I am saddened: I would never presume to tell another religion how its church should be run: but I will admit that today I am saddened by the decision of the San Diego Catholic diocese to prevent the family of the owner of club montage (McCusker) from having funeral services at the Immaculata Catholic Church on the University of San Diego campus, McCusker's alma mater. "His business is adult entertainment, which is inconsistent with Catholic teaching," Chancellor Rodrigo Valdivia said. McCusker owned Club Montage and ReBar both gay bars.
My thing is that this was a man who was a devout catholic, his family is very active in the church and his mom was even a teacher in the church, it seems so wrong to deny a funeral service to someone based on an inclination to view their business practice as wrong due to sexual orientation. The church is about forgiveness and vengeance is God’s here it seems like there is no forgiveness or openness.
As was pointed out in an AP article: In other cases across the country, some priests accused of sexual abuse have been granted Catholic funeral services, including John Geoghan, the Boston Archdiocese former priest whose sex-abuse case helped spark a nationwide church scandal. (Associated Press)
This decision by the church seems wrong and I am saddened that USD has been dragged into such an issue.
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About Me
- Cali J
- Cali-J ueber alles in der Welt. Some think that I am mean; (I call them friends), in fact I am not that mean. What I am is sarcastic and dry to the sandpaper level. I have friends that I have never said a kind word to their face, but I praise to the ends of the earth to anyone I know and will defend them to the end. That’s just how I roll! My boys know that I am down for them, my girls know that no matter what I will keep them safe (and occasionally flirt with them [If you are a female friend of mine and think I haven’t flirted with you it just means you didn’t notice, it was extremely subtle or…not yet ]). No one is safe from my sarcasm even my own parents; hence of course as a kid I spent a significant amount of time in punishment. I treat people with respect if I think they deserve it – everyone starts off with the same amount of respect from me (a lot). You don’t need to earn my respect; you have to keep my respect.
4 comments:
I do agree that there needs to be more consistency with the church. However, just b/c they let a priest accused of child abuse have a catholic funeral, it does not mean they should then automatically allow other, typically disfavored actions.
You say the man was a devout Catholic, however, his business and hence actions show otherwise. Being a devout Catholic doesn't mean you pick and choose what you want to believe in and what you don't. Especially something as big as homosexuality, which in the church's eyes is absolutely wrong. There reasons having to do with the sanctity of marriage, the idea of family, and the selfish act of pure sexual behavior.
Now you can agree or disagree with the church's stance on the issue. But if you want to be Catholic and have a Catholic ceremony then you need to follow their belives and traditions.
And yes, there are exceptions made all the time, but just b/c an exception is made in some instances doesn't mean it should be made in all others, otherwise it would just be the rule. It is a hard line to draw and sometimes it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But there are so many extraneous factors that come into play, the biggest one being humans are involved. Humans who can be influenced one way or a another. Such as in this case b/c the mom was a teacher and the family gave money or whatever.
I for one am actually glad the church took a stand. So often anymore the church has become liberalized and gone away from certain beliefs. These action delegitimize the church much more than an act such as this which actually promotes the belief structure. It shouldn't matter whether your mom was a teacher or you uncle is a priest or especially how much your family donates to the church. The beliefs of the church are the beliefs of the church are the beliefs of the church. There can be no wavering on these if it is to survive.
There are many harsh rules in the church, but they are there for a reason. And yes they may be bent and even broken, however, this does not make the enforcement of a rule wrong or disengenuous. I find it hard to criticize a faith for committing an act that it is supposed to do. If you want to criticize an act, do one in which they didn't follow their own rules. Even then I would be hesititant unless you know all the rules. It's often too easy to just look at things on their face w/o finding out what is really going on. We are law students, you should know this by now.
I don't mind criticisms of the church, especially when justified. Hopefully it will open the eyes and ears of the people in charge and help put things in line. Such as the awful incidents with priests and child abuse. The exposure has been ultimately for the good of the church and the resurgence of foundational believes. With that said, criticisms of the church for following their own practices is hard to reconcile. If you don't believe in the basic tenets of the church, then go to another one. That's why there are so many religions out there. It is one thing to disagree with a group with what they believe, but it is quite another to tell them how to run their own system when you are on the outside looking in and further have no intention of being a member of the group.
