Could God get into ND?
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Here's a gay joke I don't mind hearing. It was told by the priest at my home parish before I came to Notre Dame this past fall:
A young, openly gay man had recently moved to a new community. As a practicing Catholic, he inquired about membership at the local parish. He had celebrated Eucharist there on several occasions — the music was uplifting, the homilies were always good, etc. Some parishioners learned this young man was gay and approached the priest. The priest, in turn, met with the young man about the dilemma. The priest knew the man was welcome to join, but he didn't know the effect his sexuality would have on the other parishioners. So the priest and the young man agreed they would pray on the issue and make a decision only with more thought and consideration.
Several weeks later, the priest ran into the young man while shopping. The priest said, "I haven't seen you at church in a while."
The young man replied, "Well, I took your advice to pray and see what God has to say about belonging to your church."
"Really? And what did God tell you?" the priest asked.
The young man answered, "God said, "Don't bother! I've been trying to get into that church for years, and they still don't even let me in!"
While it may be a harsh criticism to say God is not welcome at Notre Dame, I do not think too many would disagree with the criticism that gays and lesbians often are made to feel they are unwelcome on campus.
Therefore, I feel Campus Ministry should be thanked and congratulated for its efforts over the past few days for their work to support, welcome and stand in solidarity with the gay and lesbian community on campus. Even when the administration does not recognize OUTreachND, Campus Ministry was willing to recognize it and its members as the campus celebrated Solidarity Sunday this past weekend. Father Tom Doyle should be especially recognized for his efforts to make all people feel welcome here on campus. His considerations and challenges in the Campus Ministry column on Oct. 28 are not only very poignant, but they are also words of great hope — of what this campus could be if his words are heeded — a foretaste of that great day in heaven when all will be one.
I was very lucky to be able to hand out Solidarity Sunday prayer cards and ribbons at the Basilica after the football game against Navy (despite the challenge to get past security to get into the Basilica so I actually could hand them out). How uplifting when members of the congregation thanked me for what I was doing, or patted me on the back, or asked for additional copies of the prayer cards and ribbons. How disheartening when others — including a visiting priest — looked at the ground or straight ahead, just to avoid eye contact with me.
But handing out prayer cards and ribbons is the easy beginning. The challenge, as Father Tom wrote, comes each and every day as we try to follow the pledge on the prayer cards — "to stand with Christ, in community, with all my brothers and sisters." I am certain that each person on campus has one friend, one classmate, or even a roommate, who wants to come out to you — but is scared to death. Often it is easier to live with the loneliness than the fear of rejection by friends. They may want to share with you pain of a break-up, the hurt of a joke, the excitement of coming out or the happiness of a new relationship, but they just do not know how you will react. You may have no intention of rejecting your gay and lesbians friends — but how do they know that?
Please accept the challenge of Campus Ministry and OUTreachND to stand in solidarity with your gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Don't just throw those ribbons away — pin it to your bag, or hang it in your room — put it somewhere your friends can see it. Why? Like the parish who could welcome neither young gay man nor God, St. Benedict in his Rule would give this answer: "All are to be welcomed as Christ, for he himself will say: I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matt 25:35)."
Charles Middendorf
Graduate Student, Department of Theology
O'Hara-Grace Townhomes
October 31, 1999
All Viewpoint Stories for Monday, November 1, 1999
