By the end of my first time reading through the YA novel “The God Box” by Alex Sanchez (a writer colleague of mine) I was sobbing. Not only is it a beautiful story of two boys who fall in love, but it takes place at a Christian prep school, where Christianity’s relationship (and rejection) of homosexuality is front and center, yet in a way that this argument’s legitimacy is confronted and mounts an impressive, biblical defense of homosexuality.
I taught it last semester in a course on Religion and Children’s Literature at Boston University, and my students were so moved and thought the book so important that it should be taught nationwide at schools.
Well, we were certainly not the only ones who adored Sanchez’s novel. Sacred Heart Preparatory School (it’s a high school) in San Francisco turned “The God Box” into a play called “Be Still and Know” that they performed on January 30th of this year to great success. The play was so successful, the students were invited to perform it again yesterday, March 8th, at Most Holy Redeemer parish (also in SF).
However, in the end, they didn’t. Or better said: weren’t allowed to.
The Archbishop of San Francisco George Niederauer and the requisite circle of vicious, right-wing Catholic bloggers stepped in and had the play canceled, under threat of closing the parish.
As a Catholic and a huge fan of Sanchez’s work, it makes me ill to think that this play was canceled within a parish forum, and with such vicious dialogue surrounding the reason why. The views of certain members of the Church hierarchy and a particular faction of the blogosphere (who evidently likes picking on schoolchildren) do not represent the entire Church–not by a long shot. It’s these kinds of acts–canceling a school play that is trying to grapple with the tough issue of faith and homosexuality–that shuts down the possibility of loving, open dialogue about real issues that Church members care deeply about today, most of whom want a robust opportunity for reflection on such issues within their Church.
To say that Catholics shouldn’t even be thinking about alternate, biblical interpretations of homosexuality simply smacks of fear. It makes me tired and sad, tired and sad, for the kids, for the parish, for Sanchez, and for the entire community to be dealing with such a situation, especially in such close wake to Proposition 8.
But there is one bit of happy news to share: the University of San Francisco, a Catholic university, stepped in and offered the kids a place to put up their play yesterday. Of course, now bloggers are claiming it’s not really a Catholic college. I think that tells you more about the bloggers than anyone else, as do their other posts attacking high school kids in a play. It’s too bad that these high school students had to have such a terrible, direct experience of the darker side of the Catholic faith and its hierarchy at such a young age. Luckily, the Catholic Church is a big tent that fits many of us in all our diversity.
posted March 10, 2009 at 5:18 pm
The Catholic Church is not a democracy…neither is God’s will. It is silly and idiotic to think that the word of God can change at the whim of a culture.
The author say that the Catholic Church is a “big tent” and it is true. Catholics are to love all people. But the author misses something most people usually do. Love is not a blank check approval for one’s actions, beliefs, or conduct. If you do not want to worship and believe as a Catholic or Christian, don’t call yourself one. Do not seek approval by warping the teachings of Christ.
posted March 10, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Like this is a big surprise to anyone.
Steve, you said:
“The Catholic Church is not a democracy…neither is God’s will. It is silly and idiotic to think that the word of God can change at the whim of a culture.”
And yet the Bible says that God gave us free will. However, if you don’t choose what the RCC wants or there by, God, as they speak for God, you’ll be punished.
Sorry but free will in no way equals coercion and this is coercion. Maybe if Conservative Christian churches would give up the quest for power and control, because God says so, I might actually gain some respect for them but I’m not holding my breath.
posted March 10, 2009 at 8:41 pm
“the University of San Francisco, a Catholic university, stepped in and offered the kids a place to put up their play yesterday. Of course, now bloggers are claiming it’s not really a Catholic college.”
Maybe they should include that in their brochures. “We’re not really a Catholic college, so don’t feel afraid to think for yourself instead of letting a 1700 year old collection of books (and some anonymous bloggers) think for you.”
posted March 10, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Apparently the Catholic high school knows a valuable piece of literature and the hierarchy doesn’t. Makes you wonder just what that Catholic hierarchy is afraid. Good for the University of San Francisco…giving the children a place to put on their play!
posted March 11, 2009 at 5:03 am
It is not a quest for power. Real Catholics, real Christians see this as a quest for what is Right and Wrong. Where do real Catholics and real Christians find that answer? Simple…in the Bible and in the Church.
When people talk about the Church gaining and maintaining power, it reminds of the conspiracy theorists. Nothing would last for 2000 years if it did not contain truth. Books, ideas, and people have gone the way of dust. They are forgotten, discarded, and ignored. Yet, there has remained a constant that is always there and always will be…God’s word.
posted March 11, 2009 at 9:12 am
Steve,
You said:
“Nothing would last for 2000 years if it did not contain truth.”
Then perhaps you’re only seeing what you want to see. Humanity has two sides and to refuse to see the other side in this thought is blind sighted. There is good and there is bad in humanity. It simply exists as to who we are. We make the choice to be one or the other. Christianities survival hasn’t been solely because of pure good. It has also used force of power to maintain itself. And continues to use this on its followers rather they see and acknowledge it or not. While it can no longer use its force on the whole world, anymore, it still doesn’t hesitate to use it on its “believers”.
posted March 11, 2009 at 10:48 am
Steve: The church may have maintained power for 2000 years…using whatever tactics it could, but apparently many Catholics are leaving that 2000 year old institution…so my guess is that after that magic 2000 year history…it’s time has begun to wain. Fortunately. The Catholic high school has “seen the light” of modern times, but their “bosses” obviously haven’t. A lot has changed in 2000 years…however there have been homosexuals around for that long and longer. Why that is so “bad” I’ll never know. (and saying the Bible or a god says it is “bad” doesn’t cut it).
posted March 12, 2009 at 1:03 am
Steve,
“Nothing would last for 2000 years if it did not contain truth,” except the geocentric model of the Universe, the idea that the world is flat, and the divine right of kings (and the belief in the divinity of the Pharaohs of Egypt, which lasted for 3,000 years) , just to name a few.
posted March 13, 2009 at 7:12 pm
As a gay Catholic I think it’s so deplorable and unfortunate that the Vatican can host a conference on evolution and how it can be compatible with faith in God, given that according to the Church faith and reason are inseperable, yet cannot provide a forum at the universal level for an open discussion, debate, and re-evaluation of the issue of homosexuality given the surplus of scientific findings on the subject. If we as Catholics are given permission by the Church to dismiss some aspects of Scripture as not necessarily having literal, historical credibility why can the same not be done with homosexuality, abortion, birth control, and so many other issues which the Church refuses to reflect upon.
I continue to pray daily for the reform and renewal of Christ’s holy Catholic Church.