Ordo Amoris: The Order of Love
Submitted by Ann Castiglione
This is the first time I’ve written since the election of our new Pope Leo XIV. He is an Augustinian, an order whose core charisms are: Unity, Truth, and Charity. “Charity” led me to a term I had never heard; ordo amoris, the order of love. This is not what the Augustinians, or Pope Leo, follow. The idea is that love must be ranked, that a person rightly prioritizes their affections, with family on top. In some ways, it sounds practical, even reasonable. The problem with this hierarchy is that it feeds the myth that some people are more deserving of our care than others. In a recent discussion with LGBTQ+ community and allies, we realized that, as humans, we want our concerns addressed quickly. Pope Leo, however, is concerned with ALL the problems and injustices in our world, and there are many. While we are very hopeful that our new Pope will move us closer to inclusion, we are also realistic. How is our desire for justice for LGBTQ+ people any more important than justice for all the world’s people, especially children, who suffer from other injustices; war, hunger, and poverty? Jesus never speaks of love as something to be rationed. He speaks of love as abundance; a table where there is enough for everyone.
Gay and Straight in Christ This Sunday
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