A Catholic church in San Francisco’s Castro neighborhood has some explaining to do after its church pastor disinvited a group of gay-friendly clergy due to speak at a pre-Christmas evening service.
Archbishop George Niederauer and Rev. Steve Meriwether of the Most Holy Redeemer Church reportedly made the decision based in “faith” and a coming of Christ. George Wesolek, a spokesperson for the archdiocese, explained that “the archbishop felt the speakers were inappropriate for the season of Advent, which should be a time to reflect on the coming of Christ.”
Rev. Roland Stringfellow of the gay-friendly Metropolitan Community Church said the action was disappointing yet not surprising.
“It’s ironic and hypocritical that the Catholic Church has a ‘Come home’ ad campaign going on right now,” he said. “Clearly, not everyone is welcome within the Catholic Church.”
Other gay-friendly clergy condemned the action. Episcopal Bishop Otis Charles explained the decision on behalf of the Catholic Church as telling “those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual [that they] are less than OK.”
Other clergy that have been dropped include Rev. Jane Spahr, who was scheduled to speak Dec. 14. Spahr founded a gay Presbyterian group which often clashed with the Catholic church ideals.
“Most congregations invite speakers who can speak well to their community’s concerns,” Stringfellow said. “We are all clergy within our own rites and denominations, and we were very disrespected by the idea that we can only give a talk that’s about gay rights.”
Many thanks for your article on Janie Spahr and others being “disinvited” from Advent services, in particular vespers ar Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in the Castro.
I should first say that I am a long-time friend of Janie and was ordained in the PC(USA) as an openly gay person in 2005. For me and many others, Janie has been a guide and steadfast servant of the faith she holds dear; a faith that tirelessly calls her to welcome all. She would be the last person on earth to exclude the Archbishop from one of the services she was leading or a church of which she was a part. In fact, she would welcome him with open arms and an embrace. That’s Janie. That’s the difference.
The irony that the “disinvitation” by the Archbishop is referred to as reflective of and in harmony with the time of Advent and the theme for vespers is stunning and incomprhensible; that is unless the leadership is driven by an irrational fear and dislike of the LGBT Community (many of whom are members of Most Holy Redeemer). If we agree that hatred is an irrational dislike toward others – this borders much too close to a demonstration of the illness of those in power than the welcoming, hospitality, and love upon which the Christian faith is founded. And, the message to the community is sad and dangerous and filled with fear.
For it is true, that every time a member of the LGBT community, its friends and supporters is excluded, marginalized, or otherwise dismissed because they are gay, every time – those implementing such rulings, edicts, or practices become complicit in the violence toward the LGBT community, a violence now endorsed by a church’s or church representative’s hateful position. Just based on that alone, it would have been a much more prophetic and courageous decision to come together.
And, perhaps, the last of ironies is that the time of vespers at Most Holy Redeermer which now teeters on the theme of exclusion is, in fact, the poorest of reflection of Advent one could hope for.
Again, thank you for your reporting.
Sincerely,
Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, Minister PC(USA)
New York City
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