Something To Think About

The Wickedness Done In God’s Name
A Reflection on the deeds some Christians commit in the Name of Christ
Yesterday I had my heart filled with joy and gladness as well as with intense sorrow when I attended the Gay Pride Festival in Boston Massachusetts. My heart filled with pride at all the brave and dedicated souls who braved the intense rain, cold and wind to affirm the rights of all God’s children to equal treatment. I was most pleased to have the opportunity to interact with so many Christian and Jewish groups and denominations that proudly proclaimed the teachings of Jesus Christ and Almighty God as found in Scripture.
In spite of the horrible weather, conditions thousands turned out to affirm the rights of individuals to marry the partner of their choice regardless of gender.
All of these dedicated groups were actively proclaiming the Infinite Love of Almighty God.
There were moments of humor and happiness for all who attended. I remember a couple who came up to me rather sheepishly and asked, “Are you a real priest or just someone dressed up as one?” When I responded I was a real priest and gave them the mission flyer we engaged in some chat at the end of which they responded “ Thank you father for restoring my faith in my belief that the truth of God’s teachings will overcome the prejudice being proclaimed in His name.”
What saddened me though was an encounter with a young man to whom I offered a brochure. His response gave me a jolt and I fully realized the damage being done in the name of God by so many denominations that proclaim to be followers of Christ. The young man told me “I no longer believe in a God, My church threw me out because I was gay, They claim I am doomed to go to hell, If that is what will be, so be it. I have know I was drawn to men from the time I was seven. It is my nature!. As far as I am concerned there is no God, not the God I read about in the Bible. That God is supposed to be merciful.”
“Thanks but no thanks, I am happy now and do not feel guilty” and he walked away.
I don’t know if it was the rain or the tears from my heart that disturbed me the most. I immediately said a prayer for that young man that Almighty God would open his heart to be reawakened to God’s infinite love and would lead him back to his Mystical Body.
If only those who proclaim to be the only righteous believers of Christ’s message, knew how much damage they have and are doing to the minds, hearts and souls of God’s children. If only they would put aside their own personal fears and prejudices and follow the commandment of Christ “love the lord, your god, with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and Love your neighbor as yourself”. Perhaps, the problem is that these individuals do not love themselves and therefore they are incapable of following that commandment. I don’t know.
What I do know is that all is not lost, there are many out there that are attempting to counter this negative message being proclaimed in Christ’s name including many Catholics. I salute Fr. Walter Cuenin for his bravery in speaking at the 29th Gay Pride interfaith service at the historical Old South Church in spite of possible retribution from Bishop Shawn O‘Malley and the Roman Church, Bishop Thomas Shaw the Anglican Bishop of Boston, the MCC, The Unitarian Universalist Church, The two Jewish synagogues, The Presbyterian Church, Unity Church, The United Church of Christ, Dignity, the Religious Coalition for freedom to marry and of course myself representing Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus a mission of the Franciscans of the Annunciation and the Old Catholic Diocese of New England. May the Holy Spirit continue to enlighten all religious, especially the hierarchy, to become open to the fundamental message of Christ, “love one another as I have loved you” AND STOP REJECTING God’s children because of how God created them and start proclaiming the diversity and inclusion of all God’s children. AMEN
Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA Mission Sts. Sergius and BacchusEmail: Mission_St_Sergius@msn.comWeb Site: www.missionstsergius.orgYahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistryMSN 360 Blog: http://missionstsergius.org/blog.html