I do feel bad for the family as I'm sure it means a lot for them to have a Catholic ceremony. However, I think they had to know their son's lifestyle ran in direct contradiction with the teachings of the church. Maybe they should have helped reconcile that issue first. Why was the onus not on the individual to put himself in the line with the church? If the man wanted a Catholic ceremony then he should have followed the Catholic believes. If the church waivers it affects millions, if a single man does then it affects himself. It would have been a greater harm to allow such an instance for the community of followers than the sadness brought to the family.
Ok this is running on forever. But just keep in mind the scope of the church's actions before jumping to conclusions. The church's actions are much like the law. They make actions that will make good policy and law in the future and not in just on case by case basis. And of course there are exceptions, but again those cannot be made the rule.
Oh and one more thing. The church is definitely about foregiveness and repenting. However, I don't this guy would have ever said what he did was wrong or that he wanted foregiveness for his actions. Had he done so I think we have a completely different case. The church is all about forgiveness and openess, but the individual has to want it himself.
That is partyly why the priests were allowed to have funerals. They admitted to their sins and asked for foregiveness. And maybe this doesn't make a whole of lot of sense or even completely rationale. But it is the teaching of the church. You can criticize the belief, but you don't have to be Catholic either. If you want to be Catholic then you go with the belief.
Ok, so this is going to start out rather uneducated-sounding following that LONG-ASS schpeel of BULLSHIT but I gotta say, that was a load of CRAP.
Just because the man was homosexual does not mean he was not devout. Religion is not about blindly following everything the Church says. It is about faith, love in God, forgiveness. The Bible conflicts itself, so are you suggesting that its readers/followers follow both conflicting ideas? Thats not logical. Are you saying that people aren't supposed to question anything they are told? Is that not where growth and learning and understanding come from? Who are you to say that his understanding is wrong? Why is it for you or the Church to judge this man in his death? Only God can judge. No one else.
You say being a Catholic doesn't mean you can pick and choose but you forget something - God gave people free will. People CAN choose whatever they want. Its this ability that makes man special, different, unique.
You speak of homosexuality as a choice, that it is something people decide to be. It is not a chioce, but who they are. God made these people as well, and in making them He gave them a view of the world and love different from yours or anyone elses. If, in allowing His children to realize themselves in this way, you say He erred, then it is still for Him to deal with when they come before Him.
You would say that homosexuals are not born this way - but how are you to know? Are you in their minds from birth? Do you know what they think? Maybe the reason that most homosexuals don't come forward until later in life is because of people like you, and the rest of society, because they are afraid of unacceptance and discrimination. Because en masse people have condemned them as sinners, dirty, unworthy. But again, only God can judge. And not only is He the judge, He is the jury as well and no one else can render a verdict on their fate.
Yes, the Church is about forgiveness and that is why dirty molesting pedophilistic priests are still given Catholic burials - because they asked forgiveness. How do you know they weren't just fakin the funk? And for another thing, how do you know THIS MAN didn't "ask forgiveness" (I am in no way saying that he SHOULD HAVE for being the man God made him to be) - are you his confessor? Did you hear his prayers to God every night? I think not. The Church is about forgiveness and openness - yes - but what about acceptance? His parents accept him - why can't the Church accept this man the way he is?
You say that the Church's actions are much like the law and its foundation must be stable and unwaivering to be beneficial to all. You're argument is flawed. Laws change with the times. Because people change. Because society changes. Because the world itself changes. The world is not static. The law must necessarily be flexible in the respect that it must allow for changes when needed. Laws have changed; they've been repealed; they've been overruled. Courts ruling one way have reversed their owns rules at later dates because the justification for the original rule is no longer in effect or no longer with the morals of the people. If you want to parallel the Church to the law, then you have to allow that the Church should flex with the times. People have changed.
King Richard the Lionheart, in a time when kings were ordained by God, was himself a homosexual. Was he lesser of a man? Did God ordain the wrong king? And (going with ur argument that homosexuality is a choice) God is all-knowing, so don't you think that He would know before-hand that Richard would "choose" to be gay?
Open YOUR eyes. The world has changed. Homosexuality is a way of life. It is not a choice. God made this people just as He made you or the lovely priests. Use logic here - we're in law school - you can do it! DEDUCTIVE REASONING: God made this man, and this man was a homosexual. THEREFORE, God made a homosexual.
did y'all see "spring break shark attack"? that was some good shit!
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