As I was maundering around the historical debris of the Victorian era this morning, I encountered an interesting controversy afoot. It seems that in preparation for his upcoming beatification, Cardinal Newman's remains are to be removed from the grave of his dear friend Ambrose St. John where he was buried in accordance with his wishes. English gay activists believe the Vatican is trying to minimize the possibly homosexual nature of their relationship. Seems obvious, since the Church has a lengthy history of everything from minimizing to extirminating persons and things of a homosexual nature.
I’ve suspected that the Catholic requirement that a saint show compelling evidence of causing “miracles” suggested that saints were expected to be persons of such advanced consciousness that their consciousness was able to override common properties of the physical universe. In doing this, they would share this characteristic with Hindu yogis, and Neo in “The Matrix” for that matter.
After doing a little reading, I've learned that the Church has a more Christ-centered conceptualization of what it means to be a saint, and to cause miracles. At least since John Paul II, saints are notably Christlike persons. Interestingly, when considering reports of miracles, they limit the investigation almost exclusively to medical miracles. The evidence is even reviewed by a panel of local medical doctors.
The Church surely must have a different opinion of Newman's status if they're willing to overrule his wishes in the matter of his final resting place. Honestly, I can't see whether his relationship with St. John had a sexual aspect or was just a chaste Victorian "bromance" makes any difference. Real love, any love, is love divine, and spiritually uplifting properties of love could no more be adulterated by that love's sexual expression than by a hearty meal.
The matter is consistent with the Catholic Church's almost universal failure to unconditionally witness God's love for homosexual persons. It is a grievously missed opportunity. Withholding the Church's spiritual community and refuge from these people, who are as much God's children as the highest most pious ecclesiastics can and has already done great, often irreparable injury to them.
Part of the process leading to beatification involves removing several of Newman's finger bones, to be taken to the Vatican as relics. I'd like to suggest the help themselves to the bones of the middle finger of the Newman's right hand. Homophobia is so mean and childish, I think that it richly deserves a suitably childish gesture in response.
But then, as I mentioned, the exhumation already shows that they intend to ignore Newman's own will. What are the chances they'd listen to me, a mere posthumous blogger.
Ah well! I say here's to better times, and a bigger people!
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