Challenging the catholic church
The Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) announced that they will be challenging the practices of the Catholic Church this Pentecost Sunday, May 27. 
RSM members wear a simple 2-inch wide ribbon of rainbow colors across their shoulders, and respectfully present themselves to receive communion.
Priests have withheld communion from people wearing the rainbow sash in prior appearances by the RSM. According to Joe Murray, US Convener for the RSM, parishioners have taken it upon themselves to share their wafer with ribbon-wearing churchgoers, much to the consternation of the priests.
“For some reason,” says Murray, “Church officials have chosen to go against their own teaching, that individual conscience is paramount in guiding the individual to spirituality. These ill-advised bishops cannot possibly know our hearts when they deny us communion. They actually turn the Holy Eucharist into a weapon of division and exclusion.
“American bishops have a history of viciously opposing equal rights and even civil rights for people whose lifestyle is not ‘traditional.’ In Chicago and New York, they stooped to working against job and housing rights for gays and Lesbians. Today, they are still demanding a 13th century lifestyle where they are the arbiters of right and wrong. They are hopelessly out of touch.”
Murray adds, “Pentecost Sunday celebrates the reunion of ALL of humankind to the Light of God. In this spirit of unity, we will be joined by straight people, bi-sexual people, transgender people, tall people, short people, fat people and thin people. It’s time the bishops catch up with their own congregations.” Announcing their intentions in advance, and asking bishops again to drop their phobic and unscriptural antagonism to people with different orientations, the RSM send the following letter:
Eminences and Excellencies:
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.I am writing to inform you that members and supporters of the Rainbow Sash Movement will be entering Cathedrals and parish churches around the nation on May 27, 2007, Pentecost Sunday. We come as part of the people of God. Pentecost represents God’s gracious, enabling presence actively at work among Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender people, calling and enabling us to live out in dynamic ways the witness of being part of His people.
Our Catechism defers completely to moral conscience: “In all he says and does, man is obliged to follow faithfully what he knows to be just and right.” This obligation to follow our individual consciences is at the heart of church teaching on moral matters. Truthfulness calls us to disagree with you about Gay Marriage. Would you have us jump the broom stick as slaves did in the past to marry? War and Poverty are the plague, not gay marriage.
I call on you stop manipulating language to hide the reality and truth about Gay and Lesbian marriage and adoption. Such behavior is fruitless. These efforts reflect an hysteria focused on sexual acts. Our lifestyles are far less about sexuality than they are about relationships, exactly the same as heterosexual unions. Your strategy of pitting Social Justice Concerns against Family values and Pro Life issues is smoke and mirrors. It is more an expression of prejudice than any kind of a real argument. Your actions are a sign of diminished moral authority.
Pentecost is a celebration of newness, of recreation, of renewal of purpose, mission, and calling as God’s people. It is a celebration of God’s ongoing work in the world. Yet, it is also a recognition that His work is done through the diversity of His people as He pours out His presence upon them.
The Rainbow Sashes that we wear reflect that we are part of the diversity that is the Church. It is our hope you will not use the Holy Eucharist as a tool of degradation. In the past your decision to do so unjustly denigrated a group of people simply for who they are.
One’s conscience, thoughtfully and honestly formed, supersedes other influences. This is a central tenet of the Catholic faith. Your model of “Error has not right” is not pastoral. How can you know what is in our hearts when you reject us and withhold communication.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Joe Murray
US Convener
**This was a recent press release sent out by the RSM **
Somehow I don’t believe that this is significant to the catholic church. I know plenty of fear mongering Christians who preach in the name of the Lord and then teach their children the practice of hate through discrimination of gays and lesbians. I understand that the RSM is trying to make a point here, but why not join a positive church community that accepts all people?
There are plenty of these kinds of churches out there, instead of spending time beating your head against the Catholic church wall
spend time rejoicing with other like minded spiritual individuals.
rainbow sash movement, gay catholic, the catholic church, joe murray, communion, homosexual, religion, gay, lesbian, transgender, light of god, pentecost
May 9th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Too often there are churches that hinder our entrance into their services. I applaud them for their efforts bt from my personal experiences show me that fighting with the church is like moving the Pyramids of Giza in one afternoon. It simply is not going to happen. As you said, go to a church that accepts all peoples into its congregation.
May 9th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I was raised in the catholic church and spent 12 years in catholic schools. I left for those very reasons you discuss. Why waste time trying to change something like that? I agree with you wholeheartedly although I always applaud people who just don’t want to give up.
May 9th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Hmmm. I guess I’ve seen people really be able to effect a great change when they’re on the inside.
So I think it’s great that there are Catholics who are doing this, and trying to make a change from within the system. I think we often don’t know what a powerful affect it has - often much greater than someone railing at the system from the outside.
Yes, they may be making some personal sacrifices to remain in their congregations (the feeling of love and acceptance from the top leaders), but they are also making a way for the younger members who are still kids - those who may be gay, lesbian, bi, trans, etc. Because of them, these kids may be able to continue worshiping in these churches and be fully accepted by the time they are adults. Anyway, I’m hopeful.
May 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
I think Groucho Marx said it best, “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”
It is much more fruitful and rewarding to connect with individuals, as opposed to groups.
May 10th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school for 11 years. I understand those who want to stay with the Church and work for change. But, it was best for me to leave in order to simply keep my sanity.
June 4th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Now that’s interesting! Change within the Catholic system looks (from the outside) like the hardest change to push. Makes me glad I’m protestant. Thanks for the educational post.