I recently returned from a trip to New Mexico where I visited, among other places, the Acoma Pueblo (City in the Sky), and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. Visiting these two places was both informative and at the same time painful for me. I was reminded of our Catholic Church’s methods of coercion and physical abuse in the process of converting the Indians (our land’s native inhabitants) to Catholicism. Why do I continue to remain faithful to a religion that has a history of mental & physical abuse (e.g., The Spanish Inquisition, the "Holy" Crusades, Galileo, etc.) This is what I asked myself as I read of the terrible pain inflicted upon these peace-loving people who knew nothing of a person called Jesus Christ. This question has no simple answer. Suffice it to say that, with all my heart, I believe in the power of love and kindness. I believe that I can do good by remaining within the Church in which I was baptized. Rather than walk away in disgust I choose to work within for change. 

Historically the Catholic Church has always been a part of conquest, accompanying the many expeditions that exploited the world. Conversion has also been a prime objective in the Catholic Church’s history -- (a kind of obsession that if you were not baptized into the Catholic Religion you would not have a place in heaven). 

Of the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico, 95% are baptized Catholics. They do not, however, worship in the Catholic tradition. It is true that every Pueblo has a Catholic Church. It is also true that those churches have more of a historical significance than a relevance to the Indian culture. At one point in our American history Indian Spirituality was almost lost with no thanks to the powerful Catholic Church. Fortunately the Indians, after years of torture and abuse, rebelled and renewed the spirituality that has meaning in their lives and which had always been a part of their culture. 

Today, the abuse and torture still goes on within our Catholic Church. That is a hard statement to live with, but true nonetheless. Gays & Lesbians are just one group of people who must continually deal with the ignorant and abusive behavior from many within Church Hierarchy and lay people as well. It is because of this abuse and ignorance within our Catholic Church that organizations like Call to Action, Corpus, and DIGNITY (just to mention a few) exist today. 

Not everyone is called to a life of reformation. For those who are called, there is an underlying need to stop the abuses and misunderstandings. It is by our silence that we help to perpetuate ignorance. For those who are not called to be reformers it is most important that they pray for those who are. As someone who is part Indian, Oglala Sioux, I feel especially sensitive to our American Indian heritage. I have a respect for the mysteries of Indian spirituality just as I do for the mysteries within our own Catholic Faith. Respect......that is the thought I would like to leave you with.