Dear fellow-priests,

When I was ordained a priest, the bishop reminded me of the threefold task to which I was committing myself: to be a priest, to be a shepherd and to be a prophet; serving God at the altar (sacraments) and in prayer, leading the flock and keeping it together, preaching His Word of faith, hope and love and thus setting God's people free. Priests are in all this cooperating with the bishops and at the same time they also have their own responsibility. The words YHWH spoke to Jeremiah when He called him, have always been a source of inspiration for me: "Do not say: 'I am only a boy,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you" (Jr 1:7f).

It takes courage to be a prophet, to stand up for justice and compassion, to defend the people who are trampled upon, especially when this happens in the name of God. The prophet Jeremiah was even considered a traitor and his king imprisoned him. After all, a prophet is not acceptable in his own country (Lk 4:24, Jn 4:44) and often he is not appreciated in his own Church either.

I came to know the Rainbow Sash Movement through its action on Pentecost 2004. Instead of just applauding this action or repudiating it, I became interested in the people and the motives behind it: who are these people? What is moving them? What are their aims? Through contact with them I have become convinced that the Rainbow Sash Movement is a sincere group of gay people and people sympathetic to them within the Roman Catholic Church, characterized by a true faith in God, a living hope to be acknowledged one day as full members of the Community of faith and a love for God, the Church and one another that I find remarkable, to say the least (cf. Lk 7:9). Excluding these people (vs. Is 55:1-3, Mt 11:28) and refusing Communion to them (vs. Sir 24:19, Mt 15:21-28) does not seem to be a good Catholic answer to me. It deeply hurts me and makes me feel ashamed.

If you feel the same way and if you want to be a Father Hope for the members of the Rainbow Sash Movement too by ministering to them in some way, please contact Sashmovement@AOL.Com. Your anonymity is guaranteed.

Sheep should neither be lost (Lk 15:1ff, Jn 17:20ff) nor should they be without a good shepherd (Mt 9:36).

Peace.

Father Hope.