The act of dismounting from his horse and embracing the leper, despite his fear and revulsion, and subsequently feeling the love God had for the leper flooding his soul, is the defining moment in Francis’ conversion. The call for Franciscans to care for lepers has always been an important ministry and it now begs the question "who are the lepers of our age?" I submit that whoever or whatever group triggers feelings of fear and revulsion in us becomes, for us, the modern day lepers.
The bid for the legalization of homosexual marriage is going to be a major issue in the 2004 election. The Church position on this issue is clear, so fear not! I am not using this forum to ask you to rally for homosexual marriage! Nor am I asking you not to participate in protests. However, I do dread the violent reactions some people may have as they protest the gay marriages taking place in Massachusetts as well as those that will inevitably take place in other states. So far most of the protests have been confined to picketing legislative offices instead of individual people. After all, as Raymond Flynn, a former Boston mayor and foe of gay marriage said on May 17, 2004, "Homosexual couples are not the enemy. The enemy is the legislators who ignored and betrayed the people of Massachusetts by not giving them an opportunity to express their point of view." However, we have seen to what extent some people will go in order to express their hatred and revulsion. We need only remember Matthew Shepherd, the young, gay college student who was brutally beaten and left to die tied to a fence in freezing temperatures in Laramie, Wyoming, and Fred Phelps and the members of his Westboro Baptist Church, who picketed at Shepherd’s funeral with signs assuring mourners that "God hates fags," "AIDS cures fags," and "Fags burn in hell." Rev. Phelps is now trying to have a monument depicting Matthew Shepherd descending into hell erected in a public park in Casper, Wyoming, Shepherd’s hometown. Local officials have refused permission but Phelps is fighting back, citing the First Amendment.
I have always been proud of the Catholic Church for having ministries for those people who tend to be vilified: Project Rachel for women who have had abortions, gay and lesbian support groups, and prison ministries. We can love the sinner whilst hating the sin. Read the story in Matthew 9:10-13 about what happened when Jesus and his apostles sat down to eat with tax collectors and sinners. What was Jesus’ answer? "Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [v.13]." If violence erupts and homosexuals become the victims of hate crimes, we Franciscans will be needed to remind people of those words as well as the words "he who is without sin, cast the first stone." Opposing violence against victims does not mean that we are accepting of the sin. Remember, Francis didn’t ask that the lepers be allowed to return to their homes. He cared for them where they were banished. We who are following in his footsteps are called to do the same.