Some clarifications in response to erroneous article about Oklahoma Conference of Churches

            A couple of weeks ago The Tulsa World published an article about the Oklahoma Conference of Churches and its recent theological statement against racism and discrimination.  The article reported that I withdrew the Catholic Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma from the Oklahoma Conference of Churches because of its theological statement.  The article left the impression that I do not believe that persons with a same sex attraction or a gender discordance, often referred to as LGBTQ, should be protected against discrimination. 
             This is erroneous.  As is stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2357-2359:
            Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
            The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
            Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection. 
            The Church has also been clear that racism is a sin and must be fought against at all times.  Below is a link to many of the more recent statements against racism.
            https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism/combatting-racism-statements-and-letters

            The reason I decided to leave formal membership in the OCC is because I believe that although the OCC wants to make a strong moral statement, its statement amounts to a house built on sand.  The OCC declares repeatedly that it believes in “the equality and equity of all God’s children, without exception” and that it advocates for “the determination that all people have the right to live equally under the law” and that they hold “an emphatic position that abuse or mistreatment of any individual is unacceptable no matter the circumstances.” 
            Yet, the organization will not commit itself to defending the right to life of babies in the womb, the most marginalized, mistreated, abused and discriminated against group in the country.  In my view racism and unjust discrimination are issues that require and deserve moral clarity and consistency.  This statement, with its glaring exclusion of the most vulnerable group of persons in our midst, is rendered at best inconsistent or even politically motivated.  
            This is the reason I did not want to be a cosigner of the statement.  Nor is this the first time I have needed to pass on co-signing a statement the OCC wanted to make and for a similar reason.  I believe that a Christian group that wants to publish moral statements but cannot agree that abortion is a grave evil should continue without the Catholic diocese as a co-signer of its statements.
            For the sake of clarity I have included below the text of the letter I sent to Rev. Fleck informing the OCC of my decision.

Dear Rev. Fleck,
            I think that the time has come for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma to withdraw its membership in the Oklahoma Council of Churches. 
            I believe that such an organization should be able to be forthright in its defense of the unborn and of the institution of marriage between one man and one woman.  Gender theory increasingly threatens religious liberty and the fundamental right of parents to educate and catechize their children and must be guarded against.
            Along with the Church universal, we remain committed to ecumenism and interfaith dialogue and will continue to collaborate where our paths cross. 
            But at this time, the areas of crossover are so peripheral that I think it is clearer that we not be listed as a member. 
            Sincerely, 
            Bishop David A Konderla
             
            Over these last couple of weeks another topic that garnered a lot of attention in the media and on social media were comments supposedly made by Pope Francis in an interview approving of same-sex unions.  We have now received official clarification regarding those comments. 
            In the actual interview the Holy Father was asked about two different subjects in two different contexts and at two different places in the interview. 
            In the first topic the Holy Father was emphasizing the need within a family to treat with respect and care a member of the family who has a same sex attraction. 
            In the second topic the Holy Father was discussing a civil union law in Argentina of ten years ago.  Here he was making the point that it is incongruent to speak about homosexual marriage.  Still, civil society can use some kinds of legal means to make sure that two persons who want to commit their lives together have legal protection. 
            The final documentary put the two issues together as one and without the necessary context giving the appearance that Pope Francis was changing Catholic teaching or practice.  This was not his intention.  It is a reminder to all of us that we have to be careful and discerning when we read the news or social media posts.  There are lots of ways to get something wrong or confused.  Discernment requires patience, a virtue that today’s 24 hour news cycle and social media are not well equipped to provide. 

Bishop Konderla