It was surprising to me the number of Christian churches that were represented at the Gay Pride parade in Albuquerque on June 14. Indeed, I recently learned that many of these churches are now welcoming gay people into their congregations. Some have even established "welcoming" committees for the purpose of greeting gays and making them feel comfortable among church clergy and members. It's gratifying to know that these churches have truly embraced the commandment to love one another. But, I believe that their undertaking is just a beginning.

Growing up Catholic in Santa Fe, I attended parochial school. Each day we would learn the tenets of the faith from the nuns and priests. Many years later, after I returned from military service, I discovered my gay orientation. The ultimate realization of my sexuality weighing against my understanding of Catholic doctrine caused me years of emotional turmoil, anxiety and loneliness. Meetings with priests and the bishop concerning my circumstance only reiterated my unwelcome standing with the church.

Watching the parade as the various churches' clergy and members drove by in support of Gay Pride, I wondered what other similarly affected gay people might be feeling after having been rejected by those same affiliations not so long ago. I have a sense of the trauma they must have experienced by their religious family at such a vulnerable and defining period in their lives. And, to be welcomed back today must cause them serious cynical bewilderment and to question the motivation.

Most clearly, these enlightened churches have taken the first courageous step in faith by accepting gay people into their places of worship. But the past injustice committed against gay people cannot be fully reconciled merely be showing support in Gay Pride parades or by welcoming advances in their church body. As we are all aware, the underlying bigotry, bias, prejudice and hatred toward gays are rooted in the bible. More specifically, it is the biblical interpretation of six seemingly condemning passages that link homosexuality to immoral conduct. The change in attitude of these enlightened Christian churches is the result of recognizing and adopting critical and extensive biblical research and study of ancient attitudes, customs, societal mores, traditions and pagan worship practices. Through this exegesis the greater understanding today is that intimate relations between a God-centered, same sex couple is not immoral.

To the extent that Christian churches in the past zealously undertook a public discourse to rebuke gays for their alleged immoral conduct, atonement and reconciliation requires a similar public dialogue, discussion and conversation to the contrary. That is, to explain that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is not about homosexuality, but about humankind's inhumanity. That St. Paul's prohibitions in the Bible are not aimed against God-centered, same-sex relationships, but against idolatry and paganism. And finally, to unequivocally proclaim to mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, and employers of gay people that we are not an abomination in the eyes of God.

Michael J. Chávez is a retired public employee who lives in Pecos.