Reflections on Vatican II and LGBT Issues–Part 3: Openness to the World
The third part in a three-part series reflecting on Vatican II and LGBT issues. For the first part, click here; for the second part, click here.
The third dynamic that Richard Gaillardetz identified as instrumental to making Vatican II a success is “openness to the world.” In his article in America magazine, he discusses this concept:
“The final dynamic evident in the council’s deliberations was its openness to the world. Pope John XXIII himself set the tone for this openness. . . .
“Pope John knew well the evils present in the world, but he was convinced that we must not exaggerate those evils and succumb to a dark apocalypticism. In his many addresses and homilies he evinced an attitude of respectful yet critical engagement with the world. In ‘Humanae Salutis,’ the apostolic constitution with which he formally convoked the council, the pope warned of ‘distrustful souls’ who ‘see only darkness burdening the face of the earth.’ And in his opening address at the council, he noted the advice he sometimes received from ‘prophets of gloom’ who see ‘nothing but prevarication and ruin’ in the world today.
“Pope John XXIII was convinced that Christians must be willing to read ‘the signs of the times’ and enter into a more constructive engagement with the world. . . .
“Here again the council’s conduct and attitude offer insight for our modern church, for we still hear far too many apocalyptic pronouncements regarding ‘a culture of death’ and a ‘toxic secularism.’ The council reminds us that we must not yield in the face of evil, but neither can we close our eyes to the signals of grace always present where humans seek justice and truth and ask the great questions about life’s meaning and ultimate significance.”
In regard to LGBT issues today, the current hierarchy would do well to follow this advice to be more open to the world. Too often they sound like Pope John’s “prophets of gloom” who “see only darkness burdening the face of the earth.” The negative attitude of the current hierarchy is doing great harm to their relationship with the world on LGBT issues and other issues as well.
Equally important, this negative attitude harms the hierarchy themselves. In a sense, they are blinding themselves to all the good and holiness that exists in the LGBT community. Sadly, they are missing out on the joy of life experienced by many in the Catholic LGBT community, specifically. The gospel is being lived out in both traditional and new ways in the faith experiences of those involved in the Catholic LGBT community, but the hierarchy’s negativity and closed-mindedness prevents them from seeing this.
By being more open to the world, as the bishops at Vatican II were, the current hierarchy could learn from new advances in science and social science regarding gender and sexuality. The world outside the church doesn’t have to be treated as the enemy. God works there, too. Instead of building a fortress around the church to “protect” it from the world, the current hierarchy should be engaging it so that the spirit of the Gospel can inform and enlighten it.
One note of caution: I don’t mean to imply that LGBT issues are issues of “the world” only. LGBT people are very much part of the church and its life already and don’t necessarily need to be “reached out” to. But by being more open to the world, the hierarchy could be establishing better forms of communication with those in the LGBT community who do not share the church’s vision of faith. Sadly, they have too often painted themselves into a corner where they have no available tools to speak credibly or effectively with those not in the church.
You may have noticed that there is some overlap between the three dynamics which Gaillardetz has identified: catholicity of dialogue, humble learning, and openness to the world. These three concepts work with each other; if one develops one of them, the other two, it seems, would be easy to develop, too. Openness to the world includes being open to dialogue and being a humble learner, for example.
The most effective way that I see to reclaim the spirit of Vatican II for the church is for lay people to start living out these three dynamics the best ways that we are able to do so. To paraphrase Gandhi, we must be the change we want to see in the church. One of the greatest lessons of Vatican II is that lay people are equal partners with the hierarchy in building up the church. We can’t expect the hierarchy to live the spirit of Vatican II if we don’t live it ourselves. In doing so, we can help to transform our church on LGBT issues. Indeed, we can help to tranform our church. Period.
–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry
These three reflections are much appreciated. Doing an “intervention” for a Bishop, or a Church, that is doing serious harm to itself by its positions on certain issues, is a scary thing. People “in charge” don’t like to listen, usually. So, many GLBT persons have rather walked away from “religion” altogether. To attempt to dialogue with Bishops who so readily dismiss the opportunities to do so, requires much humility, patience, persistence and preparation on the part of the Laity. It can be exhausting work. Nevertheless, the attempts to dialogue must continue, and the Laity, on their part, must come with prepared, convincing remarks and facts of substance, all delivered with honest conviction. Whew! That’s a lot of effort. Who can bear it?
Thanks for these three reflections. As a former student of Rick’s and a Queer Catholic, I have a deep appreciation for the convergence of these topics. Dialogue is absolutely necessary and I certainly try to do my part here on the ground level. It’s good to be reminded that I’m in good company!