While the Roman Catholic Church is certainly not about to embrace gay
marriage, it could send out a signal of compassion by making it clear
priests should be ready to baptise the children of same-sex
couples.isbon (AFP) - Gay and lesbian Catholic groups are holding an
international congress in Portugal this week as they seek to make their
voices heard by the Vatican. Opening on Monday in the southern resort of
Portimao, the three-day event aims to formally federate some 30
associations representing homosexual Catholics from around the world...
Together they intend to press for an "urgent change of attitude from
Catholic authorities" towards gay parishioners, said Jose Leote whose
group Rumos Novos (New Directions) is organising the event.Their
congress coincides with an extraordinary synod which began at the
Vatican on Sunday to review the Church's attitude to marriage,
cohabitation and divorce.Fifteen to 20 delegates will meet in person in
Portugal, with the same number joining in by videoconference, to draw up
a statement to send to Pope Francis and the nearly 200 bishops meeting
for two weeks in Rome. "Jesus began with 12, and look at what that has
become," said Francis DeBernardo, head of the US-based "News Ways
Ministry" which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
(LGBT) Catholics. DeBernardo intends to act as a bridge between the
congress and the synod that opened Sunday in Rome, where he will also be
holding a seminar on the place of gays in the Church. The US group
wrote to the pope a few months ago, thanking him for his openness to
discussing LGBT issues and urging him to go further."I think this will
be a major question of the synod," said DeBernardo. "The topic of
homosexuality is so widespread in so many societies and it affects so
many people, not only those who are LGBT, but their families, friends,
co-workers."The Catholic synod could potentially lead to change in
attitudes to marriage, cohabitation and divorce. While the Roman
Catholic Church is certainly not about to embrace gay marriage, it could
send out a signal of compassion by making it clear priests should be
ready to baptise the children of same-sex couples.
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