In another important sign of how the tone of Catholic LGBT ministry is changing, Francis DeBenardo of New Ways Ministry reports on a notable development in India, where Cardinal Oswald Gracias has directed his priests to speak “more sensitively” on LGBT issues. Doctrine is unchanged, but the balance is clearly shifting.
In what is being described as another after-effect of Pope Francis’ seemingly more open approach to LGBT issues, the Archbishop of Mumbai (Bombay), India, directed his priests to “be more sensitive while referring to homosexuality during their sermons or in their public statements,” reports The Hindustan Times..
Cardinal Oswald Gracias
This directive from Cardinal Oswald Gracias was made in response to a letter by an LGBT equality organization, Queer Azaadi Mumbai (QAM) after they complained that a priest at St Thomas Church, Goregaon, gave a sermon opposing marriage equality in which he described homosexuality as “a great sin.”
In his response, Gracias stated:
“Going by the data in the letter, some of what the priest said is alright and some part is inappropriate. The Church does not accept gay marriage because the Bible teaches us that God willed marriage to be between man and woman. On the other hand, to say that those with other sexual orientations are sinners is wrong. I do think we must be sensitive in our homilies [sermons] and how we speak in public and I will so advise our priests.”
– continue reading at Bondings 2.0.
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- India: Archbishop of Mumbai says being gay is ‘not a sin’ (dailyqueernews.wordpress.com)
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