Catholicism has always been a part of my life. Churches with their stained glass windows, the singing of the choir, the smell of candles - all this is imbued with memories of my childhood. There I was told that love is a gift from God, that family is his plan, and that this is where a person finds his purpose. Perhaps you think so too, or, on the contrary, you are surprised why this topic touched me so much. But isn’t it nice to discuss something more than the weather?

The news caused me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I understand how difficult it is for the Church to change. It is not a car that can be turned with a sharp turn of the steering wheel. It is more like a slowly changing landscape - like a growing rock that is washed by water century after century. Any talk about allowing something new (like blessing same-sex unions) sounds like a revolution to some, and like a relief to others. And so I caught myself thinking: what if I knew these people personally, what would I say to them?

I am torn between two emotions. On the one hand, I am for traditions. There is something powerful and strong in those principles that have passed through millennia. They help not to get lost in this world, like an anchor. But on the other hand, isn’t tradition a dialogue with the present? Shouldn’t it take into account those people who live now, who experience their love, their life, with faith in their hearts?

When I think about such things, I remember one of my acquaintances. I will call him Antonio (the name is fictitious, but the story is true). He was a true Catholic who spent every Sunday in church, read the Bible and participated in church life. Only one day he told me that his son was gay. He loved his son with all his heart and was painfully searching for answers to the question: how to be a good father while remaining true to his faith?

He never found the answers, although he told me: “I pray for him. Not for him to change. But for him to be happy, for there to be a place for God in his heart, and for God to have a place for him.” I don’t know if these prayers made his path easier, but I’m sure they made his love stronger.

It’s hard to imagine what the Church’s real job is when it comes to such people and their relationships. Where is the line between love and rules? Or maybe love is more important than following the rules inside your heart? I ask myself these questions, although I’m unlikely to find the answers myself. But I like to think that people who love – even if their love doesn’t fit into the usual framework – deserve consolation. After all, sometimes one look at a loving person is enough to understand that in front of you is something real, and therefore, it can be from God.

Maybe I'm just looking for your opinion on this, or even your reflection in this story. Maybe I wanted you to read and think, "Yes, I know that feeling. I remember the first time I had to face something that I didn't understand, but couldn't brush off." This is probably what makes us human. Our doubts, our attempts to understand and not lose ourselves.

Perhaps this letter means nothing to you, or perhaps at least one line will resonate with you. Either way, I'd be glad to know what you think about this. Do you agree that sometimes traditions should change? Or do you think that faith should not be confused with fashion?

I just want to know what you think. In the meantime, I'll just wish that we never lose a place in our hearts for love. It is love, no matter how it is understood, that makes us look up and look for the light.

Lana Banana