Good people, but blind to the plight of others
Thomas Lofaro, Chairperson, LGBT+ Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council*
Dear friends, I’ve been looking forward to the “coming out of lock down” and to some return to normality. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be happening, does it? With news of cases increasing in London, it seems that being together at a distance is going to be the way we go for quite a while yet. I therefore thought I should reach out to you all again, hoping that I find you all well and reminding you that I think of you all often.
A Gospel-reading this week (Luke 10:25-37) has been that of the Good Samaritan. A man was assaulted and beaten up and left for dead in an unfrequented street. A priest and a Levite walked by. Two good men. Both saw him, but neither stopped or offered any assistance. Neither seemed to empathise with him. Who knows why?
If we imagine ourselves (members of the LGBT+ community) as that injured man, we can call to mind many a “good” person in our lives or that of the Church who refused to “see” our distress. It’s comforting to know that Jesus alluded to the risk of blindness in his Church. He foresaw our suffering even before we were born, and his death and resurrection were for this suffering as well.
I encourage you to pray for our leaders, that they won’t be blind to the pain of their sheep – both members of our community, and even others. I also encourage you to reflect on occasions when you may yourselves be that priest or Levite – good people, but blind to the plight of others. With you in Christ.
* To identify the pastoral and sacramental needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans Catholics, their parents and families. To take part in 2nd & 4th Sunday evening Masses at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, and to be responsible for the planning and organisation of faith-development activities relevant to LGBT Catholic communities. To communicate with the Archdiocese of Westminster on matters of pastoral care relating to LGBT Catholics, their parents and families.
