Among the commentary in the wake of the Orlando shooting was a Facebook video by Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin. In it, he criticized some Catholic bishops for not universally naming the “LGBT community” in pastoral messages of solicitude in response to the grave violence. While I didn’t have the same reaction, I thought he had an important underlying point that is crucial for reflection: Whatever the issue, don’t lose the human face. If we’re talking about sex and marriage or immigration or anything else, don’t think in terms of “us” and “them” so much as our common humanity. And don’t let any human being ever see or hear you treating him like an issue, putting him in a category, rather than looking him in the eye and seeing him in the image and likeness of a Creator of tremendous beauty. We’re not identities, we’re people. That gets lost in the speed of stories and high-intensity of commentaries. We can’t afford for it to. It makes for misery. And again, it’s those people who are on the ground bandaging wounds and accompanying neighbors and strangers – often in the background of any debate or praise — who tend to lead the way more than any national or international leader or rhetoric.
Whatever we’re dealing with, we’re in this world together. The more we can come to an understanding and share what we’ve seen and learned and found to be saving graces, the better.
Orlando, Fr. James Martin, LGBT