Church hate campaign

Even as an ex-Catholic and knowing as much about the Church as I do, I 
continue to remain astounded at the extent of its blatant hypocrisy.

What has me riled this month is the Church's duplicitous stance on 
homosexuality.

It is well known that Pope John Paul II is a rabid right-wing extremist, 
who has not only preached hatred against vast sections of the world's 
population, but has also wound back every progressive reform the Church 
made during the previous century. Amongst all this, his hatred of 
homosexuals is paramount.

During the '80s the Catholic Church around the world was a leading voice in 
the "AIDS is God's punishment on homosexuals" chorus. Yet to this day 
millions of its heterosexual adherents lie in hospitals and graveyards 
across Africa and Asia because condom users are also threatened with 
eternal damnation. And then, to ensure the sinners suffer sufficiently on 
their deathbeds, the Pope also opposes euthanasia.

At this very moment the Church hierarchy is opening two new fronts in its 
hate campaign.

The Church in Australia has been dictating social policy to John Howard 
regarding access to fertility treatment for lesbians and single women. Ever 
keen to please, John Howard is trying to rush a ban through this session of 
Parliament.

Worldwide, the Church is attempting to divert attention from its 
institutionalised paedophilia crisis by announcing a gay priest witch-hunt. 
The scale of this new Inquisition will make Franca Arena's 1997 hit-list 
look like a kindergarten roll call.

So, where does hypocrisy come into it?

This week we have seen the assassination and funeral of Pim Fortuyn, The 
Netherlands ultra-right answer to Jean-Marie Le Pen. There are millions 
across Europe who will not be sorry to see him go.

Amongst them would be the vast majority of progressive gays and lesbians 
who were embarrassed and outraged that Pym Fortuyn proudly counted himself 
as a member of their community.

Mr Fortuyn also claimed to be staunchly Catholic all his life. So why 
didn't the Dutch Church follow the Papal decree to excommunicate all such 
sinners?

Why then would the Church roll out the red carpet for Mr Fortuyn in death, 
allowing him to lie In-State at their Rotterdam Cathedral, and perform a 
Catholic funeral for him?

Are they working on the idea of "any publicity is good publicity"? Or is it 
permissible to ally yourself with homosexuals as long as they share your 
rabid right-wing views on heathens, such as Muslims?

The hypocrisy of their hate is not new, but has been evident throughout the 
millennia of the Church's existence. Numerous gay Popes have walked the 
corridors of The Vatican. Several homosexual Christian martyrs have been 
canonised as "saints", and to this day Catholics can pray to them asking 
for miracles to be performed.

The ceiling of their holy Sistine Chapel was the canvas for one of the 
greatest works of art of all time. The artist? One of the most famous 
homosexuals of all time — Michelangelo. (Not to mention that the public 
must pay a considerable sum of money to the Catholic Church to view that 
artwork.)

While Catholic schools take advantage of the great contributions made to 
science and literature by homosexuals, they have legislative approval to 
discriminate against gay teachers.

The progressive elements of the gay community have long been at the 
forefront of the struggle against religious superstition and conservatism.

In recent times they have also taken up issues outside their own immediate 
interests, joining the struggle against racism and supporting the call for 
Indigenous rights. Their voice has been prominent in the campaign against 
cutbacks to the public health and education systems.

It is now time for the progressive elements in the gay community to fully 
ally themselves with the working class. Only with a combined assault by all 
sections of the community will we defeat the right-wing extremism of the 
Ernst Rohms*, Pym Fortuyns, the Alan Joneses, the John Howards 
and the Pauline Hansons of this world.

Only with the emancipation of the working-class in Australia can all 
oppressed groups find equality.

* * *

*Ernst Rohm, homosexual, founder of the Nazi Storm Troopers 
and their Chief of Staff from 1930-1934.