The responsibility of the churches in the suffering experienced by LGBTQ+ people
Text by Beatrice Fanucci, published on the Top News website (Ireland) on June 13, 2022. Freely translated by Marcella Petrei
On the occasion of the celebration of Pride 2022, (in Ireland) a moment of special prayer was released by RTE on Sunday 12 June 2022 suffered by LGBTQ+people.
Amach Le Dia is a group of Christians LGBTQ+ whose purpose is to create and create a safe space for people and their supporters who want to travel together their journey of faith together. The group was invited to conduct a special religious service on RTE and Radio 1 Extra on the occasion of Pride 2022.
During its presentation, Teagan Macoodhagain of Amach Le Dia described Christian churches as places that do not fully welcome LGBTQ+people. He said: “In the approach and treatment of LGBTQ+people, the Church is again among the errors of history, such as slavery and treatment of women. Although there are churches that accepted LGBTQ+people, the most widespread and felt feeling in the traditional Church is that of absolute refusal ".
Macoodhagain also denounced the fact that when churches declare that some individuals do not deserve to be accepted and loved, "others give permission to treat LGBTQ+people in this way".
"The decision to deprive the right to the Church of the right to full belonging and not to admit to baptism the children of those who have a loving relationship (LGBT+) is one step away from physical violence".
During its exhibition, Macoodhagain highlighted the recent episodes of violence against LGBTQ+people. "In April, in Sligo, a quiet town in Western Ireland were committed not one, but two heinous murders. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Aidan Moffit and Michael Snee ".
“The indignation that followed was silent and some vigils took place in different places. But who has been absent in those vigils? What were the rumors that kept silent on that horrible elimination of life? The voices of the Church ".
"It's time to say: 'Enough! No more murders, just aggressions, enough suicides, enough motions of the Church that foment badly and hate, just witch hunt, just comments that destroy and replace humanity with distorted visions! '".
Macoodhagain recalled that, throughout history, the church leaders have often asked the laws to those who fought to obtain the same civil rights as every other person, instead of supporting them. "Those leaders were not affected by unjust laws and the desire to maintain their privileges led them to keep silent about what is right."
“Those men appealed to prudence and urged to maintain the status quo simply because the status quo was favorable. But it's not good for us. We have not been designed to live in a ghetto: I want to be fully welcomed, I want to be fully engaged in the service to my Church. I am tired up to the cord of the bones of the problem that is my presence, of the problem to be solved that is my life, of my faith that is seen as an obstacle to overcome ".
He concluded by recalling the traditional Church to end his hostilities, sources of deep pain and suffering for LGBTQ+people, and denouncing the fact that often it has preferred to "talk about" rather than "talking to" LGBTQ+people.
“It has been time that the Church of Ireland speaks and give its hand to testify to the Christian brotherhood to gay, lesbian, transgender, non -binary, bisexual and queer people.
"I challenge you to look around in your church, to do your hand yourself by facing hatred, to get busy for change".
Original text: Religious service addresses church homophobia in ireland
