Pope Francis - Gay and Hopeful

As I stated in a previous blog, [St. Francis and the Leper] in Jesus’ time, many thought that leprosy was a punishment from God. A leper was forced to live separate from the community for fear of the spread of the disease (Num 5:1-4).They were forced to wear identifiable dress, leave their heads uncovered, and identify themselves as unclean.They became outcast; cut off from their families, friends and community.

In Mark’s Gospel (Mark 1:40-42), Jesus cures a leper in the gesture of touching him. At first glance this story seems to be one of the many cures Jesus performed in his public ministry. But on a deeper level, it deals with social exclusion. Jesus’ culture would have thought Jesus leprous as well after he touched the man who had leprosy. The Gospel writer is clear, “Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him.” Jesus was willing to suffer the social consequences of the touch. He was willing to stand against the beliefs of his own faith and touch the leper.

St. Francis of Assisi, like his contemporary peers, also held these same distorted beliefs about leprosy. Not much had changed from Jesus’ time, even though Jesus stood against these beliefs. But it was the leper that transformed St. Francis of Assisi. In his Testament he says, “And when I left them, what had seemed bitter to me was turned into sweetness of soul and body.”

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio after being elected Pope took the name "Francis" after St. Francis of Assisi. This is where my hope lies. Lepers were those that St. Francis of Assisi despised the most. His cultural expectation was to shun the leper, yet he was moved by Love – The Holy Spirit – which called him out of his cultural expectation and moved him into a new way of life. A life defined by compassion, mercy and love towards the leper and others.

The Spirit that moved St. Francis of Assisi, can also move Pope Francis ,to embrace homosexuals with the same compassion, mercy and love. And like St. Francis of Assisi, "And when I left them, what had seemed bitter to me was turned into sweetness of soul and body," can happen for Pope Francis.

We now know as 21st century Christians, that leprosy is not a punishment from God. We would be hard press to find a Christian who would make such a claim.  Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis.  It is believed that 95% of the population is naturally immune to leprosy.

We now know as 21st century people, that homosexuality is not a disorder. The American Psychological Association, a scientific and professional organization states:

“Lesbian, gay, and bisexual orientations are not disorders. Research has found no inherent association between any of these sexual orientations and psychopathology. Both heterosexual behavior and homosexual behavior are normal aspects of human sexuality. Both have been documented in many different cultures and historical eras. Despite the persistence of stereotypes that portray lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as disturbed, several decades of research and clinical experience have led all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country to conclude that these orientations represent normal forms of human experience. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual relationships are normal forms of human bonding."

Science has moved us away from the distorted view of leprosy and is now moving us away from the distorted view of homosexuality. Pope Francis must have the courage to confront the tough cultural issues of our time, the biased treatment of homosexuals.  And like St. Francis of Assisi, be moved by love to embrace the other as himself.

Let us pray that the Spirit will guide Pope Francis with wisdom, understanding and courage. The conversion of St. Francis of Assisi transformed his era and brought renewal to the Church.  The conversion of Pope Francis can bring renewal to the Church.  We must pray.

Finally, to my heterosexual brothers and sisters what can seem bitter about our children and friends, their homosexuality, can become sweetness of soul and body if we move beyond our fears and embrace the other; as Francis embraced the leper.  To my gay brothers and sisters what can seem bitter about ourselves, can become sweetness of soul and body if we move beyond the negative messages we’ve internalized about ourselves and embrace our sexuality with compassion and love.

Let us pray, that the Spirit that moved St. Francis of Assisi will move his name sake Pope Francis, to embrace gay men and women with the same compassion, mercy and love, as Francis embraced the leper. Otherwise continued generation will continue to suffer from prejudice, discrimination, and violence.

Peace and all good,
Brother Sun and Sister Moon

Personal Reflection:
Has your views on certain groups of people ever changed (for instance the homeless, mentally ill, disabled, etc...)  What happened to change your view?  Feel free to share your story in the comment spaces below.