Letters: The Pope’s Gesture Toward Gays

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Re "On Gay Priests, Pope Asks, 'Who Am I to Judge?' No Change in Doctrine" (front page, July 30):

It is noteworthy that Pope Francis used the modern universal English word "gay" in his reply to a reporter on his flight back to Rome from Brazil, saying about gay priests:

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?"

Indeed. This change in vocabulary when speaking about homosexuals from a Catholic of celebrity status should be expanded to all priests, bishops, cardinals and the Vatican itself when mentioning the issue of sexual orientation, because words matter.

It is also noteworthy that while thousands of Catholics and tens of thousands outside the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in São Paulo greeted the pope, and more than a million celebrated a joyous Mass with him on Copacabana Beach in Rio, almost four million gay men and lesbians and their supporters participated in São Paulo's Gay Pride this year.

Perhaps Francis can be the "gay pope," showing respect and kindness instead of targeting gays for public spiritual abuse and secular civil discrimination.

MARSHAL ALAN PHILLIPS
Curitiba, Brazil, July 30, 2013

To the Editor:

An acquaintance described Pope Francis's remarks about gay people as showing "progressive" leanings. This is far from the case. The pope made it clear, in no uncertain terms, that while homosexual desire is not a sin, homosexual acts are. Thus, according to the Catholic Church, a gay person is still "less than" a heterosexual, who is sanctioned to participate in and to enjoy fully the love — in all its spiritual and physical aspects — of another person.

This is not a departure from Catholic teaching, and there is nothing progressive or revolutionary about it. If you're gay, according to the church, love is off limits.

GRAHAM COURSEY
Mount Vernon, Ohio, July 30, 2013

To the Editor:

Who are Pope Francis and his predecessors to judge women aspiring to the priesthood? That door, hanging on rusty ancient hinges, remains closed.

New pope, same old story.

MARIA SCRIVANI
Buffalo, July 30, 2013

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