Some Reflections from Mexico

Today marks the end of my first month of research in Mexico City. So far I've been having a great time, spending the first two weeks with my husband enjoying the sights and starting my work and the past two weeks doing full-time research at the archives. I've also been fortunate to have found a Bible study and Sunday worship community where I feel at home and fully accepted and welcomed.

As encouraging as it's been to find these communities, however, it's also been staggering to realize how deeply ingrained so much homophobia is in the culture around me. Of course a different version of the same fear pervades U.S. society as well, but for me it's particularly saddening to see so many people here caught up in this same fear in many cases precisely because of the church in which they were raised. As someone who still considers himself to be Catholic in the universal sense, it's hard to see so many people hear the message of God's love in the Roman Catholic Church but also imbibe the message of intolerance for LGBT people inherent in some of the Church's official teachings. This is reflected both in general attitudes I've seen on the part of many toward LGBT people but also assumptions LGBT people make about themselves - that they're somehow disordered; that they just barely have a right to exist; that they are second-class citizens at best. There are hopeful signs that these attitudes are being overcome but it truly does seem to be a case of the light shining in the darkness.

No easy answers but something I've been wrestling with is how we who believe in Christ and in God's unconditional, inclusive love can work within the churches where we find ourselves to promote tolerance and dissipate irrational fear. I'm not sure any one church has the answer, but I am convinced more and more each day that we can't just sit back anymore and let things go unquestioned. Each of us is called to witness to God's goodness, compassion, and mercy in our lives in whatever ways we're reasonably able to do so. Of course this doesn't always directly involve LGBT liberation but I think the more we truly live out of a belief that, in spite of the shadows of crass inhumanity, greed, selfishness and corruption that often surround us, compassion and loving-kindness truly are at the heart of the universe, the more we'll naturally pass on the gift of authentic liberation and peace to those around us.

Peace and blessings,

Padre Chuck

A Hopeful Sign

Yesterday I and many other others in the LGBT community were overjoyed to hear the news that the ELCA, the largest Lutheran organization in the U.S. had voted to permit committed, lifelong relationships for LGBT clergy.

This is truly a historic step, one that I am confident will not only allow pastors to serve in open recognition of their committed relationships but will also serve as a sign of hope for young people and those still living in the closet. I'm convinced that the more the church recognizes the full dignity of its LGBT daughters and sons the more it will help those same women and men to find hope and meaning in their lives. Although there is still much work to be done, this is an encouraging step and one that hopefully other churches and religious organizations will follow in the future.

Peace,
Padre Chuck

New Friends

It's been a while since I last wrote an entry but I wanted to share some of my experiences so far in Mexico City. The first two weeks of my stay were wonderful as my husband Adolfo was able to be with me and we had the opportunity to explore the city, sightsee and also make new friends.

One of the highlights of our time together has been getting to know some of the local options for churches that are welcoming toward the LGBT community. Although there are still only a small number of churches that are welcoming, we were glad to find two groups that feel like home away from home for now. I've included the websites for both below. Although they're in Spanish, hopefully at least the Spirit if not the full literal meaning of the message of these groups will come across.

Grupo Emaus
Iglesia de la Reconciliación

I will have more reflections on both these groups in the coming weeks but wanted to at least share this brief update for now.

Blessings and peace,
Padre Chuck

A New Adventure Begins

Just this past weekend I arrived with my husband in Mexico City for the beginning of my research. I'll be here for about a year doing work toward my doctorate in Mexican History and am looking forward to the adventure. I'll still be writing entires for my blog but they may be a little more intermittent, at least for the first few weeks as I settle in.

Looking forward to continuing to reflect in this space as I embark on this new journey.

Peace,

Padre Chuck