😇⛪🏳️‍🌈 Love Thy Neighbor? Bishop’s Call Nixes ‘Pride Mass’ Plan 👀🙅‍♂️

TL;DR; Pittsburgh’s progressive Catholic faction, Catholics for Change in our Church (CCOC), had planned a mass to unite with LGBTQ+ Catholics at Duquesne University. But a marketing mishap – a rogue flyer labeled it a “Pride Mass” – and the intervention of Bishop David Zubik led to its cancellation. Miscommunication, misunderstandings, or a message about acceptance? 🤷‍♀️📣

It was a beautiful vision: a mass celebrating unity with our LGBTQ+ Catholic brethren, scheduled to be held on the grounds of Duquesne University. CCOC, the avant-garde Catholic crew leading this charge, just wanted their LGBTQ+ fam to be part of that holy experience. 🙏🏳️‍🌈 But hold up, did the dream just crash and burn? 💔💥

Here’s the plot twist: an unidentified individual from a partnered organization threw a curveball. With a well-meaning (or not so much?) flyer rebranding the mass as a ‘Pride Mass’, they ignited a controversy faster than you can say “Hail Mary”. 😲💣 The Catholic big guns, the Pittsburgh Diocese and Duquesne University, even said “no way José” to an interview. But we got a spicy statement from the Diocese’s big man, Bishop Zubik. 📜🔥

“Wait, what?” might have been the Bishop’s reaction when he found out about this so-called ‘Pride Mass’. With a shiny flyer circulating, some felt confused, others downright livid, thinking that the Bishop gave it a thumbs up. But, folks, he did NOT. He’s quick to remind everyone that while the Church’s doors are open to all, including the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t rubber stamp everything, particularly those that clash with the God’s law. 👼🚫🏳️‍🌈

This is the Church we’re talking about. They’ve been working hard to welcome everyone dealing with sensitive issues. They’ve even got special ministries like Courage and EnCourage to better assist the LGBTQ+ communities. But the Church’s approval of a ‘Pride Mass’? Not on the Bishop’s watch, it seems. 👀💒

Now, the Bishop’s stand isn’t sitting well with some folks, including CCOC president Kevin Hayes, who, along with his group, has been all about making the Church more inclusive. They’ve been holding social justice masses, teaming up with organizations in the Pittsburgh area, and now this sudden curveball. Hayes admits the rebranding from a mass ‘in solidarity with LGBTQ+ Catholics’ to a ‘Pride Mass’ made things go haywire. And it did, big time. 🎢🤯

So, what’s the real story? A miscommunication that led to a progressive mass getting axed? Or, was this a litmus test for acceptance in the Church? 😕🔍

And the biggest question of them all: In a world that’s ever-evolving and constantly challenging traditional norms, can the Church find a balance between upholding its centuries-old doctrines and embracing inclusivity? Is the Church ready to adapt, or will it cling to tradition, no matter the societal shifts? Over to you, world! 🌎💭👀