San Antonio Archdiocese Says No More Gays at Mass

For 15 years, LGBT Catholics and allies were able to worship at St. Ann Catholic Church in San Antonio. On a weekly basis these folks would filter into the pews, and honor that age-old commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. Priests and other Catholics interested in building a better relationship between the Church and the LGBT community would attend, setting aside whatever divisions might exist the other six days of the week, and focus on reconciliation, forgiveness, and a little love between neighbors.

But in a memo released by their acting head bishop, the Archdiocese of San Antonio has said goodbye to reconciliation, forgiveness, and the whole 'love thy neighbor' mission, and instead are telling LGBT people in San Antonio that they're no longer welcome in Church. Well, that is, unless they want to change their sexual orientation.

Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, the interim head of the San Antonio archdiocese, said that creating a safe space for LGBT Catholics (and their friends and families) to worship was contradictory to the tenets of Catholicism, and that simply allowing LGBT Catholics to worship as a group made Jesus weep, and could simply not be tolerated. His suggestion? That LGBT Catholics pledge celibacy if they really want to worship.

The sad part is that for 15 years this has been a non-issue, as leaders within the Archdiocese felt it more important to welcome all folks to the table, rather than exclude a heaping portion of the population. But as with many Catholic dioceses around the country, the politicization of the issue of homosexuality has taken center stage. Gone are the days where many churches can be counted on to focus on poverty, homelessness, hunger, education, and health care as their top social priorities. In are the days where church leaders want to denounce gay people, even if most folks in the pews have friends and family who identify as LGBT.

The actions of the Archdiocese, however, aren't going to keep LGBT Catholics from speaking out. Fred Anthony Garza, the President of a local chapter of Dignity, said that the definition of Church isn't a building, but rather a community of people. If the San Antonio Archdiocese won't let the LGBT community inside its doors without pre-conditions, then LGBT Catholics will just find another place to meet.

"We will continue to meet in a more welcoming environment. There are many people who believe that the Catholic Church needs to do a better job of providing care for lesbian and gay people and our families," Garza said, according to mySanAntonio.com.

His comments were echoed by local priests who interacted with LGBT Catholics, and said that the Archdiocese is missing a grand opportunity to put politics aside, and focus on community.

"We need to provide good preaching and good teaching to this community,” said Father Eddie Bernal. “I have met some of the most wonderful people in my life in Dignity. They've changed my life for the better. And I've learned so much.”

If only there were more Fr. Bernals in the Archdiocese, instead of Bishop Cantús. Send the Archdiocese of San Antonio a message that you disagree with their decision to squash a 15-year service that has had a positive impact on both straight and LGBT Catholics alike. There are so many more important issues facing our communities and our globe. Does the subject of homosexuality, and the decision by church leaders to focus on treating LGBT people like outcasts, really have to own so much space within today's Catholic Church?

It is definitely time to speak up.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons