Responding to Meg Lavery's Nov. 18 Viewpoint "Christian Ideas expressed about homosexuality" is not a difficult task, but one that is very disheartening because once again the answers are simple and so are the authors.

Like most readers, I know when to brace for a straw-man sermon when I find absolutism in the opener. Lavery admitted the Christian Church is struggling courageously with issues that affect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, then proceeded to single-handedly solve the "gay issue" in 700 words or less. Lavery's Viewpoint is a demonstration of the naïve, hasty conclusions being drawn by some in the Church.

Calling something "abnormal" is a dangerous precedent. This was Lavery's sexuality logic in a nutshell — an appropriate receptacle I might add. Accordingly, all racial, cultural, linguistic and religious minorities must count themselves among the abnormal in the name of normativity. Let's not go that route.

As someone who grew up in fundamentalist churches and schools and has immediate family in all areas of ministry and seminary scholarship, I am well acquainted with the chorus of conformist Christianity. As someone who is gay, I know what it feels like to be the object of human and religious indecency.

I believe I could use my space here as a theological forum to debunk some common myths of homosexuality propagated by those like Lavery, who claim an absolute, literal understanding of Scripture. But I do not desire a debate. I won't go in-depth refuting Lavery's charges. The back and forth bickering about the implications of homosexuality that smeared the Viewpoints section last year was neither pleasant, nor useful. My focus shall be the dignity of the dialogue between both schools of thought. My interest is the respect and maintenance of the individual.

There is no conversation about the Bible that can occur without consulting the source. Pulling passages and quoting chapter and verse can be healthy, but not without asking if Jesus might have something to say. Jesus has no statements on record about homosexuality, but he does have a thing or two on love and acceptance of the human person.

The most unfortunate thing about Lavery's Viewpoint and others like hers is that they are obsessed with authority and absolute answers. The questions are complex, and so ought to be the conclusions. We kid ourselves when we think we've got these and other intricate issues all wrapped up. We disrespect one another when we hold our ignorant certainty over other's heads and walk in and out of discussions with our mind made up.

I'm sure I don't know the universal Christian stance on sexuality. But how about the love of God? Can there be any disagreement on the complete devotion of Jesus to his people, or any limit to his unconditional love for all of us?

While we as Christians discern together what our creeds ought to reflect regarding GLBT issues, there is one thing that can hinder our progress: tolerance. These struggles of ours should not scare us from the important task of acknowledgement and acceptance.

St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 had his discerning struggles and offers wise words, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I do believe every person can count and that we are all Marquette.

Sellnow is a sophomore history and women's studies major.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Nov. 30, 2004.

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