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"And as Peter Bishop (Brazilian) Pedro de Casaldaliga, to change the world we also need to change God."
Ativity em Cuba 2
Cuba: Religious Voices for the acceptance of sexual diversity
Written by Sara More
Havana. May 15 (SEMlac) .- Representatives of various religious communities advocated in the country, from their point of view, the acceptance of sexual diversity in Cuban society and its spaces of faith, and against fundamentalist arguments within some churches, condemn non-heterosexual identities.
"The issue of sexuality is still very troubled and absent in everyday spaces, such as worship, Mass, meditation or training curricula of the community, and catechesis," said Gonzalez Yoimel, layman of the Presbyterian Church for a panel on sexual diversity and perspectives of religion, held on 14 May at the headquarters of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC).
The young man added that most of the time, those who speak for the communities are not themselves, but hierarchies of church groups, and generally the issue of diversity ends demonized or absent.
"There are few opportunities to hear the voices of the community itself," he told the meeting that was attended by Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban Parliament, Mariela Castro, director of the National Sex Education Centre (CENESEX) pastors Sergio Arce, Presbyterian, and Raul Suarez, a Baptist, among others.
According to Gonzalez, the mission and program of the churches, in many cases, the real needs of communities and generally is imposed from the authorities in power, "over this issue, which is a taboo and very conflictual" said.
He acknowledged, however, that sexual diversity before the position is never monolithic, "although the most publicized are the letters of protest from some of the directives of several churches in Cuba, who oppose the inclusion of sexual diversity."
In this scenario, described several positions, including those not question the sexual diversity as a sin, but feel it as a stumbling block in the functioning of the churches.
"From that position is still homophobic exclusive and allows for the presence of homosexual and other variations in communities, but are denied the opportunity to hold positions in the different levels at which the church is organized," he added.
Also weighing on silence, and with it the inability to develop an open dialogue and rich on the subject, at the same time there are mature communities spiritually, ethically, respecting diversity and promote inclusion with a vision of liberation.
"As believers, we must support these public spaces for discussion and action from the work of training, academic and community, respect for diversity and God's creation," he said.
Another of the speakers at the table was the African-American Pentecostal pastor Carrietta Jackson of the United Church of Christ, who gave a moving account, ment very optimistic, of course she herself had to go to face the incomprehension of society and church to their homosexual orientation.
For his part, Pastor Ofelia Ortega, president for Latin America of the World Council of Churches, called for the need to promote dialogue among Christian churches and other religions that include these items.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Lutheran theologian and gay Musskopf Andre told about the theology of sexual diversity in Latin America and the still small group work of people who are developing, with many difficulties against, by force of homophobia.
Coderh According to Gabriel, a Catholic layman and coordinator of the Group of Reflection and Solidarity Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the subject, seen from the universal Catholic Church has a historical base from a hegemonic culture, Christian patriarchal and sexist.
"The Church, in this case, sees sexuality as sin, condemned the pleasure and only supports reproductive character," he said. "You have to deconstruct the hegemonic culture and go to the sources of the Bible to reflect from there and understand what has been the manipulation of texts by some exegetes."
In several areas open for discussion during the day, other voices argued for a new church, including from the pastoral vision of emancipated women and acceptance of sexual diversity.
During the afternoon of Saturday was held at the Pabellon Cuba, a central cultural facility in the Cuban capital, an ecumenical celebration organized by the Centro Memorial Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Student Christian Movement, the Group of Reflection and Solidarity Oscar Arnulfo Romero, the Evangelical Seminary of Matanzas and the Gender Institute.
At the ceremony, people took part in the most diverse backgrounds and religions, including the public who attended the celebrations and activities of the day, leaders and representatives of the Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran and secular, among others.
Posted by André S. Musskopf
Ativity em Cuba
Cuba. A new god is possible? A new church is possible?
By María Ileana Faguaga Iglesias and Enrique Lopez Oliva
Cuban Day Against Homophobia, had an unusual point this Saturday, May 15, with a surprise, makeshift ecumenical worship, developed under a small tent, where a moment ago urged the use of condoms to prevent the VH-AIDS. During the service a small group of pastors and pastors from various Christian denominations and countries, including the United States prayed for a new church, inclusive, that does not discriminate against anyone for their sexual orientation.
Surprised Pavilion attendees Cuba, located in the central Vedado Ramp to participate in the Day by Day Against Homophobia, religious men and women heard singing the song of the Argentinean Fito Paez, "I come to offer my heart." Mostly these were lesbian couples --- much more visible this year than in the two previous events ---, gays, transsexuals, but not missing unprejudiced heterosexual or curious tourists.
"Who said that everything is lost / I come to offer my heart was so much blood that the river / I come to offer my heart ..." There was a large choir to which were added voices.
"In the beginning God created the world, created a house for us to live each and all, and the house was inhabited by plants, was inhabited by animals, humans. And the plants were of different sizes, shapes, scents and colors, water and land, were also different, and human being who lived in the house, the house that is all and all had different ways and means to feel different , ways to rejoice, to laugh to enjoy a whole science of colors, shapes, appearances, a science of diversity, celebration of the colorful ... "theological meditation begin the Cuban Quaker Kirenia Criado, Reflection Team Theological Center Memorial "Martin Luther King Jr.".
