an accomplice of injustice

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Oct 14, 2008

 When the Bishop of Fresno, California, wrote a pastoral letter opposing same-sex marriage, Father Geoffrey Farrow faced a moral quandary. 

Farrow, who is homosexual, thoroughly disagreed with the stand taken by his bishop. The bishop was merely reiterating Catholic Church teaching, of course. But Father Farrow thoroughly disagree with Church teaching.

"As what point do you cease to be an agent for healing and growth and become an accomplice of injustice?" he asked. 

So Father Farrow took his own stand. Speaking as a minister of the Catholic Church, he denounced the teachings of the Catholic Church. 

"I know these words of truth will cost me dearly," the angry priest said. And with that, he tore up the stipend checks that he had been receiving for the last several years for his work as a representative of an institution he could not honestly represent. 

Oh, wait. I got carried away. He didn't tear up the stipend checks. (To be sure, he might not be getting any more such stipends in the future.)  If his parishioners were tossing a few dollars in the collection basket every week, thinking that they were paying the upkeep of a loyal Catholic minister, they've been conned. 

But let's not look backward. Healing and growth, baby!