You have to hand it to Pope Francis. He certainly isn’t afraid of changing the Vatican’s tone on gay issues. His latest move: writing a letter to a group of Italian gay Catholics, assuring them of his blessing.
The gay Catholic group Kairos of Florence wrote the pope in June, asking that the Church recognize them as people and not as a category. The group apparently had sent multiple letters to the Vatican in the past, but had never, in the words of one Kairos member, “ever even given a nod of response.” This time, however, they got one: a letter written personally by the pope.
The contents of the letter have not been made public, but Kairos member Innocenzo Pontillo said that the pope told them “he appreciated very much what we had written to him” and “also assured us of his benedictory greeting.” It’s almost impossible to imagine Pope Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, aka God’s Rottweiler, sending anything other than excommunication orders in response to the letter.
The letter probably doesn’t portend a policy change; the pope has been pretty clear that he’s comfortable with the current Church teaching. He just doesn’t want the Vatican to be “obsessed” by it. Instead, he wants to make the Church a place that’s more welcoming. He’s certainly off to a good start there.
How about we take this to the next level?
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andy_d
Words are cheap and easy. Let’s see some action such as eliminating opposition to or (gasp!) support of opposition to CIVIL same sex marriage.
andy_d
My bad. Should read ” . . . support of CIVIL same sex marriage.”
MK Ultra
Queerty and stupid gays will continue to swallow the huge load of propaganda the CC is shooting right in their faces.
The Church wants to be more “welcoming”, you say?
That’s so adorable! I think I’m going to write about it in my diary!
They are more welcoming of our high disposable income while continuing to speak out against our rights (behind the scenes, of course).
Dakotahgeo
I’ve got to hand it to Pope Francis! It’s nice to see him as an open door rather than a closed mind! Comforting!
Icebloo
I don’t care what the Pope or any other of these so-called religious leader losers thinks about me. I don’t need validation from these corrupt shi#s who are only in it for the money anyway.
Why do gays STILL feel the need to be accepted by these people – they are only BUSINESS MEN in long dresses. All they care about is MONEY. They don’t have a direct link to God so GROW UP !
Be yourself and don’t let anyone stop you.
2eo
@andy_d: Yep, words are cheap, Putin says our community is NOT targeted in Russia, even though it clearly is. The problem with christians is they are all talk to groups of educated people, but their true face shows everywhere else.
Caliban
Hey, this doesn’t give me a huge case of the warm fuzzies either (I’m not Catholic or even religious), but don’t dismiss even the minor steps Pope Francis has made as unimportant. No, the CC isn’t going to suddenly change and truly embrace gays or gay marriage, but this is a hell of a lot better than what we got from Pope Ratfvcker, who used every opportunity to slam us.
In turn, Ratzi’s diatribes against us empowered US Cardinals and Bishops to speak out against gays with his implicit blessing. Under Francis they don’t have that same approval and will likely tone down their own rhetoric.
BJ McFrisky
What is Queerty’s obsession with the pope? Not a week goes by without someone going off the rails about something involving the leader of a religion you don’t even believe in. So what gives? Is it jealousy? Zealotry? Ignorance? Bullying? I’m curious.
erikwm
@BJ McFrisky: A better question is — when will you stop being at war with the rest of the gay community? It’s abundantly clear from your comments that you have a very low opinion of everyone on this blog. I get that you’re a gay conservative — which is an oxymoron, but whatever! You’re not changing anyone’s minds or attitudes by coming here and being contradictory all the time, so why keep doing it?
Spike
The Pope has gone Rogue. The Vatican is going to be working overtime on damage control.
2eo
@Spike: They murdered the last person who went against the paedophile ring so don’t be surprised if he has a “heart attack” soon.
BJ McFrisky
@erikwm: I’ve never attempted to change anyone’s mind, Erik (I know way too many liberals to think that they’re capable of enlightenment), I simply offer opinions and criticisms where I find them valid. For you to qualify my words as “war with the gay community” just shows how close-minded you are to other opinions (because, guess what? I’m not the only homo in the land who doesn’t toe the liberal line).
Stay muddled, my friend. Stay muddled.
DarkZephyr
@MK Ultra: You are very cynical. Pope Francis actually IS making a change BY his words. You clearly do not understand how Catholicism works and how important what the Pope says is to those under his leadership.
I have TONS of family members that are Catholic and THIS IS ACTUALLY making MANY of them change their attitudes, I can assure you of that. This is the message they are receiving: “Back off the gays”. Its real change,it may not be change in teaching, but its change in how we are being treated.
DarkZephyr
@BJ McFrisky: They seem to be saying good things about this particular Pope, so what the h*ll do you care? Are you an Anti-Catholic as well as a homophobe who says he is gay?
