"You Can't Pray Away the Gay"

I'm not sure why I have posted so much about religion basically every single time...probably because I deal with it on a daily basis and it is pretty relevant in my life.  However, today I can't really avoid it and I don't really wish to avoid it.  If I was still a college student who wrote an opinions column for my school newspaper I would be writing about this, but unfortunately I had to graduate so I am going to write/bitch about it here.

I woke up this morning and like every 20 something slave to social media I checked out my Facebook and Twitter only to find something very disconcerting about my alma mater, Saint Joseph's University.  SJUs Alumni Association has been hosting a contest throughout the last few weeks for Valentine's Day entitled "How I Met My Hawkmate".  Hawkmates are two SJU alums who are married.  Adorable, right?
The contest asks that hawkmates send in their picture with the story of how they met at SJU.  The picture with the most likes gets a $100 gift card to a restaurant of their choice.  Not too shabby.

Meg Edwards and her fiance, Katie MacTurk, submitted their picture to the Alumni Association to enter in the contest.  When their picture was not posted the couple gave the organization a call, only to find out that the Alumni Association did not think it would be appropriate given the fact that the school is a Catholic institution and the Catholic Church's stance on gay marriage and homosexuality.  Meg Edwards posted a note on her Facebook about her outrage and was shared over 300 times.  The incident was then posted on blogs and NBC news immediately.
Here is an example: http://jezebel.com/rights-and-rites/

During my time at SJU I was introduced to a lot of diverse opinions and stances on issues.  I was always proud, though, to be a part of a school that supported and loved each of it's students.  Despite being a Catholic university it has very liberal stances, like all other things Jesuit.  I learned more about gay rights and fighting prejudices during my time at SJU than any other point in my life.  Hence why I was so shocked, and ashamed of this decision to not post the picture.  I understand the Church's stance.  I recognize that, even though as a Roman Catholic I do not agree with it.  However, while to many it might not be surprising that a Catholic school would rule this way, to those that attended SJU know this does not fit SJU's personality.  Students and faculty at SJU work really hard to fight injustices.  I thought it was really moving to see my fellow alums stand up and fight and show their outrage at the decision.
Within a few hours and hundreds of Facebook postings the Alumni Association posted the picture.  However, it was a little too late.

I guess it shows a larger issue of the public opinion on gays.  In a day and age where there has been progression, there is still so much prejudice holding us back.  As a Roman Catholic it does hurt that my religion is not accepting to everyone equally.  I find myself trying to make excuses for both sides, and not being gay I don't know how to word my disappointment and frustration to those who illustrate ignorance, bigotry, and hatred.  All I can think to say is that "aren't we called to love everyone? aren't we called to care for others? aren't we called to treat everyone equally, with dignity and respect? what makes one's sexual orientation so different?"  Unfortunately, I don't have stories of prejudice and discrimination I do not know what a lesbian or a gay man faces on a daily basis.  I do, however, have friends who I care for and love that face these challenges, and my heart breaks for them.

For awhile I struggled with how to express my frustration and then I got an idea from a really unlikely source...Grey's Anatomy.  I know, kinda lame of me.  However, I think this scene accurately expresses my sentiment.  In the clip Callie, a bisexual, gets a visit from her father who disowned her after she came out to him.  Her father is a devout Catholic and does not approve of his daughter's "lifestyle".  He comes back to "make amends", but mostly to have his daughter talk to a Catholic priest and "pray away the gay".

The acting and writing in this scene is just brilliant.
When I first saw it I remember having this feeling rush over me like "of course".  That is the perfect way to fight this bigotry.  The simple fact that Jesus calls us to love, the simple fact that "Jesus is my savior".  It's just so beautiful and simple.

No matter what your religion or beliefs are...can you really argue with that simple point?  Can you honestly say you are a Christian and say that you do not believe in gay rights?  Can you honestly believe that you can simply pray away the gay?


After backlash the university posted the picture and it currently has 1,027 "likes".  I wonder if SJU will end up giving the couple the $100 gift card?  They also posted this comment:
‎"Saint Joseph’s University fully supports and is in agreement with the Catholic Church’s teachings regarding homosexuality and same sex marriage. 


As a Catholic, Jesuit university, Saint Joseph’s is a welcoming, inclusive community. Our focus is on respect and caring for all individuals as individuals."

Jesus and Religion. The Debate

There is currently a video that has made its way to my Facebook, Twitter, and about every other social networking site on the web.  No it's not the "Shit that _______ Say" videos, even those too have infected every aspect of my social media.  Instead the video I am referencing is something that flew in under the radar and all of a sudden became a big deal...at least for those in the Christian realm of things.
This is the video:

First of all, I have this new thing where I'm a big fan of poetry/spoken word.  So I just want to say: completely not looking at the subject matter, I loved how this was written.

Moving on...

When I first saw people posting about this video it was all in a negative context or people making fun of it.  I didn't watch the video I was just going by other peoples responses and decided that I wasn't going to like it.  After all I am a born, raised, and proud Catholic so by all understanding of the definition:  I am religious.  I like my religion.  This video should really bother me.

That brings me to the other set of people who posted this video simply saying that they love it, or agree with it.  Suddenly I found myself confused.  I didn't know whether to watch the video or not; let it become some video trend that I am just too cool to partake.  

One morning a musician I knew of and am a big fan of (Andrew Belle, since I know how curious you all were) posted the video saying "this pretty much sums it all up".  No one was around, and I was bored so I decided to watch the video.  As much as I figured I should  be upset with the video- I wasn't.  In fact, I found myself nodding along with a lot of it and agreeing.  I was torn, because this was muddying the waters of my nice pick and choose of religion that I have been doing the past few years.

By pick and choose religion I mean that I am a Catholic who does not agree with the Catholic Church on several huge issues...aka gay rights, and right to life issues.  While I do not agree with the Church's stance on these issues, I do enjoy every other aspect of Catholicism, and can honestly say that being a Catholic has been such a huge factor in my life and I cannot imagine not being a part of the religion.

I love Jesus though, and I agree that Jesus would not be in favor with the way a lot of churches (regardless of their denomination) are run.  There is so much corruption and sin riddling churches, it is frustrating.  Despite how much good the Catholic Church is capable of doing...it is flawed, just like any human invention.  

The line in the video that struck so much with me would have to be the "if Jesus came to your church, would he be let in?"

Earlier this year I read the book "Searching for God Knows What" by Donald Miller and he describes how Jesus, if he were to come back today he would be an ugly dude, living on the street hanging out with drug addicts, alcoholics and prostitutes.  So if someone like that came to your church, honestly, how would he be treated?  Probably not very well, which is a shame.  These are the people Jesus calls us to love and to serve.  These are the ones that Jesus has told us will be first in the Kingdom.

However, where would we be without religious institutions?  Hasn't God also called us to invest in a community?  I did some research to find a good Catholic response, and the best I found was by this priest.  

I think this sums it up really nicely.

See, I understand and am also frustrated with how broken and damaged religion is.  I have had to deal with so many personal issues with that.  I will be honest, I flip-flop on these issues...I pick and choose even though I know I shouldn't.  

I love Jesus, and I love His teachings, but I also practice as best as I can what I believe in.  I love my religion and I love what my religion has done for me, but I also do not agree and approve of the sins that my religion has committed.  

So I guess that it my stance on the issue.  I love Jesus and (for the most part) love my religion.