RCC cleric in U.S. celebrates LGBT Mass opposite gay bar
An RCC cleric celebrated Mass near a gay bar and said the Catholic faith had been built for centuries on the experience of “marginalized LGBT Catholics.”
In New York, Chris Lawton, assistant pastor of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Paul the Apostle, celebrated a “Pride Mass” at the Stonewall National Monument, the site where riots gave rise to the movement in defense of the LGBT community. This was reported by LifeSiteNews.
The service took place across the street from the Stonewall Inn gay bar, which is regarded as the starting point of the struggle for “gay rights.” Lawton said that celebrating Mass in this place reflected the path of ministry followed by Jesus Christ Himself.
The cleric claimed that the Catholic Church had been built for centuries on the faith of “marginalized LGBT Catholics,” who continued to believe in God despite alienation.
During his remarks, the priest offered an official apology to “transgender siblings.” In his view, members of the transgender community continue to face “unique injustice” both in society and within the Church. Lawton thanked activists “whose faith in God and knowledge of their own belovedness has led them to extraordinary service, even amidst that adversity.”
Canon law specialist Father Philip-Michael Tangorra criticized the choice of location for the liturgy. He explained that under Canon 932.1, Mass outside a sacred place may be celebrated only in a “decent place” (loco honesto), and that the Stonewall monument could not be considered such a place.
He stressed that canon law permits outdoor Masses only in cases of “necessity,” such as an exceptionally large number of faithful, old age, or illness. Tangorra said Lawton’s action had been staged solely for sensational effect.
As the UOJ reported, an RCC archbishop in Milan celebrated Mass for the LGBT community.