StephK
I have read some justifiably angry comments about the Church on Queerty. They are perfectly undertandable as it tried to hide the sins of certain errant and criminal clergy. Of course, the verbal assaults from the top down have been horrific too.What I have also seen posted here are nasty names and insults to those who have remarked favorably on the small but real changes that have begun since Pope Francis has come on board.Maybe to those posters this seems like hokum and magical thinking, but what Dark Zephyr has commented on will do more to change the attitude in the pews and that will ripple out way beyond the church walls. Hopefully the most outrageous and homophobic Church leaders will now change their tune, or else be shown the door as was done to Archbishop Myers of Newark. These comments by Francis matter.. if not to any particular readers here, then to their friends, neighbors, family and co-workers. Although the Church does many good works with its charities, indeed it has so much for which it absolutely must atone ( not just apologize).It seems like that may have begun.
DarkZephyr
@StephK: *Thunderous Applause*
MK Ultra
@DarkZephyr: Cynical? The word you’re looking for is realistic.
Many Catholics were already socially liberal.
And your anecdotes about your family members are just that, anecdotes.
The CC is a corporation. They care only about the bottom line.
I don’t care about “little steps”, or even this being a “big change for them”. Those are platitudes for people like you.
If you want to buy into their propaganda, go ahead.
But don’t try to stop me or others from speaking out against them because it gives you a warm, cuddly feeling inside.
DarkZephyr
@MK Ultra: Oh please, you assign your opinions far too much esteem in my eyes. I don’t care what you say or believe, but YOU won’t stop me from telling the truth, no matter cynical you want to be. Have a good weekend.
MK Ultra
You seem to be very confused, bro.
Before YOU responded to ME, I didn’t know or care about your opinion. So how could I stop you from saying it?
As for esteem, I want to remind you for a second time – Remember bud, you responded to me because you didn’t like what I said. Maybe I hurt your feelings. Maybe you meant your self-esteem? I don’t know. You seem a little excited now so that’s what I suspect.
Have a educative weekend, bro.
MK Ultra
@DarkZephyr: that comment was directed at you.
DarkZephyr
I responded to you because this is a blog that has discussions after the articles and I certainly did have an opinion about what you said in that I thought you were overly cynical and off the mark and so I felt like sharing my own viewpoint on the matter, but for you to think that I am trying to “stop you from speaking out” against anyone or anything, you MUST have assigned an overly inflated opinion of your viewpoints to me. What do you think I could possibly want to “stop you” for? That you think it could have “hurt my feelings” further demonstrates the fact that you attribute to your opinions far more import in my eyes than they really have. I honestly don’t care THAT much what you think about the Catholic Church that I have this agenda to “stop you”. And ff you want to be a cynical, bitter Betty about the Pope, have at it. I won’t try to stop you, I promise. lol Have a Happy Halloween!
MK Ultra
@DarkZephyr: Wow, a long rant filled with semantics. Definitely hurt feeling.
Get over it, bro. You’re putting way too much thought into this. This is a gay blog, not your therapists office!
Happy Halloween to you too, bud. Make sure to dress up as the sensitive care bear!
DarkZephyr
@MK Ultra: It was a post filled with points that you are avoiding by behaving in a childish manner. Period.
MK Ultra
@DarkZephyr: what points?
lol. You’re only point was “how dare you be a meany!”
Don’t you think that that’s childish?
NormanJones
My Uncle Oliver just got gold Mercedes CL-Class Coupe by working parttime off of a laptop. additional resources,,, smarturl.it/bhtmj6
Billysees
Although he is seldom considered in this way — Jesus was a great salesman.
Great salesman are defined as those who are able to be very well liked, admired and respected such that they can sell any product they represent.
Jesus represented a creator “who is all about love”.
We’ve all heard it said that “God is Love”.
Jesus peddled “love” to the limit, and we all must be super-thankful for that effort.
This Pope is also striving to be a “similar salesman”.
His product is his church.
Indirectly he is, or should be, saying nice things about LGBT’s and that is crucial to
promoting LGBT acceptance.
LGBT acceptance is just about everything to me.
This is one of my favorite verses, and it should be very heavily and constantly
promoted all over the world — Above all, LOVE EACH OTHER DEEPLY, because love covers
over a multitude of sins…….the NT
Cheer…
KaranRoche
My Uncle Gavin recently got a fantastic white Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe just by some part time working online with a computer… more helpful hints,,, gkurl.us/ln7x8
Cyn
@KaranRoche: SPAM
Cyn
@Billysees: Agreed, but marketing and acceptance as a valid section of the human species are two different things. The Church is losing their flock by the thousands every day because of their stance. Ok love the gays, but don’t let them love each other because that is the route to hell is not a way to keep a flock. Love the sinner, hate the sin implies that normal humans as their god created them are still doomed.
StephK
@Billysees. I have to agree with much of what you have said. However,I would rather see Jesus as a great teacher or spiritual master. It matters not whether if he was divine or bodily resurrected. It matters that his teachings and personal examples were powerful enough to survive and passed on througout the centuries. Unfortunately, many agents of the Chuch have distorted his messages to spread their own social and political agendas. Pope Francis seems to be trying to return the Church back to its original mission to love,feed and nurture the poor and abused. Calling off the gay bashing by the clergy and laity is a pretty damn good place to start.