The Tough Way (some thoughts about Joe Zammit's fundementalism)

Dear guys et al,



I take my time in answering such emails because I like to absorb and let things simmer gently in my soul. If I answer immediately, instinctively I would be aggressive. Joe Zammit's comments are not exactly forgiving.



In any case, I woke up thinking about Tonio Borg and the bishop's comments, I wonder what they really think when they are alone with themselves!! On a human level do they really believe that their fellow brothers and sisters are less than them? On the one hand if they truly follow their Christian values, I think not. On the other hand the political arena is a different ball game, both the Church and the government are political so their reasoning might be different. For the latter I think yes, for the former I am not so sure!! What they really feel and think deep down inside is another matter completely.



Nevertheless, somehow this morning I thought of Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Abraham Lincoln, John F Kennedy and President Barak Obama. In some way or other, they suffered oppression, some direct, some indirect. My favourite of all these great men is Gandhi, in a way he really emulated Jesus Christ. He did everything from the perspective of love, exactly in the same way Jesus did. He suffered a great deal but in the end he was victorious, just like Jesus. He held on to his truth and that was to do things out of love, despite the circumstances he found himself in. Jesus' greatest commandment is to love, no matter what, love thy neighbour even if they are down right stupid. I am pretty sure that both Gandhi and Jesus had their moments and just wanted to send everyone to blazes but that was the easy way. The easy way does not bring results, the tough way does. For some it comes easy for others its a little bit harder. I must confess that I would really like to emulate some of Jesus' ways and do things out of love, however really and truly, I find it quite hard.



Well, I would say that for Drachma right now this is a hard moment, am I safe in saying that some of us really want to reply in the same manner that we are treated? Obviously you don't have to answer, I am quite sure that for some the answer is yes. Yes, instinctively it would be really human to do so. However, if we are firm in our beliefs, that is that Jesus loves us in spite of who we are and exactly the way we were created then why let people like Joe Zammit( or whoever it might be)get to us? He is but another modern day Pharisee and unfortunately there are many like him. However, he is still a creation of God, so as a friend rightly put it, he too is not a mistake, he too was created with love. So the only way to go about it is to reach out with love, keep on doing what we have been doing. Creating bridges, inviting great speakers and people. Talking with members of the church and we all know that we have been greeted and we have had very important fruitful discussions.



Even though it is difficult, lets take the tough way, be patient, be silent, reach out, as Mario puts it, forge our way forward with love and respect for all who don't understand us. In the end, I'll bet not in our life time, others will reap the fruits of the seeds that we sow. Like Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and so many others, we too have to wait but our time will come.

In Reply to Mario's wonderful Open Letter addressed to Journalists

hey mario, wow, very well written, its so important to also highlight the good energy, unfortunately we tend to only look at the bad one. Also, perhaps not many people read newspapers or articles on the net. People talk to one another and when we talk we tend to put our own persepective into it, if its a bad one it spreads like wild fire. I for one tried to read the message, however it is so verbose that half way through I gave up. As you correctly pointed out, the language that the Vatican uses is not so simple. Therefore this may inadvertedly give rise to violence and reaffirmation to people at large that homosexuality is 'bad'. I think one very simple basic thing that the vatican could do is to write easy reading artices. They seem to forget that its not a them and us situation but its a we and until they realise this it will exclude those people who really want to feel part of the church but cant and simply refuse to. In doing so they alienate people from the church and create the opposite effect of what they want, that is for people to move towards the church and God. I dont feel that I am part of the church because I cant feel part of something that for so many years has caused me so much pain BUT and I say it with a big BUT I know in my heart that I am a loved child of God and at this point in time no matter what the Pope says about homesexuality, gender issues etc etc is of no importance to me. So the work that Drachma is doing is of huge importance, as it has worked for me it can work for others. In a way its creating a liason between the people at large and the church. Lets carry on with this wonderful work and lets show the people at large that we too are worthy children of God.


Diane

HOPE FOR GAY CATHOLICS

Sunday, 4th May 2008


Thank you for publishing Ariadne Massa's sensitive and insightful interview with Sr Jeannine Gramick (The Sunday Times, March 16). The peace and healing conveyed by the article and Sr Jeannine's talk at St. James Cavalier still linger within me.

