In my second post on this topic I promised a reflection on how a doctrinal reference could be included in a strategy of parish response to the question of homosexuality. Here is that reflection.
First of all, some principles.
1. I would like to suggest that there is what one might term a "catechetical moment" and a "pastoral moment" in a parish response. The word "moment" here refers not just to "moment" as in time, but also to "moment" as in circumstance.
2. The "pastoral moment" needs to remain faithful to the "catechetical moment". There should be no contradiction between the two, even though that might mean that you need to say something that you expect to be unwelcome. [As an aside, I have a memory from many years ago of a situation - I think to do with Sunday Mass attendance - where a priest I knew had given an impression that "the Church didn't bother with that any more". I eventually figured that what had happened was that, in a situation where someone was quite justifiably prevented from making it to Mass, the priest had tried to be supportive in a difficult situation by saying something like "You don't need to bother about that". The "pastoral moment" had failed to properly reflect the "catechetical moment".]
3. In terms of timing, and of pastoral skill, it is counter productive to try to carry out catechetical activity at the time of the "pastoral moment". And, in most situations, the "catechetical moment" needs to occur before the "pastoral moment" arises. At the "pastoral moment", rather than initial teaching taking place, what needs to happen is a recall to the expectations of a teaching that has already been given.
4. Pastoral skill requires that responses be considered and prepared before the need for their use arises. Thinking on your feet at the time is likely to lead to mistakes. This advance preparation is perhaps primarily required of clergy, but should also extend to any who have a pastoral responsibility in the parish.
So, how is the "catechetical moment" achieved? This is by taking the opportunity for teaching about homosexuality at some point during each year. The teaching, however, needs to be a positive presentation of the truth about human love and its integrity. I have done this in the context of devotion to the Sacred Heart in June, and the covenantal relationship of marriage being a sign of the covenantal love of God for his people, the love the Son for the Bride. In this positive context, homosexual activity is seen as failing to respect the truth about human love. June also sees the feast of St Charles Lwanga and companions, who died rather than giving in to the homosexual desires of the King in Uganda at their time. Homosexual temptations can also be seen in a comparison to heterosexual temptations.
And how is the "pastoral moment" achieved? I think the category of hospitality, that I referred to in a comment to my earlier post, is key here. You need to work out what you will say - and do - if someone says to you "I'm a homosexual". It might be worth letting them have some time to talk about exactly what they mean by that, and doing something to offer hospitality, such as making them a cup of tea of popping into a cafe for a coffee. [My trade union encourages its officials to meet up with members during casework in places like bars or cafes - anonymous and generally safer than private places to meet.] None of this implies any agreement with a homosexual agenda. When you do talk about the Church's teaching - provided that you have already fulfilled the "catechetical moment" in the parish - the person you are talking to should not take it as a personal attack on your part; you will only be saying to them what they would expect, given what you have already taught on the subject.
If there is no consistency in teaching during the "catechetical moment", that is, consistency within the parish and consistency between parishes/priests/bishops, then the effectiveness of the "pastoral moment" is undermined. The response of an individual priest can to easily be seen as "personal". So a first priority needs to be the establishing of a consistently faithful catechesis of the Church's teaching in this area.
Part of this consistency needs to be the development of a positive presentation of the nature of human loving, and not just an "anti-homosexual stance". An outline of such a positive presentation could rightly have been expected of the Marriage and Family Life Project leaflet, as a contribution to the "catechetical moment".
The bottom line, though, to be presented in all due charity, is that if someone wants to live an active homosexual life style they need to be told that this is not compatible with Catholic teaching. This can be said in a way that respects completely the freedom of the person involved, and without any personal condemnation. [Or, if it is done without proper thought, it can be done disastrously!] The Marriage and Family Life Project leaflet could have been expected to make some suggestions about this, giving, for example, some suitable wordings that could be used.
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