Letter: Accept invitation to discuss film

To the Editor:

Every other month I have the privilege to preside at the Mass with Dignity in the Twin Cities. The hours with this small group of deeply spiritual, committed gay Catholics are filled with grace. Unlike the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, they have accepted me fully and lovingly.

My husband and I are the parents of a daughter who happens to be a lesbian. To us, she is a model of “family values.” We admire the love and dedication she shows, raising four foster children between the ages of 8 months and 5 years.

These are just two examples why I am passionate about a movie which will be shown this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Sheldon Theatre.

The title is “For the Bible tells me so.” The movie deals with several Christian families who are struggling in very different ways with the homosexuality of a family member.

There will be a potluck dinner at the Methodist Church preceding the movie at 5:30 p.m. The Reitans, one of the families depicted in the movie, will be present at the potluck and the movie.

I invite all of you who are concerned that discrimination, oppression, bullying and, yes, even murder of GLBT people are justified by quoting Scripture, to view and discuss this movie. I also invite those of you who understand that we can no longer tell our children that God has created them homosexuals but forbids them to express their sexuality in a loving, committed relationship.

I invite all of you who do not want to see our sacred Scriptures used to condone injustice and disrespect for human rights, as happened with slavery and women’s emancipation. And finally, I invite all those who have difficulty coming to grips with some changing attitudes of civil society, with laws that are in flux and with interpretations of Scripture that are more pastoral and less literal.

If you have any questions, contact Bruce Ause at (651) 388-4849.

I hope to see you at the Methodist Church and/or the Sheldon on Saturday.

Tags: opinion, nicolosi