transgender or bisexual from
the Catholic Church. We are aware of the centuries of oppression that these
brothers and sisters have suffered at the hands of civil and religious
authorities. We are aware of recent attempts by our bishops to label our
brothers and sisters as "objectively disordered," and to fight
against their being granted their full civil rights.
We are also aware that these brothers and sisters have walked with us in our
faith throughout the centuries. They have served the Church in every capacity,
from the most humble to the most exalted. Despite the hostility they have
encountered, they have by their actions proven to be true lovers of Jesus. In
being honest about their sexual identity, they have embraced a difficult cross.
With this history in mind we commit ourselves and our community to:
- Reach out to the gay/lesbian community, encouraging them to join our parish;
- Regularly publish our welcome in the gay press;
- Promise to educate ourselves about gay/lesbian issues and work to overcome stereotypes;
- Include a gay/lesbian perspective in catechesis at all levels, including
elementary school age;
- Support lesbians and gay men in ways that promote stable, healthy
relationships;
- Publicly bless the relationships of a same sex couple after the couple
completes a process of discernment similar to that completed by heterosexual
couples before marriage; *
- Stand willing to accept qualified, openly gay or lesbian priests or lay
ministers;
- Zealously work for and guard the civil rights of lesbians and gay men,
knowing that all of our civil rights are compromised when theirs are;
- Pray for greater understanding and acceptance of gay, and lesbian people in
official Church teaching;
- Encourage other parishes to become publicly reconciled with the gay, lesbian,
transgender and bisexual community.
* Not being implemented at this time.
Approved August 1994
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