October 2, 2009
Rainbow Catholics in Christ
Ministry is designed for gays, lesbians, families and friends
Deacon Joe Stofleth and Pam Thoren discuss Rainbow Catholics in Christ, a newly-formed Catholic-based ministry for gay and lesbian individuals, parents and families of gay and lesbian children, and friends. (Message photo by Mary Ann Hughes) Click for a larger version.
By MARY ANN HUGHES (Message staff writer)
“We seek to ease the pain of alienation and rejection, and to promote reconciliation between the church and any individual oppressed because of sexual orientation.”
Those are the words in the mission statement for the newly-formed Rainbow Catholics in Christ, a ministry at St. Mary Church in downtown Evansville.
It’s open to gay and lesbian individuals, their families and friends. Anyone from the Diocese of Evansville is invited to attend the meetings.
“Whatever is done will be done within the confines of the Catholic Church,” said Deacon Joe Stofleth who is facilitating the ministry along with St. Mary’s parishioner Pam Thoren.
Eighteen people attended the first meeting. “We let the people speak,” Pam said. “We could have gone all night. People keep it all inside, and they don’t have anyone to talk to.” That night, “they wanted to talk.”
There were fathers and mothers of gay and lesbian children, as well as gays and lesbians.
“We started with prayer,” Pam said. “Father Steve [Lintz-enich, pastor] opened the meeting up, to get a sense of who the people were in the room. It went in many directions, all in a positive way. The energy in that room was incredible. They felt very comfortable.”
Many of the parents shared their fears. “People just wanted to keep talking. There were so many strong feelings.”
Both Deacon Stofleth and Thoren anticipate that the next few meetings will continue to be times for sharing. Eventually, they may introduce books or films, and there might be guest speakers.
During the first meeting, one woman told the group, “when people talk about lesbians or gays, they can’t get out of the bedroom.” She noted, “It’s about companionship. It’s about support.”
Deacon Joe received a call from someone who asked if the group is “about same sex marriage.” He responded, “No, it’s not.”
It is about easing the pain of alienation and rejection that many gay Catholics feel. “If you are gay or lesbian and Catholic, most mainstream churches are not OK with that subject,” Thoren said.
The ministry also wants to take a look at what the Bible says regarding homosexuality and what it does not say. The brochure about the ministry states, “The Bible has been used to condemn homosexuality thereby excluding some of God’s beloved children from God’s table. We believe that every person is created in God’s image and likeness.”
Deacon Stofleth cites the Gospel of John in which “Jesus gives us a new commandment: to love another.”
Thoren said, “That’s the message that everyone left with that night. I think people were moved by what happened. They had tears in their eyes.”
Deacon Stofleth agreed. “I think everyone there was comfortable. We let everyone know we are loved by God.”
Thoren mentioned a young man who was raised Catholic, but who felt alienated from the Church. He told her that he loved the Catholic faith, but that he had a hard time feeling accepted.
The ministry is committed to maintaining confidentiality, and people attending the meetings are asked to hold what is said there in confidence.
For additional information about meeting dates and times, contact Deacon Joe Stofleth at (812) 425-1577 or e-mail him at jstofleth@evansville-diocese.org.