Today I stand outside

Today I stand outside the Church.

I loved it inside, with candles, incense, color and music, with sacraments and liturgiy and communal celebration. But even more, I have loved sharing in common commitments and work for justice. I have loved beng a part of communities within the church, and especially my association with the School Sisters of St. Francis for more than thirty years.. Nonetheless, today I stand outside.

I remain committed to the work for justice we have shared. I continue to contributre to that work the best that I can, through writing and organizing. My work at the Resource Center of the Americas focuses on justice for Latin America and for Latinos and immigrants in the United States. In this work, I am happy to stand with many church people, from my Franciscan sisters to Archbishops Mahony and Flynn.

On other issues of justice and human dignity, I am compelled by conscience to stand against the hierarchy and the magisterium of the church.

I believe that women, as well as men, are created in the divine image and share in God’s life. The Church, speaking through the hierarchy and the magisterium, says that women are less than men, are not entitled to equal treatment within the Church, and may not be permitted to preach or to serve as priests. I disagree – strongly, completely and irrevocably – and I acknowledge that this disagreement puts me outside the church.

I believe that all people, regardless of sexual orientation, are created in the divine image and share in God’s life. The Church, speaking through its hierarchy and its magisterium, denies this, denounces homosexuality, and persecutes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, working actively in the political sphere to deny them the right to legalize loving relationships and to claim the protections of law for their families and children. I disagree – strongly, completely and irrevocably – and I acknowledge that this disagreement puts me outside the church.

I know that many people differ with the Church in various ways, and remain within it. However, my differences have become too profound to allow me any longer to remain within the Church.

I do not ask or wish that anyone else leave the Church. I hope that good people can continue to work for change from inside the Church. I cannot do so any longer.