This is Not Devastating

I have been grappling with how to approach this since early this afternoon. I started to get really frustrated, angry, annoyed, crabby. 
Then, I went to mass at the Newman House for the first time in MONTHS. I used to talk about going to RCIA and mass and meal... and then I got busy with The Storytelling Project and had to revert back to only Sundays. 

You may think.. what's the big deal? Sundays are the only obligatory days... or maybe you're thinking.. where the heck ya goin with this??

I'm getting there. 

Going to mass tonight helped me decide how to answer this frustration that has been bogging me down tonight.

Today on Facebook I received a message:
I bet you're pretty pissed about the marriage bill passing. You and your fellow bigots got what you deserved today.

It really hurt me. I am openly Catholic. Yes. I am also openly loving. I am deeply invested in issues of human rights. My religion might tell me one thing, but politically I see both sides. The statistics will tell you that most Catholics are Republican. It's a weird thing... I think.. to label Catholics based on their political views... but if you're going to put the label, I'm a Liberal Catholic. Politically speaking, I favor the Democrats. 

That being said. No. I'm not pissed that the marriage bill passed. I am truly happy for everyone it benefits. I also truly feel bad for everyone it hurts, including my church.

Father Mike has done a phenomenal job explaining the reason our church believes the covenant of marriage is between a man and a woman. He has also done a phenomenal job of explaining what the passage of this bill will do to the Catholic Church. 

I am truly sad for the negative impact this bill will have on my church. I am truly sad for the hurtful things people have and will probably continue to say on both sides with regards to this bill. I am truly sad for all of the people who say God had nothing to do with this... or blame God for the hatred spread throughout our country related to this issue.  

Father Mike said it well tonight when he said, "this is not devastating." He's right. A large percentage of this state got what they wanted. They are all celebrating and proud. An almost equally large percentage of this state isn't happy with the bill. And things might get tough, but I choose to believe that there will be good that comes of this-- for everyone. 

Me, I'm happy for everyone who benefits for it. I think equality is a wonderful thing. I am also saddened by the backlash it has spurred. I am saddened by the change I know it will bring to my religion. But I am not devastated. I stand in the middle. My definition of marriage stands by my faith, but my commitment as a citizen to give everyone equal rights stands by the bill. 

I'm not a bigot. I'm also not ashamed to tell you that those words from the "friend" upset me. They didn't make me mad. I didn't satisfy the sender with an angry-worded response. I stared at the screen for a minute, and I cried. I will never attack anyone's beliefs or religion intentionally. Nor do I plan on attacking a person's personal decisions. It hurts when others decide to do it to me.