Queer Eye Piety

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 30, 2004

Father James Martin, S.J., vindicates the sanctity of the Eucharist against the assault mounted by Cardinal Francis George and the skinhead clergy who might obey his instructions. Note that, as a self-styled moderate seeking to avoid both extremes, Martin has severe words for naughty activists as well. This sermonette played on NPR.

"If on Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, priests in Chicago deny communion to gays and lesbians, they will be further politicizing the Eucharist; if those denied communion return to their pews and stand in protest, then they too will be politicizing this holiest of sacraments."

Transsubstantiation fans will remember Terrence McNally's queer shock play Corpus Christi, portraying a gay Jesus who, inter alia, violates the Sixth Commandment in unspeakably extravagant ways with Judas and Philip. In the Jesuit magazine America (10-17-98), Martin sniffed that the critics were over-reacting. "The sex remains offstage," he said. Now what can be fairer than that? Clearly we're dealing with spiritual perspicacity of no ordinary measure, and only a churl could fail to be deeply moved by Martin's -- and NPR's -- concern for the integrity of this holiest of sacraments.