Mixed Messages

About the only thing I usually lose sleep over is my sick children or those needing a pair of socks at 3 a.m.  But this week I did lose sleep over an event in our diocese.

Catholic Chartities of Central Texas of the Diocese of Austin had a fund raising luncheon yesterday.  Our bishop was the keynote speaker and actually sits on the board of directors of Catholic Charities.  I heard an ad on Relevant Radio the other day advertising the event and the honorary event chair, Kristen Armstrong, was used in the ad very much to sell the event to the public.  Consequently the event sold out. 

What made me lose sleep is the scandal this event creates to Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  If you’re not familiar with Ms. Armstrong, she is the ex-wife of cyclist Lance Armstrong.  Their three children were conceived via in-vitro fertilization (IVF).  Ms. Armstrong’s self-proclaimed use of and supportive position on the issue of IVF is not consistent with Catholic moral teaching. She continues to be associated with an organization called Fertile Hope that promotes banking sperm, using donor sperm, freezing embryos, and surgical implantation of embryos (including IVF) for later use by cancer patients. 

 I rejoice that Ms. Armstrong has returned to the Catholic Church. However, as a dissenting Catholic in the public eye, I believe her high profile participation in events supported financially by the diocese sends the wrong message to Catholics.  There are so many couples who struggle with infertility and many who are either ignorant of or reject the Church’s teaching on sexuality and gift of fertility.   It creates confusion whenever a publically dissenting Catholic, however well intentioned, becomes the focus of Church supported events.

I pray that she comes to understand and embrace the fullness of the Church’s teachings as I believe in her position she has the potental to do a great good for the Church.  I also pray that the diocese and those in positions of leadership will be infused with wisdom and trust in God to make prudent choices in who represents our Church publicly in the future.