As some Bishops of Argentina fight, very weakly and almost imperceptibly, against the approval by the national Senate of the bill altering that nation's Civil Code in order to redefine marriage as a union between two persons (including two persons of the same sex), some nuns make their opinion known by way of a declaration of an "Ecumenical" group.
The declaration was published last week in the largest "Progressive" daily in Argentina, Página/12 [tip: reader]. Do you think the sisters will be punished for the dissent? Will the Argentine Episcopal Conference treat them as they have been treating the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX / SSPX) and all lay faithful who love the Traditional Mass for the past 40 years?
Declarationby Espacio Ecuménico*1. We lament the manipulation imposed by a certain religious hierarchy on the people of God, quoting biblical passages that do not correspond to the true meaning and source of the same. We view in these practices the intention of safeguarding a mode of being Church and of living Christianity, the desire to maintain cultural and religious power over the entire society, without recognizing or valuing its diversity.2.The State must guard the enjoyment and fulfillment of all human rights of people, regardless of their beliefs. In this sense, it is unsustainable that some religious confessions wish to impose their doctrine and beliefs to the whole of Argentine society. The reform of the Civil Code in order to allow access to matrimony of persons of the same sex does not, in any way, put "in danger or risk" the heterosexual family, as it is said, and much less does it interfere in internal matters of the churches regarding the administration of their sacraments. On the other hand, the natural sciences accept homosexuality as something normal and not pathological. The discrimination is not related to any scientific fact. What is intended, thus, is the end of an unjust and discriminatory situation for the matrimony of persons of the same sex, based on the equality possessed by all persons before the law and the rights guaranteed by international system of human rights. Other than that, it is not too much to recall that a legal modification does not automatically assure the end of discrimination or exclusion. We have many signs of this: the letter of the law and the application of the law have often been parallel lines, with no possibility of mutually meeting... There will be much more work to be done after the decision of Congress.3. We join the different pronouncements made by Christian groups, pastors, priests, and religious (wo)men who raise other voices within the churches, in favor of inclusion, of non-discrimination, of respect and appraisal of diversity, convinced that the God in whom we believe, our father-mother, loves all his sons and daughters.4. In faithfulness to our options as an ecumenical group, we do not wish to avoid mentioning that the right to marriage is part of a set of rights which are also systematically denied to the homosexual community, as they are to so many poorer brothers(sisters). In this sense, our closeness to the realities of exclusion and marginalization and our commitment to the impoverished people demands us to keep denouncing the persistent inequality and discrimination that exist regarding fundamental human rights, such as healthcare, education, housing, and work. We consider it urgent and necessary to advocate with the same strength for the effective fulfillment of these rights.5. Lastly, we call Christian communities to discern about these matters according to the Spirit of Jesus and the Signs of the Times. And to pronounce themselves and struggle in favor of the fullfillment of human rights, leaving aside darkness and fearful methods which are proper of the power structures that were and are related to systems of domination, control, and submission of persons, communities, and entire peoples. May the Spirit, "which blows wherever it pleases", press upon all Christian men and women the necessary humility to listen and learn from all the rich manifestations of human diversity, an expression of the fecundity of God. We believe that this will be the way to contribute a voice in tune with the sentiments of Jesus.Espacio Ecuménico [Ecumenical Space] is composed by the Argentine Conference of Religious Men and Women (Confar) [Catholic], the Ecumenical Movement for Human Rights (MEDH); Justice, Peace, and Integrity for Creation (Jupic); the Argentine Methodist Evangelical Church (IEMA), Diálogo 2000; Political area-Holy Cross Parish [Catholic]; Rajab Theological Community; The Blue Sisters [Catholic - Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres]; Sisters of the Divine Master [Catholic]; Guadalupe-Endepa Association; Sisters of the Holy Union [Catholic]; Dominican Sisters [Catholic]
NOTE: the bill is being discussed in the Senate, and there does not seem to be a majority in favor of it; the President and her government are keeping the Upper Chamber under great pressure in order that the measure be passed [La Nación, Friday edition]. Panorama Católico Internacional also links to a speech by a priest from the most "Progressive" diocese in Argentina, Córdoba, openly defending the measure (in Spanish).
Let us join our fellow Catholics in Argentina in prayer to ask the Lord and the Blessed Virgin to stop this abomination from becoming law.
