As an avid TED Talk fan, I delight in the insights so many of its talks offer.
One that stopped me in my tracks was a comment of American mathematician, Cathy O’Neill. She was discussing the application of algorithms in various ways and pointed out the erroneous assumption that they were somehow neutral and impartial. She used the arresting phrase — algorithms are “opinion embedded in code.”
Doctrine as embedded opinion
As is my wont, my mind immediately made theological connections — what is doctrine but “opinion embedded in code.” This does not imply it is necessarily bad, but it is a warning to be alert to danger of claims made, especially regarding women and the LGBTQ+ community in the Church.
It is depressing to see the regularity with which people of the LGBTQ+ community are considered as broken or damaged heterosexuals that is implicit in phrases like “intrinsically disordered.” Church teaching and doctrine are referenced with self-righteous verve to justify this view.
But one thing seems to be forgotten in all the noise — Church doctrine is not something impartial, immune from the cultural assumptions of its authors and interpreters. It is not one monolithic thing dropped whole and complete into the Church from a divine height.
Doctrine is the working out of ways of authentic living influenced by a life of faith. As such, it is the work of human mind and hands. In the case of Catholicism this is a small, select, privileged group of the ordained — work theologised to a high level, perhaps, but fundamentally opinion embedded in code.
Ignorance, sexuality, and scripture
The ignorance of sexual orientation in the Judeo-Christian biblical heritage is part of the religious doctrine that has come to us over two millennia. Because of the witness of courageous people who have educated us, often at a high cost to themselves, to the reality of what it is like to be gay/lesbian/transsexual, we cannot claim the excuse of the ignorance of our forebears.
The complex nature of sexuality, like so much else that is human seems to run on a spectrum and is still being discovered. How is this to be incorporated in doctrine?
If there is less focus on sexual plumbing and more focus on the morality of our interpersonal relationships, on the value of love to human flourishing, it might be a good start. And yes, it too will be opinion embedded in code, but one that is life-giving, inclusive and affirming, per the gospel message, rather than life-destructive, exclusive and condemnatory, the opposite of what Jesus taught.
Doctrine can and does change
If we persist with a flawed understanding of LGBTQ+ sexuality, despite the available information, then shame on us. Doctrine can and does change.
The claim, therefore, to be “merely upholding the Church’s unchanging doctrine” cannot excuse disrespectful and wounding speech. Nor should wider society accept that revelling in elective ignorance makes it acceptable to say unacceptable things about people on the basis that it is the “doctrine of the Church.”
Opinion embedded in code must always be considered carefully, and called out for what it is.
- Angela Hanley studied theology as a mature student, graduating in 2010. In 2015 she completed a research MA on Catholic same-sex relationships. She is currently undertaking PhD studies. She has published many articles and two books, Whose a la Carte Menu?: Exploring Catholic Themes in Context and What happened to Fr Sean Fagan?