Homosexuality – Two Views
Commonweal Magazine’s featured article this month is “Homosexuality & The Church – Two Views.” Luke Timothy Johnson, a prolific author, well-known speaker and a professor of theology discusses “Scripture and Experience.” Eve Tushnet, a freelance journalist and blogger handles “Experience & Tradition.”
Now I REALLY regret missing the workshop I was scheduled to attend with Dr. Johnson at the March New Ways Ministry symposium in St. Paul.
I had run across Eve Tushnet in the blogosphere. I knew from reading her blog she was conservative. I didn’t have any inkling until the Commonweal article she was a lesbian. Although I disagree with some of what she has to say, I finished the article with a lot of respect for her in the depth of her faith and sincerity, and her calm and reasoned discourse.
I have read and reread both articles, and I find more in them with every reading. I think that Eve Tushnet’s article would be an excellent resource for the CCL web site, as a compassionate support for women who wish to live chastely, but have no interest in “ex-gay” ministries of trying to turn themselves into heterosexuals.
I do agree with her in this statement: “I feel as if every week or so I discover yet another hidden treasure of the church that speaks to me in exactly the way I need in order to deal specifically with my struggles, resentments, longings and strengths as a woman and a lesbian.”
Eve Tushnet presents a more positive, loving response to gay and lesbian Catholics than the standard, dry bread: parents, love your children, and take in the children that have been rejected by their families. Accept them, and help them in their struggles to live a chaste life and find grace in doing so.
If I believed the church has the answer on sexuality, especially female sexuality, I would use her as my role model. However, I don’t.
Actions speak louder than words. Where are 25, 50, 100–out and chaste, lesbians and gay men, clergy and laity, in positions of authority and power in the Church? Out dykes who head up youth ministry, diocesan offices, or responsible for religious formation?
When I see lesbians and gay men living church teaching, and who are also honored and respected within the institution by very visible appointments, then I’ll have a sign the Church believes its own teaching.
http://www.commonwealmagazine.org
http://eve-tushnet.blogspot.com
