Vatican document reflects evolving view on gay community
“We must respect the dignity of every person,” said Monsignor Bruno Forte, a Vatican official.
Catholic bishops are showing unprecedented acceptance in their stance on the gay community.
In a document released by the Vatican during a two-week meeting of the bishops, known as a Synod, the Catholic church said homosexuals “have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community,” and need to be welcomed.
“The fact to be homosexual doesn’t mean that this dignity shouldn’t be recognized and promoted,” said Forte, who serves as the secretary of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family.
“What he said was almost revolutionary. It was a bit of an earthquake,” said Father Howard Lincoln, pastor at Sacred Heart Church.
The report, which represents an ongoing conversation about marriage and family life in the church, acknowledges committed and loving same sex partnerships and says that such unions have positive qualities.
“It’s about time. God gave us a mind so it’s our responsibility to exercise that and always keep an open mind,” said Raul Rodriguez of Palm Springs.
“That’s great, it’s going to make people more willing to accept Catholic people and it’s better to be open than closed,” said Drew Washington of Palm Springs.
Some Catholics feel the shift is being ushered in by Pope Francis. On a flight last year, he famously said, “Who am I to judge?” when asked about gay people.
But what the report doesn’t do is recognize gay marriage within the church.
“Gay marriage I think is off the table, but they certainly address with a starkly different tone the merits of a gay partnership,” Father Lincoln said.
It remains to be determined if the church’s statements reflect a softening of attitude or the beginning of a radical evolution in doctrine.
The goal of the synod is to present proposals for a bigger meeting to be held in October of next year.
“This is preliminary, but this does reflect the thinking of the bishops, and this will be continued in 2015,” Father Lincoln said.
