Denise A. Waytes

The Diocese of Lansing and the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty filed a lawsuit on behalf of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. John, Michigan against Dana Nessel, the Dept. of Civil Rights, and the Civil Rights Commission. The suit targets a recent ruling protecting those in the LGBT community and, “threatens St. Joseph’s freedom to continue its religious mission,” the Church’s federal suit argues, by making it “unlawful” to follow “2,000-year-old” Catholic teachings in its elementary school.

Many Catholic teachings throughout the Church’s history have been changed. At one time, the Church taught that the Earth was flat. The Church also taught that slavery was justified and that usury — the practice of lending money for a fee — was a sin. More recently, the death penalty had been upheld by the Church until John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical in which he wrote that the Church’s teachings should be changed. This has been upheld by his two successors, Popes Benedict XI and Francis. These are but a few teachings that have changed in the 2,000 year history of the Catholic Church. 

Perhaps at the present the Church is not ready for a change in law that protects LGBT rights, but precedent shows that teachings in the Church’s 2,000 year history have changed.

Why should we accept that the Catholic Church has any moral authority to tell us what is right and wrong when certain attitudes of superiority persist within the higher ranks in the Church even, and especially when, the clergy’s morality itself is in question? For instance, in the 12 years that I worked as a pastoral minister for the Catholic Church, I was privy to conversations among the clergy about certain situations that the general public never heard about.

There have been priests accused and convicted of embezzlement of millions in Church funds. Such stories can’t be kept out of the news. Nonetheless, most stories of moral failings among Catholic clergy are dealt with quietly. This way, Church leadership can maintain a semblance of authority. The priesthood closes ranks when a scandal occurs amongst its members. 

In my opinion, Catholic Church leadership shrinks from difficult conversations, especially those regarding sexuality. Catholic leaders prefer to shape the message, but are they also shaping the people into their own image and likeness?  

Jesus lived on the margins. He rubbed elbows with everyone;  he even ate with sinners!  The Church’s teachings, purportedly, emulate the teachings of this man, Jesus, who was not afraid to ask uncomfortable questions. When Jesus did ask those questions (see John 4:16-26; 39) he did not reject or keep the person from ministering in the community! 

Relating with people and their issues is messy, but people need truth, openness and understanding. The truth is God loves every one of us beyond measure. Jesus never mentions homosexuality anywhere in the New Testament. nor does he condemn anyone because of it. Jesus’s message to his followers has been to love God, and to love others as we love ourselves.

St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. John, MI is not bringing this lawsuit because someone who was a member of the LGBT community actually applied for a job, but because there is a fear that someone from the community might apply for a job and the Church wouldn’t be able to legally discriminate against them because of the law. The Church wants to head off their problem. In the process, the Church is adding a burden to people who are already on the margins, discriminated against, and whose very lives are threatened. 

I have not seen any statements by the United States Bishops condemning the tragedies of the Pulse Night Club shooting or the more recent shooting at Club Q in Colorado. Where is their outrage at the senseless murder of 54 people?

My final point is this: I follow love, and follow Jesus, who has asked me to love all people without distinction. Because of this, I can no longer in conscience continue to financially support a diocese that discriminates against those who are marginalized. I no longer trust that my money won’t be used to fund frivolous lawsuits or support political candidates and issues that are at odds with Church’s alleged mission to protect the poor and those on the margins. 

Jesus calls us to love others and work for justice, not to discriminate and spread hate.