Stop the presses. Pope Francis is reported to have met with a transgender man at the Vatican. A Papal first!
For reasons we can’t seem to grasp, religious institutions like the Catholic church are given a giant free pass to crawl along about fifty years (or more) behind secular culture. We call it “tradition,” slap a badge of importance to its forehead and then applaud its courage when it does something remotely good-natured.
No, the current pope, Pope Francis, isn’t like other popes in that he actually seems to care about the teachings of Christ (you know, that guy who probably didn’t exist). But did Francis really deserve the title of “single most influential person of 2013 on the lives of LGBT people” bestowed by The Advocate just for saying, “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”
Tiny inch forward, overblown accolade.
Now Francis is receiving attention for reportedly meeting with a transgender man over the weekend. Except that the Vatican press office won’t even confirm the meeting took place. Something which Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry which advocates for LGBT Catholics, wonders at:
“The Vatican’s reluctance to verify the meeting is another indication of why I don’t think their attitude can yet be called ‘acceptance,'” DeBernardo told The Huffington Post by email.
Even so, DeBernardo doesn’t miss an opportunity to praise the tiny action:
“This pope, through his many gestures of meeting with those who society and the church treat as outcasts, has made it his mission to lead by example, and to send a strong message of welcome and hospitality to all people, regardless of their state in life.I think that his meeting with the transgender man was a gesture not only of pastoral care, but of genuine interest in learning about the transgender experience from a firsthand source.”
Tiny inch forward, overblown accolade.
Related stories:
Five Truly Radical Things Pope Francis Could Do To Improve The Catholic Church
It Looks Like Pope Francis Actually Wants To Move The Vatican On Gay Issues–In The Right Direction
Pope Francis Loves Your Kids But Your Relationship Is A Different Matter
Kieran
I would be more impressed if he had a meeting with a gay man. Say Ricky Martin and his sons meeting with the Pope.
The Pope meeting with a transexual is nice, but it doesn’t really concern me anymore than if he met with a hermaphrodite.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I actually think Francis is a good man who actually has read the bible and realizes that except for that twisted old closet case smcubag Leviticus there ain’t a whole lot of hating on the Gays in that book……..
There are still too many closeted little boy diddling smcubags in pretty flowing dresses in the Vatican who still wield tremendous influence that prevents Francis from moving as quickly as he would like to………….
dommyluc
The Catholic Church has always been anti-gay and always will be. It’s their stock in trade, just like the good ol’ Southern Baptists. They should be trusted about as much as the Log Cabin Republicans.
If the Pope wants the respect and support of gay people, he and his church had better earn it first. The RCC stood by and let millions of Jews and others like us be killed by the Nazis in WWII, when all the Pope at that time had to do was vocalize his opposition to what the Nazis were doing. But the Pope and the RCC didn’t say a word because that is exactly what they wanted, since they had done it themselves for centuries before it became “unfashionable”. They’d push us into the gas ovens themselves if someone gave them the chance.
Fuck them. I wouldn’t trust that motherfucker to use my bathroom.
DarkZephyr
Interesting opinion piece.
Ronbo
From this piece and the comments, it seems that the GLBT community WANTS a fight. “Stop trying to talk with me, dude. You’re supposed to hate me!”
Kieran, every time there is a Papal Conclave there are at least three renditions of Judy Garland. They aren’t quite up to Babs and don’t even think of saying Gaga (their gowns can’t expose their ankles).
jamesinNYC
@dommyluc: I’m an atheist but your comments are just nonsense. If you think the pope –at that time- could have stopped the Nazis you are delusional. When someone like this pope makes a gesture of good will let go of your hate and accept it.
Rob Seneca
Henk Heithuis died in 1958 in his early twenties, tormented for years by the sexual abuse of Catholic priests. After he tried to expose his abusers, he was castrated in a Catholic hospital by a Catholic doctor under the advice of a Catholic psychiatrist to”cure him of his perverse sexuality.” Der Spiegel,May 4th, 2012
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/gesellschaft/missbrauch-katholische-kirche-in-niederlanden-liess-jungen-kastrieren-a-829437.html
In the Netherlands alone it is estimated that since 1945 between 10,000 and 20,000 children have been sexually abused by Catholic priests enabled by their prelates. Der Spiegel, Dec 17, 2011
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/untersuchungsbericht-zehntausende-missbrauchsfaelle-in-hollands-katholischer-kirche-a-804379.html
DCFarmboi
So it is the editorial policy here that Jesus never existed. Are those of us who think otherwise unwelcome or just welcome as second class readers?
Harley
@DCFarmboi: Really? PROVE Jesus existed, outside what it says in the bible. There were many historian’s writings available from that time period. There is nothing written. Many christianists like to go around and tell athiests to,prove that god doesn’t exist, and I say prove unicorns don’t exist. Either is just as likely.
dustashed
@DCFarmboi @jamesinNYC
exactly what I was thinking. I mean, hey a gesture of good will is a gesture of good will. yes the church has made a lot errors and people has suffered and continue to suffer for it. I get it that some people find it harder to forgive especially if they experience those persecutions first hand, but how does one move forward as a society if we don’t accept an outstretch hand. Some may argue that it is too minor to be celebrated with accolades, but that is a matter of perception.. to you it may be too “minor” and too “litle” but to the millions/billions of faithful, it affects them in ways that might not seem very tangible upon first glance.
If any single person shows support of lgbt people, it creates ripples in the mindset of the people around him who value his opinion in high regard. If that person happens to be “the pope”.. lets just say those ripples would more likely resemble tsunamis
John
@DCFarmboi: @Harley: It’s called “FAITH” Harley….and DCFarmboi doesn’t need to prove anything, nor do I…and most Christians don’t ask Athiests to PROVE that God doesn’t exist..just relax dude and let those us believe what we want, it’s really none of your concern to begin with. I won’t criticize your beliefs, don’t criticize ours.
Kangol
@Kieran: The pope meets with gay men every day, all the time. They’re called Catholic priests, bishops, cardinals.
I’m impressed that he met with a transperson who had been rejected by the Church. Francis is trying to move the Catholic Church forward, in the way of Christ’s love for all.
He’s meeting a lot of resistance from the conservative, anti-gay closeted hierarchy in his church, though. A lot!
EverybodySayLove
@Rob Seneca: very interesting, Rob!! Thanks for this post!
EverybodySayLove
@DarkZephyr: agreed!