One Cool Cap – Too Much

While on holidays, many years ago, we were in a gift shop poking around at things. One of my friends found a really cool baseball cap that I insisted he buy. It cost only two dollars. A deal I thought, but no, my friend figured that at that price it must have been made by children in a third world country. He placed the cap back in the bin and walked away. The price of a guilty conscience was too much.

I suppose that we are put into this situation everyday, having to make decisions about what we buy, what we believe, what we support, what we boycott. It’s not easy keeping up with it all. But, the price of a guilty conscience is too much.

That’s why it is important for the Church (our Church) to remain cautious about how we behave in the world, by what we buy, believe, support and protest. That’s why it is important for us to continue to do things like participating in the Pride Parade, either as participants or spectators, to show our support of several groups of people who are persecuted, in one way or another for no good reason.

It’s a little disconcerting, I must say, to see the crowds lining the streets of Charlottetown do a double-take when they see St. Paul’s Church in the Pride Parade. It is sad that only two churches participate in the Parade, because as along as people are persecuted, imprisoned and even sentenced to death due to their sexuality we have a responsibility to stand with, march with and celebrate with them until they enjoy freedom. The price of a guilty conscience is too much.

Pride PEI marks 25 years on PEI and this years Festival begins on July 20, and the Pride Parade is scheduled for July 27. The price of not being supportive is too much.