Cardinal O'Brien Isn't Going To Help Any Closeted Priests

I said last month that, were it not for the actions that led up to it, Cardinal O'Brien's very public fall from grace would've been the highlight of 2013 for me. What actions was it that made me a little more reluctant to gloat? Was it the fact he'd hurt so many people with his aggressive and hurtful language in opposition to LGBT freedom? Nope, though he did. 

My concerns with Cardinal O'Brien stem not from his textbook example of how to be a homophobic closet-case, but from the fact he hurt several men he was responsible for. From a position of power he made inappropriate sexual advances on men who clearly did not want them. I know how the media love a good "former homophobe comes out and makes good" story and I know I'm no fan of such narratives (see my distaste for people like Nigel Evans). But this is not even one of those stories. 

Cardinal O'Brien is a man we should be glad to have got rid of, a man whose story serves only as an example of how not to live your life. So why am I bringing him up again? Because Mary McAleese, former President of the Republic of Ireland, thinks Cardinal O'Brien telling his life story would some how assist priests struggling with their sexuality. 

I'm afraid Cardinal O'Brien has done enough damage as it is, unhelpfully feeding the homophobic stereotype of gay men as sexual predators. And when it comes to a group such as priests they didn't need any more bad press of that sort. It is, I've no doubt, far harder for a Catholic priest to come out post-O'Brien's downfall that it was before. 

And what would his story say? Would it paint him as the victim of his sexual desires? Is a man who takes out an internal conflict by making unwanted sexual advances against others really a man who has anything useful to tell us about overcoming fears of coming out? 

I cannot imagine a worst example. Though an example of how not to do things can be useful, the risk of making him some sympathetic character and of him overshadowing his victims (once again) is one I think is best avoided. 

Keep O'Brien away. Give the Catholic church a chance to make good on the pain he, and others like him, have caused to others. And offer real support to struggling priests with LGBT outreach and avoid tarring them with any connection to such an unworthy man as Cardinal Keith O'Brien. Give them hope, not hate. 

August Is Full Of Marriage Equality Fun!

Today, in Minnesota and Rhode Island, marriages began to be performed for same-sex couples. The relief and happiness of the couples involved must be something to behold!

Though recent puritanical campaigns have cooled me somewhat towards the conservative institution of marriage, I am still very happy to see progress towards ever greater liberty. And I'm pretty thrilled on a personal level for all those having their big day today!

And the good times just keep on coming. On August 5th same-sex marriages will begin in Uruguay (fast becoming a bastion of liberty as it moves towards cannabis legalisation). And on August 19th New Zealand will become the next country to allow same-sex marriages.

Hundreds of thousands of gay people will now have the ability to protect their relationship, to ensure hospital visitation rights and the right to make decisions for each other in emergency situations. And they have the ability to confirm their relationships in front of their family, friends and communities in the way they were brought up to believe in.

Now we must look towards some tougher battles in Ireland, Italy, Finland and Luxembourg. And to battles over civil unions in many other countries.

The fight for freedom continues.

Irish LGBT Activism Still Has Some Punch

Whilst LGBT activism in the UK have descended into mainly being about pride partying (with the occasional misdirected political attack against other LGBT people who you don't agree with, as happened at Bristol Pride this weekend when LGBT Labour decided it was more fun to be bitchy and score political points than be united) or surveys on who is the best role model for LGBT Youth (yes Stonewall AGAIN), in Ireland there appears to still be some people fighting for actual equality.



Last month Ireland's own Civil Partnership Bill was signed into law. But LGBT activists aren't prepared to settle for second best there. LGBTNoise and other groups are taking part in a March for Marriage at 2pm. It is good to see some principled campaigning for equality on these islands, even if it is outside the borders of the United Kingdom.

May their march be a resounding success and help keep hope for marriage equality alive.

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We Hold These Truths To Be Self Evident

We here in the United Kingdom gave into Civil Partnerships, and the sexual apartheid system they created, with eagerness ignoring those brave lone voices who spoke out in defense of true equality for all. But in Ireland, our sister island across the sea, a ground swell of dissent is growing to counter the spread of this inequality into other parts of north western Europe.

One guy wrote to the Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and when he didn't get a response, his Mum wrote a stern letter herself. Read it here.

Helen Doody, we salute you! For standing up for the basic concept of equality before the law, for fighting for human freedom and liberation, for boldly going where Mums have often gone before to stand up for her son. More info here

This blogger works for nothing but the joy of writing but always appreciates things bought from his wishlist