The report from Saltillo is almost impossible to read as an isolated abuse.
On Pentecost Sunday, Bishop Hilario González García of Saltillo reportedly celebrated Mass with LGBT groups at San Esteban Parish in the context of the city’s Pride March. Bishop Emeritus Raúl Vera concelebrated. The organizer’s account describes LGBT collectives participating in the readings, music, and offertory. A rainbow flag was accepted near the lectern. Another flag with the logos of the groups was offered. The bishop is described as joyful and open. The emeritus bishop is praised as an unconditional ally. The event is remembered as a moment when people who had not entered a church in years “returned home.”
That is the language of conversion, except the direction has been reversed.
The old Catholic mission was to call sinners home to repentance, confession, amendment of life, and union with Christ in the state of grace. The new pastoral theater calls people home by placing the symbols of their public identity movement near the ambo and absorbing their collective self-understanding into the liturgical action itself.
Pentecost was the feast of the Holy Ghost descending upon the Apostles to send them forth to convert the nations. In Saltillo, according to the account, Pentecost became a celebration of “diversity,” “chosen family,” “dignity,” “solidarity,” and belonging. The miracle was no longer men of every nation hearing the apostolic preaching of Christ crucified and risen. The miracle became an LGBT community feeling embraced by ecclesiastical authority.
The old Pentecost gave the Church tongues of fire to preach repentance.
The new Pentecost gives a rainbow flag a place near the lectern.
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