For many years, I lived in doubt that I could be gay and Catholic. I felt the doors to love were closed and that, if I didn't conform to all the Church's teachings about homosexuality, I would not go to heaven. The choice between one's own integration as a healthy human being and one's own faith is an unjust burden placed on a gay person's shoulders.

Sr Jeannine's message that God created diversity in nature and also diversity in human sexuality is one that we all need to hear. God created me the way I am. My life and my love are valuable in God's eyes and have profound meaning. Contrary to what I felt for many years, I now feel blessed! Sr Jeannine encouraged us not to be afraid of whom we are, to come out into the light from the dark closet, and to stand in the love of God.

Although I had abandoned the Catholic Church for a long time, my relationship with God never ceased. I had been looking for a group that embraces both the Catholic Church and me as a gay person. I found that group. It's called Drachma.

Drachma sponsored Sr Jeannine's visit to Malta. The attendance and sharing during that evening at St James Cavalier proved how much gay people, their parents, families, and friends are hungry for dialogue. In addition to our prayer group and general meetings, Drachma has now formed a support group for parents. To receive support, contact Drachma at www.drachmalgbt. blogspot.com or e-mail: drachmalgbt@gmail.com or call 7947 5853.

Diane Xuereb, St. Julians

OPEN OUR LIPS

We have heard the sounds of women's silence.
We have listened to our sisters' voices.
We have been stirred by their passion,
Encouraged by their strength,
Instructed by their wisdom.

We, like them, wish to speak out.
We, like them, desire to speak truly.
We, like them, have a story to proclaim.
We long to midwife a new and living word for our time.

But often we are afraid.
We fear the sound of our own voices.
We would not know our own strength,
We would not claim our power.

We have not eloquence, no find-sounding words or polished phrases.
Our speech is halting, we stumble and stutter over the words of life.
Our lips are sealed, like the tombs of the unloving.
Our tongues are heavy as stones within our mouths.

Come to us and speak to us in our weakness.
Set fire of your speech in our throats,
And the burning coal of your passion on our tongues.
Loosen our lips to proclaim your praise.

O you, whose voice rolls over the waters
And thunders over the oceans,
Whose word splits even the cedar trees
And breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon,

Whose voice makes the oaks shake and shudder,
And strips the forest bare,
Whose word whirls the sands of the desert
And resounds through the mountains:

Open our lips and our mouth shall declare your praise.

Nicola Slee

We too are Your Children, We too are part of your Church

On the 16h of May Drachma is organizing a special prayer meeting entitled ‘We too are Your Children, We too are part of Your Church’ to mark the International Day against Homophobia [www.idahomophobia.org] celebrated internationally on the 17th of May. The activity is going to be held at the Millennium Chapel, 8:00p.m.

Drachma is inviting in a special way LGBT people who are or have been victims of homophobia. Drachma would also like to extend this invitation to parents, family and friends of LGBT who have been victims of homophobia, or who have been victims themselves. We would also like to invite in a particular manner parents, family and friends of LGBT who have committed suicide.

Drachma hopes that this meeting will be a healing encounter with Jesus Christ which will bring reconciliation, forgiveness, hope and life to all those who experienced or are experiencing prejudice, violence or even death in some way or another.

If you require further information do not hesitate to contact us on drachmalgbt@gmail.com or on 79 342 328.

OUR LADY OF ALL NATIONS

Changing the Laws

Next I see St. Peter’s. The Lady says, “Child, there you see the Pope in full pontificals, holding up two fingers. Listen carefully. The doctrine is right, but the Pope is entitled to change the laws. He should see it through.”

All the while I see the Pope sitting before me, holding up two fingers. Next I see a large session hall, in which the Pope is seated.

“Child,” says the Lady, “the laws may be changed. They may, they must be changed. The social classes must come closer to each other. Those in Rome should see it through and set the example for the entire world. Consider and speak––and again I say to you: love is the first commandment, and next to it, as if joined to it by an arch, truth and righteousness.”

http://www.de-vrouwe.net/english/index.html?the_title.htm

Desmond Tutu Salutes IGLHRC