The Pope’s view is but one of many. Now it’s time GLBT Christians found their own voice and vision, writes Michael B Kelly.

Let’s face it – it’s easy to be cynical about World Youth Day. Here’s this international gathering of people claiming to follow the carpenter who said, “Blessed are the poor”, and in his honour more than $100 million will be spent on infrastructure, advertising, sets and accommodation – not to mention lavish vestments! From a queer perspective it’s even more infuriating, as Pope Benedict, this elderly gentleman who plays the piano, keeps cats and wears satin, lace and red slippers, is the author of the Vatican’s most notorious condemnations of homosexuality

Furthermore, it’s a very particular, conservative version of Catholicism that will be on display next week, with Benediction, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, religious processions and candle-lit vigils. When I read the breathless promotion for WYD, I feel like I have entered a time warp (just think of Maria Von Trapp – before she met the captain).

Nothing I have seen recently has made me less cynical about this religious jamboree. However, I have begun to ask some questions. The stuff the Vatican says about our queer sexuality is brutal and inhuman – but what alternative vision, inspiration and challenge do we have to offer youth who come in search of their souls? Thousands of idealistic young people will flood into Sydney next week – if they asked us what we, as queer people, knew about spiritual wisdom, what would we tell them?

For too long we have allowed our queer lives to be trivialised and presented as spiritually-barren, self-absorbed, and consumerist. When we think of the ‘gay lifestyle’, we don’t usually focus on the fact that gay people are vastly over-represented in the caring professions, or on the courage it took for us to claim our freedom in the face of bigotry, or even on the spiritual heroism we learnt during the AIDS crisis. So many of us, when we rejected our repressive religious backgrounds, left behind our spiritual language, rituals, symbols and ideals, and perhaps because of that we were seduced into buying – or tolerating – the lie that the ‘gay lifestyle’ is all about couture, condominiums, cocktails, and, if you are old-fashioned, condoms. We know better, and it’s time we found our voice and our vision.

One attempt to shape a mature LGBT message is the forum planned for Sunday, July 13. A team of lesbian and gay leaders from four Christian traditions will share what we have learned from decades of service, prayer, study, activism and reflection. We will dialogue with a panel of young queer people about sexuality, spirituality, and the challenge of the future. Together, we will celebrate the dignity, spirituality and goodness of LGBT people, facing down the Vatican’s condemnations with the witness of our lives and our loving. Everyone is welcome to share this afternoon with Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon, Anthony Venn-Brown, David Reeder, David Marr – our moderator – and myself, Michael Kelly. As World Youth Day comes to town, let’s see it as a challenge to find the voice of our queer souls, and offer a message to youth that no pope can silence.

Michael B Kelly is an educator and spiritual activist. He is the author of Seduced by Grace: Contemporary spirituality, Gay experience and Christian faith, published by Clouds of Magellan. Visit cloudsofmagellan.net

Lesbian, Gay, Queer – and Christian: Claiming Our Place, Celebrating Our Diversity service will be held on Sunday, July 13, from 2:30pm at Pitt Street Uniting Church, 264 Pitt Street, Sydney (right near Town Hall). Enquiries: (02) 9267-3614.