I have been working towards an extended post on the US and Scottish bishops’ interventions on the moves towards civil marriage equality, but have been struggling to get several different strands of thought together into a coherent single post. However, listening to the Scripture readings in Mass this morning, I thought that they all have a direct relevance. If these words from the Gospel of are applicable to priests, how much more can we apply them to the bishops?

Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying,
“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice.
They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry
and lay them on people’s shoulders,
but they will not lift a finger to move them.
All their works are performed to be seen.
They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi.’
As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’
You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Call no one on earth your father;
you have but one Father in heaven.
Do not be called ‘Master’;
you have but one master, the Christ.
The greatest among you must be your servant.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled;
but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Mt 23:1-12

What the bishops say about persons with same - sex attraction is that there should be no unjust discrimination, and that we should be treated with dignity, respect and understanding. What they do, is to wade into the political process to enshrine discrimination, often using offensive language and statements about us that show little dignity or respect, and no attempt at understanding at all.

Some of their representations on the subject amount to not simply a war on gay marriage, but a war on the Catholic people. Their claims to be defending religious freedom are the reverse - an assault on it. I will expand on this, and explain my reasoning later. In the meantime, reflect also on the other two readings for today:

A great King am I, says the LORD of hosts,
and my name will be feared among the nations.
And now, O priests, this commandment is for you:
If you do not listen,
if you do not lay it to heart,
to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts,
I will send a curse upon you
and of your blessing I will make a curse.
You have turned aside from the way,
and have caused many to falter by your instruction;
you have made void the covenant of Levi,
says the LORD of hosts.
I, therefore, have made you contemptible
and base before all the people,
since you do not keep my ways,
but show partiality in your decisions.
Have we not all the one father?
Has not the one God created us?
Why then do we break faith with one another,
violating the covenant of our fathers?

Mal 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

 

To counter the hostility, take comfort from the words of the Psalm:

R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother’s lap,
so is my soul within me.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.
O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.
R. In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

Ps 131:1, 2, 3

In the Lord we find peace (and justice), even if not at the hands of the self-appointed spokesmen for the Church