A Can of Worms

The end of the article I am about to discuss throws off the truth just a little bit. I'm not really sure how I am going to rectify that issue, but I will tell you that what we are about to delve into is a highly controversial arena. The title of the article reads: Homeless transgendered woman murdered in Rome honored by Jesuits. The last sentence says: "While Andrea's dream of a white church wedding was never possible -- at least in death she was accepted by the religion she believed in so deeply." Yep, I am opening up this can of worms, care to squirm with me?

Here's the summation of the article, a Columbian man who felt like a woman moved to Rome in hopes of a greater level of acceptance and yet actually found less. This individual ended up homeless and was frequently beaten at the railway station that was shelter. Ultimately, Andrea Quintero, who was described as "a gentle soul and a devout Catholic," was beaten to death in that same station. Andrea's body remained unclaimed for months.

Interestingly enough, on the same day that Andrea was murdered, the Pope made the following statement in reference to homosexuality, "Who am I to judge?" Now, a lot of people would grab hold of that and run (something like what happens at the close of the article) these same people would ignore the rest of what the Pope said, "while homosexuality is still a sin, gay people should not be marginalized."  No one should be marginalized  ( Merriam-Webster definition: to relegate to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group), however loving all people, treating them as human beings (since they are) does not equate with accepting the sinful choices they have made for their lives.

That said, I am glad that the Jesuits provided Andrea with a funeral, though perhaps someone should have reached out to her in life so that death did not claim her in the midst of sin. Jesus treated everyone as though they were valuable, He did that because every person that walks this earth is of value to Him; He created each and everyone of us but He also died so that we could walk away from the sin that so easily entangles us. So, while Pope Francis uttered his do not judge philosophy he also made it clear that homosexuality is still sin and the wages of sin is death. We can change our laws, we can ratify our politics and alter our perceptions but we cannot, no matter how many meetings and votes we participate in, change the Word of God. God doesn't change and those things He called sin remain thus, period.