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October 23, 2009
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Multiple religions discussing sexuality
Rabbi Kate Palley, director of Jewish student life; Joseph J. Scartelli, priest of a local Catholic church; and Barry Stopfel, priest of a local Episcopal church, were on the panel discussing and answering questions about gender and sexuality in the different religions. When Stopfel became a priest there were many discussions and issues because he is gay. "My humanity is where my priesthood lies and in the fullest of who I am," Stopfel said. "I think we're living in a world where gender and sexuality are on a spectrum, and trying to put people in boxes just isn't going to happen," Palley said. She said that she believes that "the bigger picture is to get closer to God." Scartelli provided the Catholic church's perspective of sex and gender orientation. He said, "we've been around for over 2,000 years and nothing has changed." A student asked about gender and sexual orientation in the different religions. Scartelli said that sex is only allowed between a man and a woman after their marriage in catholicism. He said that there is no birth control and no artificial pregnancy prevention. "It has to be permanent until death do you part. Sex is a very narrow guideline, and everything else is unacceptable," Scartelli said. Palley said that the Jewish community has a very different idea of sex and gender. She said that there are certain commandments for men and for women and that "we have to figure out what to do with the ones who don't fit into either category." "Judaism would agree in that marriage is a contract that is sealed between a man and a woman but there is nothing that talks about anything but marriage. It doesn't talk about love," she continued. In Genesis, the Catholic church had a splintering and disunity because of the different interpretation of gender and sexual orientation, according to Scartelli. "You're married for life," Scartelli said. He said that there is adultery, which is against the commandments, "if you have lusted your heart and your mind." Scartelli said that the Catholic church teaches that procreation is to be done in a marital act, not by scientists or in a Petri dish. He also said that the actual conception has to happen in the sexual act in order to be accepted by the church. "Foreplay and all of that is fine, as long as you end up having sexual intercourse," Scartelli said. He said that the first command that God gives his man and woman, the two he created, was "to go forth and multiply." "It's more accurate to say to be open to life and that a child is to be seen as a gift," he added. Speaking on behalf of the Episcopal church, Stopfel said: "I think that faith and belief is contextual. In a marriage, there are moments where objectification is high. Sometimes we objectify to have more fun. And I think fun is holy." Stopfel said that he believes that marriage is a contract. "It is an exchange of two people," he said. "I give you myself and you give me yours and we become one exchange of two people for life." He said that he believes that "the church is concerned about sacramental opportunities." Stopfel added that the government should take care of the civil part of marriages. "I have chosen not to act as a civil servant on behalf of any just state," he said. He said that he doesn't sign marriage contracts. The panel discussion was attended by many members of the Susquehanna faculty, staff and student body. |
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