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218. Brothers and Sisters Who are our brothers and sisters? Everybody is. All who are created by the Hand of God are our brothers and sisters. Even the lepers are, as Saint Francis of Assisi has shown us. Lepers in the 13th Century were the outcasts, the unwanted, and, for the most part, the unloved. There are many lepers in the 21st Century, too. In order to love them, you have to understand who they are, and why they merit our love. Let this be the beginning of a discussion about the outcasts in society, depending who you listen to. There have been many cities and towns where in an attempt to make room for a half-way house for ex-prisoners, for example, there simply was no room because people, as is said, did not want "that problem" in their backyard. Same goes for people with AIDS, or a house where unwed mothers would be welcome from abusive spouses. In 1984-5, I did voluntary work (light carpentry) every other Saturday at a house for unwed mothers, some with babies, that was run by the Sisters of Charity (Mother Theresa's Order), in southern Florida. I got to talking to some of the girls, for most were in their early twenties, and they were dirt poor, abandoned by men who used them and often, abused them. Really sad. There are hundreds of thousands of women in the world, who are forgotten, who live a life of destitution, who suffer day after day. They are our sisters. And, conversely, the men who got them into that state, they are our brothers. They deserve our prayer. They all are a part of the suffering humanity, the same suffering humanity that we are a part of... and when we judge them (knowing that only God is allowed to judge souls), we are no better than they are. About ten years ago, I was sitting in a recreation room of a Franciscan friary where I was present for a vocation weekend. A friar I knew came in and we began to talk about his experiences in a hospital for the HIV-positive people who happened to be homosexual. I should note that many who have AIDS are not necessarily homosexual, because I do not want you to label a certain group of people. They are our brothers and sisters also. People who have AIDS are in a terrible health crisis and they may die. We will all die. They will probably die sooner. You may have heard the term "homophobia" - it is applied to those individuals who cannot get along with homosexuals for one reason or another. During my stay with a certain religious order, some people felt I was homophobic. They sent me in for a psychological evaluation. The people who evaluated me did not agree with the previous assessment; so I was sent to additional counseling, because it was felt that as a Franciscan I must love my sisters and brothers without exceptions. I left that religious order because I felt ill at ease with their methods of the constant counseling. Being in a novitiate of an order in our Church should be a glorious time of getting to know Jesus better. The counseling grossly interfered with my inner calm and I was not able to concentrate on the life as a Franciscan friar, so I hung up my harp, and went elsewhere. That lead to five wonderful years in a small monastic order, one I still very much miss. But Jesus had other plans for me, and so He has rekindled in me the love for St. Francis, and for our sisters and brothers, as a lay Franciscan in the Secular Franciscan Order. Homosexuals, according to the teachings of our Church, are our sisters and brothers. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us about homosexuality in Para. 2357 and 2358, but I recommend that you read the entire section, which refers to everyone, that is, the Vocation to Chastity. (Vatican website) "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition." That wording in Para. 2358 is the most important for Franciscans (and, for that matter, anyone else) to identify with - homosexuals are people just like us. They suffer right along with us, and they probably suffer more deeply. I know, this theory is difficult to accept, because for some people, gays are the lepers of modern society. It doesn't mean that I understand why they do what they do. It doesn't mean that I am adverse to the teaching of the Church either, but we, as Franciscans, must put our differences aside, and look at what they are, rather than what, in our little minds, they are not. They are children of God. He has created them. And, as far as I'm concerned, deep down I don't think they are very happy with their lives. But I could be wrong. I am not a psychologist. But then who IS happy? That answer I have. True happiness sets in when your task is done here on earth, and death sets us free from suffering if we lived our lives for God, rather than against our brothers and sisters. The last group of people who I need to mention, who are our sisters and brothers also: our enemies. That's a tough one. Jesus said, "Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful. "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6: 31-17) What Jesus told us is that it is very hard to love your enemies, but we have to try. Who are our enemies? They are people who wish us harm, be it on a global, national, or personal level. Satan and all evil spirits, they too are our enemies, but those we do not have to love. We need to repel them in the Name of Jesus. People who follow Islam, are not our enemies, but those who are the extremists in any group stating their wish to do us in - they are our enemies. But we should pray for them just the same, and ask God's healing for them. They are a part of His creation! There's no escaping that. They need a lot of prayer, for they know that they are called to love God, and when they kill, maim or injure, they do not love God. We have every right and necessity to protect ourselves from people who wish to harm us, but they are still our brothers and sisters in regard to our personal relationship with God. A towering figure in our Church was, the late, Pope John Paul II. He truly loved his sisters and brothers. He had the respect, compassion and sensitivity of a saint and he was an active part of our suffering humanity. May John Paul II, and another good soul who loved everyone, Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, be your constant guide and example during these modern times, as Saint Francis of Assisi was years ago. God bless you and keep you well! Fred Schaeffer, SFO
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