Columnists
Pride
Sunday, June 16. This morning, to paraphrase my friend Sandy, I got ready to go to church. I did. I wore the most colourful outfit I could find in my closet and I went to church. I didn’t go to a church service, but I did celebrate, outside of the church, with hundreds of people who had gathered to show what love, inclusion and community really means. LOML and I attended the wonderful Pride @ St. Greg’s gathering. If you just woke up, and some of you may have done just that, the shepherd of the flock at St. Gregory’s felt it was important to climb into the way-back-confessional and spread what he felt is the word of the Lord. And the word wasn’t nice, or kind, or loving. It was the word of a man who just came out as a pious hypocrite. It was the word of a person who never truly grasped the meaning of the so-called “word of the Lord,” and because he missed the lessons on the truth about giving and receiving love, he wrote words of shunning and exclusion in the parish’s bulletin.
“A reminder that Catholics and all other Christians should not attend LGBTQ2 “Pride Month” events held this month. They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Christian faith and morals. This is especially harmful to children because it could lead them away from God’s revealed Truth. Even in “The County” there are Pride flags and banners flying courtesy of the Government. Think………these are your tax dollars at work!”
On so many levels I was, personally, hurt by his words. Indeed, hundreds of people were hurt and saddened because, as the saying goes, “The pen is mightier than the sword”. I’m sure Robert Chisholm felt those words were exactly what his Lord wanted him to say and what he needed to impart on the parishioners. Yet, as I stood amongst so many friends, neighbours and members of this community, I found it very difficult to believe that anyone’s “Lord” would call forshunning, shaming, denial of love, and exclusion. In the truest sense of the word, “moral”, I found myself standing with people who are good, right-minded, principled, honourable, respectful and decent. I was standing with people who are parents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I was one person among so many who give love and receive love. I was humbled to be with people who live, work, contribute and love in this community.
Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t always a very understanding person. By way of an excuse, I was raised in an era when disdain and intolerance for differences was the order of the day. I’ve learned a lot about humankind since moving to this community in the early 1970s. I slowly learned to put my viewpoint aside and tried to see things from another person’s perspective. I learned to listen to my heart and question my own attitudes and to ask questions of others whose opinions I don’t share or don’t understand. I love being a part of this diverse, colourful and exciting community. We are the community of Prince Edward County. We share interests, attitudes and goals.
“Pride Week gives all of us an opportunity to recognize the human rights and dignity of all persons in our community,” said Steve Ferguson, Mayor of Prince Edward County. I could not have said it better myself.
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