Posted on 04/06/2005 9:04:20 AM PDT by Clint N. Suhks
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Leaders of San Francisco's gay community expressed sadness over the death of Pope John Paul II, but said they felt isolated from the church by what they say was his anti-homosexual reign.
And the pope's successor is unlikely to institute any major changes that could bring disaffected gay Catholics back into the faith, they said.
"His death hit me, even though I don't like anything he stood for," 39-year-old Darryl Kalbaugh said from behind a cash register at a stationery shop called "Does Your Mother Know" in the gay Castro District.
A few blocks away, in the purple-and-rose faced building that houses the predominantly gay interfaith Metropolitan Community Church there is little hope the passing of the pope will breach the walls that homosexuals feel shut them out from the Roman Catholic faith.
"Within our community, we have a large number of people who grew up in the Roman Catholic faith but who no longer participate because they feel excluded as gay or lesbian people," Reverend Paul Fairley said.
"Christ affirmed the body, the sacredness of sexuality," he said from one of the padded office chairs serving as pews in the humble church sanctuary.
The church's Reverend Joe McMurray, who converted from Catholicism to a faith he felt was more accepting of him as a gay man, praised the pope but was quick to criticize his flaws, especially his views on homosexuality.
"I believe he was good. I believe he could have been better," he said. "The pope was a beloved figure, even by those who disagreed with him. He proved you can be a great person and not be a perfect person."
The proof, he said, could be seen in the fact that around half the members of his multi-denominational congregation were raised Catholic but abandoned the church.
While many in San Francisco's gay community strongly oppose some of the pope's social views, the mood in the church during a special service on Sunday to mark the pope's passing was mournfully respectful, McMurray said.
"Nobody celebrates his death," McMurray said of what he has seen in the gay community here. "What we look for in his death is hope for the future."
But, he warned, "as a queer man, I tend to be cynical" of the Roman Catholic church's inclination to soften its opposition to gay community priorities such as same-sex marriage, condom use and women in the clergy.
McMurray said he believed that John Paul II had stacked the College of Cardinals with conservatives who were likely to caste the pope's successor in a similar mold.
"It seems to me the trajectory of that choice is pretty obvious," the 35-year-old Reverend Paul Fairley said of the pontiff's successor. "It's not a progressive one."
He said that the gay community in San Francisco viewed "an obvious celebration of sexuality and spirituality as blessings from God, not the opposite."
Aaron Priskorn, 26, confided he had some gay friends who took some dark delight at the pope's demise.
"I've just written the church off," Priskorn said as the sun shone warmly down on sidewalks and shops adorned with rainbow flags, a gay symbol. "I feel the Catholic church is not evolving at all."
The true potential for change in the Roman Catholic Church comes not from the pope down, but from the bottom up, contended McMurray.
The priest confided that he knows of about a half-dozen Catholic congregations with members far more socially open-minded than the Vatican would like.
"There are pockets of parishioners, clergy members, who think differently," Fairley said. "It is within those people that there can be change that makes its way back to Rome."
"There are pockets of parishioners, clergy members, who think differently," Fairley said. "It is within those people that there can be change that makes its way back to Rome."
Hey, Father Fairy, heretics are free to form their own "church" anytime they wish.
Yeah right. Ya think he thought sodomy was sex when he condemned it over and over in the Gospels?
"Christ affirmed the body, the sacredness of sexuality,"
Umm, where did that happen? I've read most of the bible, and and I'm not seeing what this guy is seeing.
These guys who split and form their own "church" are in bigg trouble...
he·re·si·arch Pronunciation Key (h-rz-ärk, hr-s-)
n.
One who originates or is the chief proponent of a heresy or heretical movement.
Frankly, who gives a #### about what the San Francisco gay community thinks about the Pope and anything else for that matter. The leftist media is desperate for liberal fringe causes to support.
Should have said it from one of the chairs in the padded room...
Wahhhhhh Wahh Wahhh...who gives a rat's ass what they are torn about?
Who gives a rat's ass what the "SF gay community" thinks of Pope John Paul?
What about Henry the VIII?
"get his in the end"? What a unfortunate phrase! LOL!
For those who practice perversion it is necessary to find justification for their abomination.
To them the Bible is a "living" document...remind you of any political affiliations?
Ah, the refreshing voice of reason. Thank-you.
I think so..
very true, very true
what is it about gay people where they need to flaunt themselves all over the place? Half of them ramble about how sacred their sexuality is, and most have way more than 1 partner a year. I don't start my sentences with "being straight, I..."
Zactly. This is what the Church teaches. What the libs are doing is telling you to accept a mental illness as normal. Once this is accepted all others will follow.
look at me look at me... I'm sad too. Hurray for Kansas.
As a recovering alcoholic, I came to the same conclusion some time ago. I can find 1,000 physicians, psychologists, behavioral analysts etc. to take positions on either side of the nature vs. nurture coin. Interesting though the debate may be, it is irrelevant in light of the fact that I have an inclination to behave in a socially deviant manner. IMHO the behavior manifests itself as the result of a spiritual void that one fills with self-destructive behavior until one finds relief elsewhere. As an alcoholic it is incumbent on me to adopt my manner of living to society and not society's responsibility to make allowances and accomodations for my predilections. The gays would do well to adopt a similar philosophy.
Aren't they always torn by mixed feelings???
Stunning that it is "torn" I thought there would be celebrations in the streets over the death of one who refused to accept their deviance.
Hmmm, "ass" and "torn" in the same sentence in a thread about gays. Not a very happy visual, I"m afraid.
Oh Lord, it's the Bible stupid!
The problem with homosexuals (and the big reason they should not dictate public policy) is that they view all of life from the perspective of where they stick their genitals.
Ya beat me to that line about clothes!!!
"Christ affirmed the body, the sacredness of sexuality,"
Ironically, Pope John Paul II affirmed the sacredness of sexuality. Being sacred, it is joyful, beautiful, and wonderful, but not recreational.
>> Morford will get his in the end...God will not be mocked. <<
Did ya hafta?
You know, I was just wondering what the homos in SF thought about the Pope's death. Not.
Curious.
I agree with what you state.
People are born with genetic predispositions to various unhealthy activities, such as alcoholism or homosexuality In some, the predisposition is slight enough that they may be perfectly functional if they are brought up in a functional environment. For others, normalcy requires heroism.
In any case, it is lunacy to defer moral responsibility to predispositions.
BlahblahblahblahIhavesexwithothermenblahblahblahblahsexblahblahblahblahhedonismblahblahblahblahnoabsolutesblahblahblahblahblahhappytobeapervertblahblahblahblahmywholeliferevolvesaroundsexblahblahblahblahblahblahblah.
Unfortunate turn of phrase.
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