hello my name is joe ...eh ( canadian)

[joeeh]

I am only one but still I am one.I can not do everything but I can still do something!... This christmas eve I was driving home thinking about how I use to attend mass at midnight with my family. I heard a news in review story about the popes anti gay message and became angry all over again. I decided i would attend midnight service in a different way . I went home and made a large poster which read.Non Gay friendly pope +bishop +sex scandles in church+no women clergy+ etc = dysfunctional cathloic church...remember Christ at mass to night.. GAY and PROUD....I stood in the cold across from our main Catheral.. for an hour as people entered the church.. some came to talk some took pictures. I quietly sang silent night and felt calm thinking how my father use to stand for an hour ever year in silence at the tomb of the unknow soilder.At 57 years of age I felt I hade FINALLY become a man.It was strange that eventual the church doors were locked so many could not enter because of fire regulations and thought is jesus had shown up he would have been sent away as there was no room at this INN...I must say the police did come by read my sign . Said merry christmas and left without any negative comments...Funny how the church does not need to move into the present but to go to its past and remember the real teachings of LOVE

[Here2Learn22]

Lol at topic title...welcome Joe. Glad you're here, and I think that might be one of the nicest ways to spend a Christmas eve...though as a Jew it's just another night for me.

Again, welcome.

[scott snedeker]

Bully for you!!!!

You will have caused more pause for thought than you will ever know!

[Gennee]

Welcome to the site, Joe. An interesting way to spend Christmas eve, but I believe your point was made.

Gennee

[offog]

Hi joeeh!

Greetings from a fellow Canadian. I know I'm kind of late sending this response, but I haven't been to the Soulforce site since November. I'm in Regina, Saskatchewan, and I'm a straight white woman who supports the GLBT cause.

I'm an agnostic myself, so I can't imagine how painful it is for you to be rejected by an institution you once believed in. I guess you must feel betrayed.

Your story reminded me of my friend who is the Grandma of a 4-year-old girl who was conceived in-vitrio. My friend is a nice Catholic senior lady who has problems with a lot of Church policies (including the anti-gay stuff). She was upset by the Church's stand against the in-vitrio process. Her response is "You want to tell me that my granddaughter doesn't have a right to live?"

The Catholic Pope's anti-gay attitude bothers me too. It isn't just the anti-gay thing either. The Church is all twisted about anything to do with sex.

I remember a few years ago I read a something in a Saturday Globe & Mail book review section about a book about Popes. The book said that the reason the Catholic Church will never change its policy on birth control is because of the Papal infallibility doctrine. If the Church changes it's policy on birth control, that would amount to an admission that previous Popes got it wrong. Can't very well have that, eh? I figure it's going to be the same thing with Church's policy on homosexuality.

If you want to know what this straight woman is doing on this site, please check out my profile at "Hello, I'm Pete in Canada". The last post date is 09-15-2008. When I checked today, your profile was on Page 2, and mine was on Page 4. I'd like to hear from you. Let me know what you're up to these days, eh?

Pete

[Jennifer5]

Welcome Joe.

[BruceChris]

I belong to a small church, mostly gay, and with a lot of "recovering Catholics" Our church is quite liberal, and has none of the shortcomings that you mention, although we're not perfect.

Are you looking for a church? You didn't mention where you are going from here.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[offog]

Dear Bruce:

I like the motto on the bottom of your post:

"Christianity is not about what you believe, it is about how you treat other people; - with God's love"

I'm not religious, but I dig that. It reminds me of my favourite motto:
"What we desire for ourselves, we wish for all."

Best wishes to you and to Joe.

Offog