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NEWS & LETTERS, March-April 2010
Holy Name, holy shame
Chicago--On a blustery Valentine's Day about 100 GLBTQ activists and supporters let our angry voices be heard in front of downtown's Holy Name Cathedral. We passed out leaflets asking churchgoers to stop paying their tithe until the position of the Church on marriage and other issues important to GLBTQ folks changes.
A popular chant was "Holy Name, holy shame!" and signs read: "Catholics beware, your leaders are evil," "Anti-gay bigotry is anti-Christ," "BORN GAY, I'm supposed to be this way," "The Pope is anti-woman and anti-gay," and "My son is not 'intrinsically disordered,'" in response to the Pope's labeling of lesbians and gays as "intrinsically disordered."
Holy Name was chosen because Cardinal Francis George is quite adept at spewing hatred against GLBTQ people. He has gone out of his way to attack gay-friendly churches, worked to block both same-sex marriage and civil unions in Illinois, and opposes ending discrimination in jobs, housing and public accommodations for GLBTQ people. One demonstrator spoke for many when he said he wanted the protest to be broad: "It's not just the church hierarchy. The blame falls squarely on the parishioners too. There is blood on the Church's hands. Their doctrine of hatred translates into violence. There is a high suicide rate among Gay youth. The parishioners support the hierarchy's actions."
The demonstration included some discussion with those going into the church for services. Not surprisingly, that was not very productive, but it was important to have our voices heard and to show that Valentine's Day is not just a day to spend money on chocolate and cards, but a day to fight for the freedom to openly and proudly love whom you choose.
--Protester
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