"This room of the house inhabited, encourages us to meet this afternoon. Meeting is seeing eye to eye, is touching, hugging, meeting. Because I recognize you and acknowledge you in me .... "
The Reformed Presbyterian pastor Dorita Arce recalled the insistence in the Bible of the admonition to love, which "rejoices with the truth." This is the love we want, when we want at this time to summon all those present. "
Some drank rum, others ate pizza, Some laughed while others looked meditative or simply expectation. Even more than a few rattled, making it difficult to hear. Most of them wore sportswear shirts with images of popular artists, there were many necklaces and earrings, many wore sandals. They took photos together. Many did not understand what was happening there.
It was the first time there was made a culto.religioso groups were improvised, greeted friends and acquaintances, "What is happening here?" Was common question. Interested and curious made a compact group of pastors around and sang along to the strains of an electric organ ... a choir is not always in tune, but sense and spontaneous. Eyes were watery.
"Today God calls us to a new moment / To walk together with his people / It's time to transform that is no more / And none alone and isolated is capable ..."
Suárez Raquel Pastor, Church Ebenezer Baptist Fellowship of Cuba, said: "Today God is pleased. How many say amen (so be it)? God is happy because we are here for women and men varied and diverse, each of us is with its many features, which makes up the unique identity and blessed everyone. Each of us is a human privilege. Privileged existence that God has given us, as she, that ... "
The Baptist Amos Lee insisted on "faith and hope that the world can be otherwise." On several occasions, called for silence in order to advance the cult. "Spirit of life, god and goddesses of all and all, I call on this place," said another officiant.
"Each of us, we, also carries prejudice, discrimination and fear," said the Chilean-Cuban psychologist Mario Flores, who served as conductor. Colorful masks were given paper to show that they not only cover but also discovered, and these were invited to a brainstorming exercise, meeting. "The mask, said the psychologist, is like a mirror, which brings us closer to our inner world, to that area of discrimination, and as any area of discrimination is an area of fear: fear of difference, to meet , fear of ourselves. "
"Look at us, to realize that we are also people who discriminate", urged other officiant. "Lift up the masks and entreguémoslas to God, asking him away from our lives that which separates us."
Brazilian Lutheran theologian Andre gay Musskopf asked to "God and the Goddess of life, which is always with us and us, and with that we go. Also today and all went through difficult moments, where we discriminate, we do not prevail where the life, to be with each one of us and to help us and make us human beings better. Us what was the intention to create humanity and all that is on earth. And I assure you that God or the Goddess of life, forgives us, accepts us and is with us and we always and in every moment throughout our lives. "
With quotations from the Old and New Testaments, including texts from the prophet Isaiah, the Gospel of John (chapter 13. 31 1l 35) and a letter from the apostle Paul to the Galatians, that part was structured liturgy.
"Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and the homeless poor into your house when you see the naked, cover him, and not hide yourself from your brother?" (Isaiah 58.6)
"" A new commandment I give today, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another "(John, 13. 34)
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Paul, Galatians, 3.28)
The Rev. Raúl Suárez Ramos, one of the founders of the Fellowship Baptist Cuba, and the Memorial Center "Martin Luther
King Jr", deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, said in his homily:
"Here in this evening, this place is no longer the Pavilion Cuba, for a moment, to turn itself into the house of God, which is home to men and women who wish to have an identity or have an identity, which are made present in our society, without fear or masks, but also that whatever identity and their presence in society, ie our people, requires a compromise, and the result together with an undertaking to place identity, presence and commitment, in what is said and done .... "
The Baptist pastor and theologian Luis Carlos Marrero, theological Coordinator of the Group of Reflection and Solidarity Oscar Arnulfo Romero ", invited all those present (pastors --- among them, the African-American neo-Pentecostal pastor ---Carrietta Jackson, pastors, deacons and diaconizas,) "to break bread and honey, fruits of the earth", and emphatically said: "Today we decided to leave our temples, our pigeonholed. Today we decided to also shed our skins like you. And as Peter Bishop (Brazilian) Pedro de Casaldaliga, to change the world we also need to change God. Sean welcome everyone to the table. Come "invited.
Raquel Suarez, pastor of Ebenezer Church, in the Havana municipality of Marianao popular, offered the blessing to all. "For everyone here is the blessing of God," said
It was a very special and meaningful, when many came to take communion in pairs, sometimes we just saw, it was just the person beside him or someone who approached him, and with whom he exchanged the bread with honey , placing each in the other's mouth, but not all did.
It was a Mass that broke traditional liturgical patterns, which upset some traditional believers (theologically conservative) did not participate in any activity Catholic clergy, nor was invited to co-officiate any representative of the Cuban religions of African origin, although they were present there , observing the scene, practitioners of these religions, whom some approached to ask for "Ache" (life force, similar to the grace of God).
The final blessing of God offered the veteran pastor and theologian renovated Sergio Arce Martínez: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you all brothers" and that "the love of God our Father, Creator of all the diversity that we see in nature and defend in society, together with the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us in diversity, is in all of you present here, and all human beings, which are known significant part of the diversity of the Father has created, "he said. + (PE)
Posted by André S. Musskopf
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