During the General Assembly of the United States bishops (USCCB), Monsignor Joseph Strickland intervened to express his concern over recent sacramental celebrations spread on social media, in which a Jesuit priest and a group of clerics appear confirming a man who lives publicly in a partnership with another man. Strickland asked that the Episcopal Conference address the matter as it is a doctrinal issue that, in his opinion, cannot be ignored.
An “off-agenda” intervention, but necessary
Monsignor Strickland took the floor acknowledging that his comment was not part of the agenda:
«I admit that this deviates from the topic in a certain way, but since we are talking about doctrine, I don’t know how many of us have seen on social media priests and other people gathered celebrating the confirmation of a man who lives openly with another man, and it is something we must address.
Father James Martin, once again, posted some great photos of all of them smiling. Here we are talking about doctrine. I simply thought I had to raise this issue. I know it’s not part of any agenda, but this assembly has gathered and we must address it. Thank you.»
Immediately after, the entire assembly fell silent and proceeded to the next item on the list.
Doctrine, sacraments and scandal
Certainly, the silence on the matter—and the fact that it was not on the agenda—reveals a worryingly passive attitude within the Church in the United States. That only one of the 440 USCCB members considered it necessary to mention an episode that openly contradicts Catholic moral teaching on sexual life and the state of grace required to receive the sacraments leaves much to think about.
Strickland warned of the danger of presenting Confirmation—a sacrament intended to strengthen Christian life—as a public gesture of approval of situations objectively contrary to the Gospel. He also recalled that the mission of pastors is not to validate behaviors incompatible with moral doctrine, but to guide toward conversion, truth, and fidelity to the Church’s perennial magisterium.