When [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:16-20 NRSVue
What counts as newsworthy from a religious standpoint these days? We've been hearing about the canonization of a now deceased teen boy by the Roman Catholic church, the first millenial saint dubbed "God's influencer." The creation of saints seems curious at best to most Protestants and this one just seems...odd, to this writer.
I am far more intrigued by another RC story which received far less attention this past weekend. There was a pilgrimage of sorts involving LGBTQ2S+ Roman Catholic Christians, one that, significantly, was approved by the Vatican. Here is a description of the event from the BBC:
Some 1,400 Catholics donning rainbow attire and carrying crosses are taking part in the first officially recognised LGBTQ+ pilgrimage to Rome as part of the Vatican's Jubilee Year. Coming from 20 countries, pilgrims are attending prayer vigils, masses and other activities this weekend - though they will not have a private audience with Pope Leo XIV.
His predecessor Pope Francis, who died in April, did not change the Roman Catholic Church doctrine regarding the LGBTQ+ community - but made overtures in a decree in 2023. These included allowing priests to bless same-sex couples - a move that angered conservatives Catholics, notably in Africa.
On Saturday, members from the LGBTQ+ community entered St Peter's Basilica though its Holy Door - a procession that symbolises reconciliation. The door only opens once in 25 years to mark the Roman Catholic Church's jubilee years.
"Not only are LGBTQ people marching and walking to say that they're part of the Church, but official Church institutions are welcoming them and helping them to tell their stories," Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, was quoted as saying by the National Catholic Reporter website.The ministry helps advocate for the LGBTQ+ community within the Catholic Church.
Jesus proclaimed the spirit of Jubilee during his ministry although when he did so he angered people in his hometown synagogue and they wanted to do him immediate harm. Some people assume they are upholding the Good News, the Gospel, but are more than willing to exclude and even punish those they deem unacceptable.
This Jubilee pilgrimage is a visible and meaningful step by Pope Leo who could have reversed the commitment made by his predecessor. And while it undoubtedly drew criticism from some in the Catholic community it must have been validating for the participants who have too often felt censured and excluded by the church.
No comments:
Post a Comment