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Kissing the Pope's Toe: George W. Bush's Perverse Affair Minor Details |
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You have to admit, the leader of Roman Catholicism has always been clear about this. At best LGBT humans should be pitied, but frankly to him gay folks are only one-dimensional - they're greedy, uncontrolled, self-centered miscreants who don't care if they destroy humanity to fulfill their sick desires. In a later audience with U.S. bishops, he declared that "erroneous yet pervasive thinking" that supports same-sex marriage must be fought courageously by "evangelizing culture and promoting Christian values in society and public life." Speaking of others, but never his own supporters, John Paul said: "Ambiguous moral positions, the distortion of reason by particular interest groups . . . are just some examples of a perspective of life which fails to seek truth itself and then abandons the search for the ultimate goal and meaning of human existence." Publicly "The Leader of the Free World" couldn't disagree. On this issue they could sit together, smiling and supportive. Though some want to believe that Bush doesn't really, really agree, at least for political reasons Bush couldn't be happier. At best LGBT people make great pawns for him and his political friends. At worst they're everything the Pope says, deserving this-worldly and afterlife "punishment." Yet, there's so much that's unspoken that makes these two men two-faced enemies. They just don't want their deep antagonism brought to the other's, or anyone's, attention when they're supposed to look as if they play nicely together. Even their gay followers don't want to face this squarely. Right-wing Protestants like George Bush don't believe the Pope is any more than a political ally in their culture wars. They write off the Roman Catholic Church as a cult of people mostly going to hell who sinfully obey a decrepit old man who erroneously thinks he's a descendent of the Apostle Peter. In their Sunday Schools, they use the Catholic Church as a prime example of people who are eternally lost because they're trying "to be saved by works." The political influence of the Roman Church is useful to them when they need it. Being seen with the head of all those Catholic voters is a great photo opportunity. And the National Catholic Reporterreports Bush actually asked the Pope for political help. Turning back the advances of the Second Vatican Council in many ways, this Pope is nervous about his Protestant bedfellows. They don't do mass correctly. They ignore the Virgin Mary. Some of them believe in women pastors. Politically the Pope may often have to bite his tongue when referring to political allies who refuse to recognize the true Church, but they are, in his mind, ultimately outside the fold. Both men pose a similar dilemma for LGBT people who want to stay with either the Roman Church or the Republican Party. Their leaders, John Paul and George Bush, don't want gay people fully accepted as other human beings. They see them as problems for their institutions and wish they'd just go back into their closets. They certainly don't want them to be happily married. And they both believe gay people should just stop having sex with each other. For both, "it's an abomination." Outsiders ask why LGBT people would identify with a Church or Party whose dominant rhetoric tells them they're less than fully human, lost eternally, and worthless, and that the best they can be is pawns in hierarchical and election-year politics? That's complicated to answer. Some people stay in organizations that berate and abuse them for the same reason abused spouses stay with their abusers. They say things like: "They really do love me. They're not all bad. I should just be better. They really are doing better. I shouldn't provoke them. I have to give them time. They don't really understand. You have to understand how difficult their life is or how difficult this is for them. Where else would I go to fulfill my needs? This is the best I can do." Some people deny that this really is abuse; it's normal and acceptable. No matter how bad it gets, it should be ignored or understood. And when it gets worse - or merely shows publicly what's always been there - they act surprised. What was the surprise when Bush endorsed a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage? Was it only the Log Cabin folks who didn't see that coming? Is it a surprise that gay delegates are not certified for the Republican National Convention? When last month the Party Chair refused to certify D.C. Council member David Catania as a delegate to the Convention because he publicly criticized Bush's stand on the gay marriage amendment, he complained that she has a "different standard" for him then others. Duh. What did he expect? Some are now turning to the Democrats, who have a mixed record, at best. Some stay because other needs, ideals, or affirmations are more important to them than affirming the value of their love or their ability to love someone. Keeping a tight hold on their money, protecting them from those "others" who threaten them, affirming them as good because they're not as poor, unfortunate, misguided, or lazy as others, may be reasons to stay with the Republicans even if they preach against the ability of LGBT Republicans to love. Getting family approval, participating in familiar ritual, fear about Protestantism, and even fear of damnation could keep one a Roman Catholic even though they're officially doomed. I don't really know. Each person has to decide why they stay with their abusers. Clearly, LGBT people have a history - centuries - of doing so and, if they choose, may have a long future of it as well. But it's still abuse. 
Robert N. Minor, Ph.D., is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Kansas. His newest book, Gay & Healthy in a Sick Society (HumanityWorks, 2003), was named one of the "Best Gay Books of 2003" and a Finalist for the 2004 Independent Publisher Book Award. He may be reached at www.fairnessproject.org .
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Though Pope John Paul II and George W. Bush didn't agree on the war in Iraq, their on the same page when it comes to same-sex marriage