Abbey-Roads2

Growing up alone.

I may have mentioned it before, but growing up I was the only one in my family to attend Mass daily, and as I got older - maybe 3rd grade - I started to attend Mass on Sundays alone as well.  My parents never attended Mass, but my siblings dropped me off at church on Sundays and picked me up after Mass - I had to make sure I got three bulletins so mom and dad believed we all went to Mass.

All my life, I have found myself in this situation, because nearly every one of my friends were either non-practicing Catholics, or irreligious.  Thus I have usually gone to church alone - of course I see people I know at church, but I arrive early and leave late because I like to pray alone before the Blessed Sacrament.

Wanting what is best for the kids.

I recalled my experience while praying for Catholic parents of gay children who are lobbying the Catholic Church to change her teaching on same-sex issues.  (Although, the Catholic Church has no authority to do so.)  On December 2 these parents and friends of gay people, along with a sprinkling of gay men and women, staged a protest on the steps of the Cathedral in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Looking at the photos, the crowd appeared to me to be middle-aged to senior folks.  Which is why I assumed many of them were parents, aunts and uncles, or friends of gays. 

Obviously missing from the photos were young gay men and women.  Placards held by the protesters read something like, “Our gay sons and daughters are not disordered.”  I understood how these parents sincerely want their children to be welcomed into the Church - “Just as they are.” - as Mr. Rogers would say.  (It seems to me many of these parents think that if the Church approved the homosexual lifestyle, their kids would go to church.)  Of course parents of gay children do not believe their kids are disordered, they love them “just as they are”.  They just want them to go to church - to be included.  I can understand their loneliness - going to church without their kids, or living with the knowledge their kids do not go to church.  Parents just want the best for their children.

Repent and believe - then receive.

Even though I went to church alone for so many years, I prayed that my parents would one day be able to attend Mass.  My mom had been divorced and remarried to my dad, so she stopped going to church because she could not receive the sacraments.  My dad never desired to go because he had been raised a Lutheran and hated the Catholic Church.  My siblings didn’t go because they were bored at Mass.  However, when my mother died, she was reconciled to the Church.  When my dad died, he came into the Church.  When my brother died, he too was reconciled to the Church.  Thus the Lord answered my prayers, but on His conditions.

You see, I understand how parents and friends of gays must feel about those they love not going to church or receiving the sacraments.  However, as the protest on December 2nd demonstrated, many gay people are obviously not interested in going to church, attending Mass, or receiving the sacraments.  Having said that, if indeed  they are interested, they should know the Catholic Church does indeed welcome them with open arms.

The Church simply requires that one be converted; that certain renunciations are made by the penitent to demonstrate he or she has indeed repented of their sins.  (The penitent must realize there are certain conditions to be met.)  Then, after sacramental confession, they can receive Holy Communion.  So parents, teach your children, but please don’t try to tell the Roman Catholic Church to change teachings she has no authority to change.

[Photos of the Cathedral demonstration from Wild Reed - a post detailing why the protest was staged in the first place.  Be advised the Wild Reed is a dissident website.]