Dear Father

Dear Father,

I wish you would understand

What it is like to be told you can’t.

That I can’t lead a church,

That you can’t play my song,

That women are not your equal,

Don’t you see your rules are wrong?

I wish you would stop with the lies that you tell

That because she is gay, my sister’s going to hell.

That a murderer can be forgiven,

That water can be turned to wine,

But when it comes to me,

I must follow like I am blind.

I wish you would stop saying that I’m not ‘good’

For not going to mass on Sunday like a ‘good’ girl should.

For not paying the church every time that I come

Even though you’ve stolen from the poor like powerful scum.

I wish you would stop with the control you exude

Upon my family and society, and those you don’t exclude.

You will soon understand,

What it’s like to be told

That you can’t do something.

I will not be controlled.

You can’t rule me, my body, or my life.

You can’t create change by causing us strife.

You can’t make the world follow your rules

Because now we are questioning, self-thinking fools.

You can’t pay off your leaders to do what you want,

Because soon your whole faith will only be left to haunt.

You have committed many offenses,

And though we are tough,

There’s a chance for redemption

In this world you’ve left so rough.

Do good, not for a God and forgiveness,

but for the true wellness of others.

Even if they aren’t Catholic,

call them your sisters and brothers.

Stop manipulating the vulnerable,

The poor and the sick,

Find a new way to bring love

To a world so split.

Let the rules that have hurt so many fall

And maybe when your judgement day comes

you will be able to stand tall.