Tuesday, April 3, 2012

The Catholic Church and Accountability...

I originally posted this here:


http://www.queerattitude.com/blogs/viewentry.php?id=9673


Then, I read this blog, which inspired me to post mine to a wider audience. Here's the blog that inspired me:


http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Anyway, here's my post.


I'm pretty much of the view that people can believe whatever they want, as long as they don't hurt others, or enforce their beliefs on the unwilling. To be honest, extreme atheism irritates me just as much as religious fundamentalism.

Lately though, I've just become more and more pissed off with what I see as institutionalised religion. It's all very well to say 'People can believe whatever they want, as long as they don't hurt others', but the fact is, a lot of the time, the line seems to become blurred. That is, the line between what is considered damaging and what is not. Generally, it would be considered that voicing one's belief would not hurt anyone, but simple statement of one's belief can be harmful in and of itself, especially if it's said enough times, if it becomes ingrained. Lives are destroyed. Families are torn apart, friends are lost. People kill themselves out of an inability to reconcile their beliefs and their sexuality, or their family members' sexuality. 

Many major Christian denominations come out and say things like 'We love homosexuals, we just don't love their actions'. Now, on the surface, that sort of statement is miles away from the sort of thing that the Westbro Church does. It *seems* innocuous. But the thing is that there is just as much narrow-mindedness underlying that kind of statement as there is underlying the actions of people like Fred Phelps. For example, Pope Benedict even went so far as to brand homosexuality as an 'objective disorder', saying 'Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered to an intrinsic moral evil, and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder.' An 'intrinsic moral evil'? Sounds me like a nicer way of saying 'God hates fags'. Also, the very phrasing of Benedict's statement, referring to 'the homosexual person' is impersonal, and is a blatant example of 'othering'. 

But do we question these sorts of statements enough? No. Because it's considered freedom of religion. And sure, freedom of religion is a right I think people should be afforded. That said, what about the responsibilities that come with having rights? The responsibilities we *all* have to treat one another with respect and dignity, and to embrace *everything* about a person, not just those we deem acceptable. And people like Benedict are in a position of authority, with an ability of influence the masses. They, more than anyone have a responsibility to promote acceptance of ALL people, and to do away with centuries-old rhetoric that has no place in modern society.

I am *sick* of the fact that these religious authorities are allowed to say such prejudiced things simply on the basis that they're 'just expressing their beliefs'. If I 'just expressed my belief' that I thought all people with brown skin were innately inferior and possessed by the devil, I would be branded a racist and probably socially rejected. And rightly so. I think that people who openly voice discrimination against another group have no place in societies.

Sadly, though, men of cloth remain virtually untouchable. Not only is there voiceless acceptance of continuing discrimination of LGBT people, the masses have also 'turned the other cheek' to the countless incidences of paedophilia that have happened, not only in the Catholic Church, but in others as well. In addition, the Catholic Church's continuing stance against condom use has doubtless contributed to the rampant spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries. Benedict has even stated that condoms *cause* AIDS. I have never heard so much crap in my life.

Yet Pope Benedict is allowed to continue his reign of lies in the name of religion.

And I continue to sit here, tearing out my hair and wondering why.