DECADES OF STUDY AND PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
by Tom Luce, 8.04.12
Father Tom serves his uncle communion in 1964 at a "home" Mass.
I, Tom Luce, was ordained a priest in Rome in 1963 during the Vatican II Ecumenical Council obtaining an S.T.L. in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. I lived at the North American College, a residence for U.S. diocesan seminarians . Back home in 1964 to work as a priest in Burlington, Vermont I quickly became sensitized by the Vietnam peace movement and could not resist a life-long calling to work with the world's poor against injustice. I received release from my Burlington diocese to join Maryknoll. But instead of going overseas in 1967 with Maryknoll, I moved to live and volunteer for peace and justice as a priest in the inner city of Boston. The reason for this was the unsettled position of Maryknoll regarding the US in international politics and the role of religion.
By 1968 I was convinced that the problems of the poor, racism and inequality required clergy personally involved in marriage and family life. So I married my wife-- now of 43 years-- in 1970, but was excommunicated and laicized against my will. The fact that priesthood--my priesthood, but a sacred lifelong commitment-- could not be mixed with sexual activity according to church authorities set up a life long conviction that doctrinal change needed special attention. I was inspired by my training years so caught up with the Vatican Council in Rome and the notion that there was only one priest, Jesus Christ, and that we the baptized were members of the one body of Christ to serve the world's most in need. I had to totally reorganize my life after wasting a lifetime of preparation for priesthood. Now I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. In 1984 I obtained approval for my marriage from the Vatican.
While living in Boston in the 70's and then back home in Vermont 1982-2005 I worked in child welfare, family counseling, and retired as a French/Spanish teacher in 2005. My volunteer work for peace and justice programs continued in Vermont, Central America--Guatemala and Nicaragua-- and since 2004, in Haiti and California.
In 2000 in Vermont at the culmination of the judicial and legislative work on "same gender" marriage, I publicly supported as an active married Catholic-- with the training of a priest --"same gender" marriage. I have continued to promote the acceptance of the morality of same gender relationships all the while remaining true to my (then ) 30 years of marriage. For me the understanding of SGO (Same-Sex Orientation) has clearly evolved in every way, theologically, psychologically. I am convinced the church teaching will change just as it has on so many issues throughout the history of the church. I feel we desperately need to get beyond the negative condemning stage and work to help the church absorb SGO's into a stage where they can develop as "normal" with same gender orientation. Here are some significant points that have moved me in this direction:
The agony is too great to just let the doctrine evolve indirectly and slowly. Not the time for letting witches be burned, slaves be hung. Time to act in peace.
By 1968 I was convinced that the problems of the poor, racism and inequality required clergy personally involved in marriage and family life. So I married my wife-- now of 43 years-- in 1970, but was excommunicated and laicized against my will. The fact that priesthood--my priesthood, but a sacred lifelong commitment-- could not be mixed with sexual activity according to church authorities set up a life long conviction that doctrinal change needed special attention. I was inspired by my training years so caught up with the Vatican Council in Rome and the notion that there was only one priest, Jesus Christ, and that we the baptized were members of the one body of Christ to serve the world's most in need. I had to totally reorganize my life after wasting a lifetime of preparation for priesthood. Now I have 3 children and 4 grandchildren. In 1984 I obtained approval for my marriage from the Vatican.
While living in Boston in the 70's and then back home in Vermont 1982-2005 I worked in child welfare, family counseling, and retired as a French/Spanish teacher in 2005. My volunteer work for peace and justice programs continued in Vermont, Central America--Guatemala and Nicaragua-- and since 2004, in Haiti and California.
In 2000 in Vermont at the culmination of the judicial and legislative work on "same gender" marriage, I publicly supported as an active married Catholic-- with the training of a priest --"same gender" marriage. I have continued to promote the acceptance of the morality of same gender relationships all the while remaining true to my (then ) 30 years of marriage. For me the understanding of SGO (Same-Sex Orientation) has clearly evolved in every way, theologically, psychologically. I am convinced the church teaching will change just as it has on so many issues throughout the history of the church. I feel we desperately need to get beyond the negative condemning stage and work to help the church absorb SGO's into a stage where they can develop as "normal" with same gender orientation. Here are some significant points that have moved me in this direction:
- The testimony of SGO couples in Vermont was thoroughly moving in its revelation of committed love and contribution to human society.
- I am reminded of the nature of the development of church teaching beginning with the dispute between St Paul and St. Peter over relations with the Jews;
- the controversy pitting the laity against the hierarchy on the issue of the dual nature--divine and human--of Jesus. (Arian heresy) It was the laity that convinced the hierarchy that the dual nature was the correct doctrine. Of course I would only support non-violent action--not excommunication, persecution or martyrdom-- for such a change.
- Then there was Galileo's teaching that the earth was round and orbited around the sun; and all the violent strife pitting popes and kings and their militant followers with wars-crusades. Not the way to settle dissent.
- the separation of church and state promoted by John Courtney Murray, S.J. and decreed by the Vatican II Council.
- Most critical of all are the tragic stories of suicides, murders and bullying of SGO people right unto this day. I have become affected profoundly by this horror because I identify personally with them and feel compelled to do all I can now to hasten the change of the Church's teaching which has been and still is such a source of the persecution of SGO's.
The agony is too great to just let the doctrine evolve indirectly and slowly. Not the time for letting witches be burned, slaves be hung. Time to act in peace.