{"id":5110,"date":"2011-07-11T06:37:21","date_gmt":"2011-07-11T10:37:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/deaconsbench\/?p=5110"},"modified":"2016-09-30T17:40:30","modified_gmt":"2016-09-30T21:40:30","slug":"gay-mass-goes-on-at-boston-parish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/deaconsbench\/2011\/07\/gay-mass-goes-on-at-boston-parish\/","title":{"rendered":"Gay mass goes on at Boston parish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

It made headlines last month when it was scheduled, then cancelled<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 but the controversial \u201cRainbow Mass\u201d finally went on yesterday.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Boston Globe<\/a><\/strong> was there:<\/p>\n

The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia\u2019s Church opened its doors to nearly 700 people yesterday for a long-awaited Mass in support of gay and lesbian Catholics, capping a month of controversy over the Boston Archdiocese\u2019s postponement of the service.<\/p>\n

A standing-room-only crowd, larger than Easter Sunday\u2019s, packed the pews to hear the Rev. John J. Unni\u2019s characteristically fiery message of love, acceptance, and the forgiveness of sins.<\/p>\n

\n

Unni\u2019s message, which encouraged the congregation to welcome outcasts as Jesus did 2,000 years ago, was similar to that of weeks past. The difference yesterday, parishioners said, was Unni\u2019s courage to say those words during a Mass that has drawn so much vitriol as well as passionate support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThis is not about taking a stand; it\u2019s about standing in the right place,\u2019\u2019 Unni said as members of the congregation, packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the non-air conditioned sanctuary, fanned themselves with programs. \u201cBe with the outcasts. Be with those relegated to the margins.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

His words marked the fifth week of back and forth between the church and the archdiocese, which began when St. Cecilia\u2019s announced in its bulletin an \u201cAll Are Welcome\u2019\u2019 Mass, scheduled during Gay Pride Month in support of a sizable gay and lesbian portion of the congregation. Many of those members came from the South End\u2019s predominantly gay Jesuit Urban Center, which closed in 2007.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The announcement brought a storm of criticism from conservative Catholics and bloggers. The archdiocese canceled the service days later, saying the church could not appear to endorse homosexuality.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The day of the canceled Mass, parishioners from St. Cecilia\u2019s Rainbow Ministry, which serves the church\u2019s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, held a sidewalk prayer service instead. But Rainbow Ministry members said that was no substitute for a clergy-led Mass inside the church. About three weeks ago, the archdiocese approved the Mass, which Unni said yesterday at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Leading the processional, Rainbow Ministry president John Kelly walked into the nave in front of Unni, carrying a gold cross.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI can\u2019t believe this is happening,\u2019\u2019 Kelly later recalled thinking as he approached the altar. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d see this day.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

After growing up gay in South Boston, Kelly, 69, left Catholicism for more than 20 years before finding compassion and a diverse congregation at the Jesuit Urban Center.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI went through hell,\u2019\u2019 Kelly said. \u201cBut today, I\u2019ve never felt so blessed.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Many in the congregation wore \u201cAll Are Welcome\u2019\u2019 buttons showing a cross and a rainbow, the symbol of the gay rights movement.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThank you for saying, \u2018This is who we are,\u2019 \u2019\u2019 Unni said to gay and lesbian parishioners at the end of Mass. \u201cYou are a beautiful and integral part of this parish.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Read more.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

I think everyone has taken this as far as it can go. \u00a0Comments are now closed. <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It made headlines last month when it was scheduled, then cancelled \u2014 but the controversial \u201cRainbow Mass\u201d finally went on yesterday. The Boston Globe was there: The Rainbow Ministry of St. Cecilia\u2019s Church opened its doors to nearly 700 people yesterday for a long-awaited Mass in support of gay and lesbian Catholics, capping a month […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":132,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,45,48],"tags":[168,11206],"class_list":["post-5110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-churches","category-ripped-from-the-headlines","category-the-people-in-the-pews","tag-boston","tag-gay-rights"],"yoast_head":"\nGay mass goes on at Boston parish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It made headlines last month when it was scheduled, then cancelled -- but the controversial "Rainbow Mass" finally went on yesterday. 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