MA Catholics Condemn Attempt To Ban LGBTQ+ People From Sacraments

BOSTON, MA —The local LGBTQ+ Catholic group Dignity Boston has spoken out against a newly revealed document from the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan that excludes LGBTQ+ people from most of the sacraments and prohibits them from serving in many other roles within the church, referring to the instructions as “Egregious” and “Cruel."

The document, titled "An Instruction on Some Aspects of the Pastoral Care of Persons with Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Dysphoria,” directs priests to ban transgender individuals and those in same-sex relationships from the Catholic Church’s sacraments, including Baptism, Communion, Confirmation, and the Anointing of the Sick unless they have repented and renounced their gear affirmation treatment or relationship.

“The Marquette diocese’s instructions are the most egregious and exclusionary I have ever seen,” said Marianne Duddy-Burke, Executive Director of DignityUSA and longtime member of Dignity Boston, in a statement. “It is appalling that, under the guise of ‘pastoral care,’ this document essentially strips LGBTQ+ people from any role in the church other than sinner.”

In addition to preventing LGBTQ+ Catholics from receiving the sacraments, the document also bars them from taking on important roles in the church, including serving as sponsors for the Sacraments or eucharistic ministers.

“This document is trying to use our church’s sacraments to coerce compliance with church teachings that the vast majority of US Catholics do not accept” said Duddy-Burke. “It cannot prevent people from recognizing that we are transgender or gay. But it is a cruel attempt to prevent LGBTQ+ people from living as we were created, becoming our true selves, and experiencing the joy and grace of loving relationships. That just won’t work. What it will do is shame people, potentially into despair and suicide. It will certainly force people out of the church, including both LGBTQ+ people and those who support them.”

Here are a few of the most controversial statements from the document:

"When we explain the teaching of the Church, we must remember that it is good news to a broken world. For example, the sexual revolution and the breakdown of marriages have led to barrenness, broken hearts, broken lives, and broken families. The Church’s teaching, in contrast, fosters steadfast love, fidelity, unity, and fruitfulness. This is good news! The way to healing is embracing Jesus and his teaching.”

"Only in the context of marriage between one man and one woman can sexual intercourse express a love that is permanent, because they have given their whole lives to each other by the promises that they made to each other on their wedding day. Outside of marriage, sexual activity cannot express permanent love."

"Because of the fundamental body‐soul unity of the human person, the sex of the person and the sex of the body are the same. Every one of us is created as either male or female. Thus, to live according to the truth of our human nature, we are to embrace our bodily sex. It is a gift given to us.”

"It is also important to weigh the potential of scandal in making decisions whether to delay the celebration of a sacrament, withhold Holy Communion or the other sacraments, or determine that a person is not disposed to exercise a liturgical ministry or position of leadership...If a person is publicly manifesting behaviors that are objectively gravely sinful, allowing him or her to receive the sacraments or exercise leadership may cause scandal.”

"Persons who are living in a same‐sex sexual relationship (or in any sexual relationship outside of an ecclesiastically recognized marriage between one man and one woman) should not present themselves for Holy Communion.... Similarly, persons who identify as a different gender than their biological sex or have attempted 'gender transitioning' should not present themselves for Holy Communion."

In light of the Diocese of Marquette’s instructions, DignityUSA is calling on all Catholics and people of faith to object to the document publicly and demand that the document be rescinded by Bishop John Doerfler, the leader of the Marquette diocese, by signing this petition.

In addition, Doerfler can be reached directly at 906-227-9115 or by emailing jdoerfler@dioceseofmarquette.org.

Read more:

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