How Will the Catholic Church Cope with Nationwide Gay Marriage?

Over the centuries the Catholic Church has changed at typically a glacial pace - usually prodded only by a massive exodus of members, the Reformation being a prime example.  Now, the Church faces a coming exodus (it's actually already started) over the issue of gay marriage with Millennials increasing leaving the Church.  All three of my own children are part of the exodus and, if they were to join a church, it would have to be one that is gay accepting.   Meanwhile conservative social organizations - our local yacht club and country club are examples - are accepting married gay couples as members.  Yet a group of bitter old men, many self-loathing closeted gays, at the Vatican continue to oppose bring the Church into the 21st century on this issue.  The "church fathers" had hoped that a growing Hispanic population (and the custom of never removing non-churchgoing Catholics) from would keep membership numbers up, yet now even Hispanics are supportive of gay marriage.  The Church, like the GOP, finds itself preaching to a shrinking demographic.  A piece in Patheos looks at the Church's dilemma.  Here are excerpts:

As Philadelphia prepares for the Pope’s visit and the World Meeting of Families, one would expect to see a program aimed at addressing the Church’s plan to be more pastoral toward gay, lesbian, and transgender people. In a recent Philadelphia Inquirer article, the only mention of such efforts to be expected during the World Meeting of Families was about a celibate man who is gay. That’s it. Not exactly a wide-ranging discussion on the contours of modern life and the family.

By June of this year, the Supreme Court of the United States may finally resolve the issue of same-sex marriage for the entire nation. Depending on the ruling, it’s likely that an increasing number of Catholic institutions (schools and hospitals, in particular) will have to make difficult policy decisions on issues such as granting benefits to same-sex couples. Many Catholics institutions will cite religious freedom or tradition to legitimize the denial of coverage to gay and lesbian couples. Others will try to make distinctions between fair and unfair discrimination, arguing that such a denial would be a morally licit form of discrimination.

For Catholics that cite long-standing rules as a reason to reject any recognition of same sex civil marriages or changes in pastoral care, it must be remembered that the Church has come to terms with changes to civil marriage in the past without altering its teaching. 

 

Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg recently said, “I do not wish to lend our voice to notions which might suggest that same-sex couples are a threat incapable of sharing relationships marked by love and holiness and, thus, incapable of contributing to the edification of both the church and the wider society.” Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp recently indicated that gay and lesbian couples should be more widely accepted in both society and the Church . . .

Sadly, such an atmosphere does not widely exist. Individuals and institutions that desire to provide greater pastoral care and rights to gay, lesbian, and transgender people and their families too often fear a backlash that might threaten the other important work that they do. No one should have to fear reaching out to the marginalized or ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare.

Finally, fixing the Church’s approach to gay, lesbian, and transgender people is essential when it comes to responding to the concerns of millennials. In a recent National Catholic Reporter article, it was reported that Fr. Peter Daly sat down with about 40 young Catholic adults and asked them why their age group is turning away from the church. The number one reason provided by the group was the Church’s treatment of LGBT people. This seems to reflect the data on millennials and millennial Catholics. The Pew Research Center found that 85% of young Catholics between the ages of 18 to 29 believe gays and lesbians should be accepted by society.

When millennial Catholics see friends and family members who feel isolated and unwelcome because of their sexual orientation, they too feel alienated. And when necessities like healthcare are denied, they often think the Church is being unjust. They see the Church as embracing a narrow commitment to man-made rules and traditions rather than a more loving, compassionate approach. 

In fairness, it should be noted that the Catholic Church is not the only denomination losing younger generations because of its extreme homophobia.  The Southern Baptist Convention is seeing a similar trend.   Thus, the question becomes whether or not churches will modernize or continue to engage in a slow form of suicide.