Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe
has called out the anti-gay marriage views of Pope Benedict XVI and
John C. Nienstedt, the archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Kluwe, a vocal supporter of marriage
equality, was prompted to write an op-ed after reading a 2010 letter
from Nienstedt, in which the bishop suggested to a woman pleading for
acceptance for her gay child that her support for her child was
placing her soul in jeopardy.
“I write to inform you that the
teaching of the Catholic Church on homosexuality, as described in
paragraphs 2357 and 2358 and 2359 of the Catechism of the Catholic
Church is rooted in Scripture and based on the Natural Moral Law,”
he
wrote. “It, therefore, shares in God's revelation to us.
Catholics are bound in conscience to believe this teaching. Those
who do not cannot consider themselves to be Catholic and ought not to
participate in the sacramental life of the Church.”
“Indeed, some might find this is a
hard saying but many of Jesus' teachings were likewise received as
such. I urge you to reconsider the position that you expressed in
your letter. Your eternal salvation may well depend upon a
conversation of heart on this topic.”
Kluwe's
response was addressed to both Pope Benedict and Bishop
Nienstedt.
“Millions of children grow up raised
in the Catholic faith. Some of these children will be gay, through no
choice of their own, but because of how God created them. What does
it say to those children when the head of their religion in this
state, a man who claims to 'explain and defend the teaching of the
Church because I have been ordained to do so and I believe those
teachings with all my heart,' a man acting under the direct auspices
of the Pope himself, tells them that they can't be as worthy as
everyone else, even though they believe in the teachings of Jesus?
What will these children think, as they suffer the barbed insults of
their classmates and teachers; I ask you, sir, what will these
children think as they are belittled and tormented due to teachings
you espouse? What judgment will be passed on your soul when yet
another poor child reaches for the knife or the noose to end his or
her earthly torment due to your example?”
“Tell me, Archbishop, Pope, what
purpose does the Church serve attempting to influence the affairs of
a secular state? The federal benefits under law currently denied gay
couples certainly fall under the realm of Caesar, don't they? No one
is forcing the Catholic Church to marry gay couples if that is not
the Church's wish. You can keep the sanctity of Catholic marriage
solely between heterosexual couples if you feel that is what’s
required (again though, I caution you on the dangers of presumed
infallibility). All we are asking is for you to extend the open hand
of tolerance instead of the closed fist of fear and hate. As
American citizens, we respect the right for everyone to practice
whichever religion they so choose, including the right to not
practice one at all. Haven’t we learned enough from the Crusades,
the Inquisitions, the Talibans of the world? What does it benefit
the Church to attempt to influence secular policy in this country,
especially when that influence is to deny basic human rights to
others? Will you now assume Caesar's throne, grasping the transitory
ephemera of worldly power and control, while forsaking the eternal
kingdom of Heaven?”