Letters to the editor
I Remember Jean Vanier
Donna Johnson, Ottawa
Volume 33 Issue 4, 5 & 6 | Posted: June 14, 2019
A number of years ago, I went to hear Jean Vanier speak at Notre Dame Basilica in Ottawa. Like many people raised in the Catholic Church, I had been inspired by his life of service to people with disabilities. Like many gays and lesbians who have left the church, I was curious about how he reconciled the church’s position on homosexuality with the core Gospel values of belonging and inclusion on which his work is based.
Mr. Vanier gave a beautiful speech about opening ourselves to those we perceive as weak, deficient or inferior.
When the audience was invited to place their questions in a basket, I wrote down mine, folded the paper and wrote in bold letters, “PLEASE DO NOT CENSOR THIS QUESTION!”
A number of years ago, I went to hear Jean Vanier speak at Notre Dame Basilica in Ottawa. Like many people raised in the Catholic Church, I had been inspired by his life of service to people with disabilities. Like many gays and lesbians who have left the church, I was curious about how he reconciled the church’s position on homosexuality with the core Gospel values of belonging and inclusion on which his work is based.
Mr. Vanier gave a beautiful speech about opening ourselves to those we perceive as weak, deficient or inferior.
When the audience was invited to place their questions in a basket, I wrote down mine, folded the paper and wrote in bold letters, “PLEASE DO NOT CENSOR THIS QUESTION!”
The cathedral was packed with church dignitaries and I never expected my question to make the cut.
Several safe questions were put to the speaker.
Suddenly, I heard my words read out by the moderator: “Jean, how do you reconcile your commitment to the Catholic Church with the church’s exclusion of gays and lesbians?” The audience let out a collective gasp, as if they could not believe someone had the insolence to pose such a question. The church VIPs shifted in their seats, clearly embarrassed.
But Mr. Vanier took it in stride, and his reply was clear.
“Don’t give the institution too much power,” he said.
Donna Johnson, Ottawa