SHOULD CATHOLICS JOIN PRIDE PARADE?

The month of June is coming to an end as we, Catholics, dedicate this month to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, for some Catholics, it's not what they celebrate but "Pride Month." Instead of joining us in our devotion in the Church and in Eucharistic processions, they join in certain celebrations such as the Pride parade. So, why do some Catholics take this view even though they know it is contrary to the teaching of our Church? According to a host Sunny Hostin, who is a Catholic,

“My Catholic children will be attending pride events, as this Catholic will. And you know, my faith always taught me, what would Jesus do? And I know Jesus would be attending that pride parade with pride [1]. ”

This is what a Catholic seminarian who writes for Rappler said.

"Jesus Christ reached out to the marginalized and pariahs of his time without first judging them… Yes, he commanded them to not sin anymore, but without depriving them of his grace [2]."

As we read some explanations by liberal Catholics, it seems that the reason why they celebrate Pride month is because in their view, Jesus loves members of the LGBT+ community, and as such, He will not leave them. We should not go against the perspective that God loves us all, and He is compassionate for all of us. In the Bible, Jesus accompanied the people who were judged by the Jews to show God’s love for sinners.

Matthew 11:19

19 the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Although Jesus accompanied the minorities in His time, this does not mean that He will automatically support what they are doing. Instead, when these people met Jesus, they have come to know the truth and then, they were completely changed. Before, they lived sinful lives - mortal sins and grievous sins more than one can imagine but the moment they get to know Jesus, their conversion started. The sins continued no more. What do this tell us? Sins remain as sins. This fact does not change 

John 8:10-11

10 Jesus looked up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and do not sin again.”

As we read His conversation with an adulterer, He said that He would not judge the woman but at the same time, He desired for her to stop sinning. This is why it is not right for a Catholic to say that there is nothing wrong with the message of the Pride parade and Pride month merely because of the love of Jesus Christ.

And, what we need to ask is, will Jesus support the Pride parade? Obviously the answer here is "No." Supporters of lgbt+ ideology promote many beliefs, but the two that will be discussed here are about same-sex marriage and homosexuality. In their view, marriage is not exclusive for the woman and the man, but it is a right to anyone, even if the couple are both men or both women. And, they will say that there is nothing wrong if a man engage in a sexual activity with a man or a woman with a woman. Let's see why Jesus would be opposed in these matters.

Matthew 19:4-5

4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one’? 

The truth is that it is God who has the right to provide the definition of marriage, not the culture. The view that the culture can change God's design when it comes to marriage is wrong. A pro-same-sex marriage might say that our Lord is talking about divorce, not same-sex marriage. But, this reasoning does not escape the fact that "same-sex marriage" is contrary to the institution of marriage by God. According to Trent Horn, a Catholic philosopher and apologist,

"If Jesus would not approve of divorce because it violated the permanence of God's design for marriage, then he would never have approved of same-sex relationships that violate the sexual complementarity of God's design for marriage [3]."

Let us remember that sexual intercourse which is contrary to God’s design of marriage is a sin. This is why St. Paul says that intercourse between two men and two women is contrary to their nature (Romans 1:26-27). Hopefully, it will be clear to everyone that Christ’s love for us is not a sufficient reason to support the Pride parade and Pride month. All that He desires for all of us is our salvation and eternal life with Him, whether we are members of the LGBT+ community or not.

Luke 15:4-7

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Supporters of LGBT+ ideology may say that Pride Parade is about their freedom. However, true freedom is not about doing our own desires or acting on our attractions. It is found in following the will of God for us. There are many Catholics with same-sex attraction who no longer support these ideologies because they find true happiness in persevering in the virtue of chastity. One Catholic with same-sex attraction discovered the truth of Catholic teachings and said,

"Amazed at the change in me and my attitude, she told me: “David, I can’t believe how much peace you are finally experiencing. It’s like you are a totally different person. I would have never believed it if I hadn’t seen it for myself.”

That was in the nineties and today I am still living a chaste life. I am happy and at peace more than ever before [4]."

The love of our Lord calls all of us to conversion, not mere tolerance and celebration of ideologies that are contrary to His will and to what will make us really happy. This month should be remembered for the humility of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we pray for people who participate in these movements for them to see God's love. Our identity is not based on how the world defines us but on who we are as children of God. Let's also pray for people with same-sex attraction who are faithful in the teachings of Christ and the Church. May all of us be firm and persevere in following His will to bring joy and consolation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Amen +

References:

[1] Sunny Hostin on Jesus and Pride: https://dailycaller.com/2019/06/03/sunny-hostin-jesus-pride-parade/

[2] Rappler on Jesus and Pride Movement: https://www.rappler.com/voices/ispeak/opinion-when-will-church-learn

[3] Catholic Answers on Pride Parade: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/would-jesus-attend-a-pride-parade

[4] Testimony of David: https://www.crisismagazine.com/2015/bullied-out-of-the-closet-and-almost-bullied-back-in