CC By-NC-ND 2.0
A lot is being made of Pope Francis’ statements about the Catholic church needing to stop obsessing over same-sex marriage and abortion and needing to return to the basic messages of Christ’s love and caring for those in need. This is a good message, and it needed to be said to the Catholic leadership by their leader. (No doubt some Vatican spokesman will try to explain away these statements, as they tried to explain away other statements along these lines from him in the recent past.) Many people are rejoicing, and rightfully so, at this conciliatory tone from the head of a religious organization that has been anything but welcome to the LGBT community and the abortion rights movement.
I, however, am not rejoicing.
You see, buried in his tone of reconciliation is the statement that the church position on those issues is “clear”. That means the church maintains its position that LGBT people are inherently sinful, even in the midst of committed, healthy, honest relationships, even while living our most authentic selves as same-gender loving people and transgender people.
That means that while they may refrain from preaching that we are sinful, they still believe it.
That means that while they may welcome us into their parishes, they will not marry us.
That means that while they will allow, nay, expect us to celebrate their heterosexual unions, they will neither acknowledge nor celebrate ours.
That means their homophobia does not disappear; it just becomes hidden under words of love and reconciliation.
I am hurt to my core by this duplicity.
I see no reason to rejoice.
3 responses to “Weeping May Endure for A Night And A Day And A Little Longer”
Have you seen any statements recently that point to this? I admit that I have not actively looked for the hypocrisy. At this point, I sort of expect it, and have honestly been impressed by this new Pope even though I am no longer Catholic. I was just wondering if you had spoken with someone in the church or read something about it. I understand that it hurts. I’m so sorry. *hugs*
It can be implied from his statement that church teaching on those issues “is clear”. That means they are not changing their teachings, only that he’d like them not be more outspoken about those things than they are about the love of Christ and caring for those in need.
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