Here's the story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7744282.stm
So, in a nutshell, back in 1966, when the Beatles were a worldwide sensation, John Lennon made a remark comparing the Beatles' popularity to that of Jesus Christ. The church took umbrage at that.
Now, about 28 years later after Lennon's death, the Vatican has found it in its heart to forgive the rocker.
H.G. Wells has been quoted as saying, "Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo." I believe that the Vatican was suffering some jealousy over its failure to have relevance with the youth culture back then.
I think it's the Vatican that should be asking Lennon's forgiveness.
In his incarnate days, Jesus was never out to win any popularity contests. He said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Yet, ever since Constantine made Christianity the official state religion of the Roman Empire (some suggest this was the death knell for Christianity as a true expression of Christ's teaching), Christianity has been anywhere from concerned to obsessed with concerns that are very much "of this world," namely politics, war, commerce, and other pursuits linked to the acquisition of money, power, and influence. Christ, in his day, forbade people from referring to him as a messiah -- even showing discomfort with the title of "teacher." Perhaps his reasons were self-preservation, since Christ probably knew that Rome didn't look favorably upon upstart movements that could be seen as challenging its authority. True as this may be, he frequently reflected people's light back to them: "Your faith has healed you," not "I have healed you."
All of this points uncomfortably to the recent furor in California over Proposition 8, which would write the definition of marriage as a heterosexual union into the state constitution. Churches claiming Christ as their leader came out very heavily in favor of this proposition, which passed (and is now being challenged). It also points uncomfortably to some Catholic dioceses (regional organizational jurisdictions) whose bishops demanded penance from anyone voting for Obama, since Obama is "pro-Abortion," according to them. Never mind that more Catholics (54%) voted for Obama than McCain this time around.
In a brilliant statement about love, St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, stated:
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Cor. 13: 4-7)
Whether we belong to a church or not; whether we believe in the God we were raised with or not; whether we're comfortable with people whose highest love is reserved for their own gender or not; and whether we agree or not, let us always put love first.
For if our first and highest purpose is love (notice I'm saying "love" and not "tolerance"), not for somebody but for everybody -- especially those with whom we're not comfortable -- then what kind of world will each of us create around ourselves?
I welcome your comments.
2 comments:
People can turn this over and over in their minds. People can choose a side and firmly believe its the way it was meant to be but what I find interesting is that no one really sees through to the HEART of the matter. The TRUTH of the matter is that we are animals, pure and simple.
In nature, same sex unions happen, of course they don't mate for life or get married but you get the point. We are animals. We should be free.
This proposition never should have made it to the ballot. It is a constitutional violation. However, most people fail to realize that the constitution we rely upon for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness was founded by men who were of a particular religious denomination.
I feel, to this day, religion is for the needy. These so-called Christians are ignorant, period. They choose to attack a group of people they find offensive to their god. If they're truly right, why don't they stone them as well?
In court, we are expected to swear on the bible for our testimony to ring true.
In public schools, we pledge allegiance to the American flag, "one nation under God" but when the state removed god from schools, the zealots had a hissy-fit. I'm sorry, but Christians pledging allegiance to ANYthing but their god are guilty of idolatry.
There is no TRUE separation of religion and state. That said, human rights violations supported by religious zealots will ALWAYS pass in favor of God.
I find that unsettling and terrifying.
BTW: Is Obama pro-abortion or pro-choice? There IS a difference. Call it semantics, but it makes a difference.
Obama would say he's "pro-choice." His detractors would say he's "pro-abortion," but notice, they'd never go so far as to say, "anti-life."
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