Catholic gay rights groups say the rejection by
bishops of proposals for wider acceptance of gay
people, backed by Pope Francis, is “very
disappointing”. A draft paper issued at a Catholic Church synod in
the Vatican had included text calling for greater
openness towards homosexuals, and divorced
Catholics who remarried. But this failed to win two-thirds backing and was
not in the final text. The synod will reconvene next year. The New Ways Ministry, a US Catholic gay-rights
group, said it was “very disappointing that the
synod’s final report did not retain the gracious
welcome to lesbian and gay people that the draft
of the report included”. However, it said the synod’s “openness to
discussion provides hope for further development
down the road”. Another group, DignityUSA, said: “Unfortunately,
today, doctrine won out over pastoral need. It is
disappointing that those who recognised the
need for a more inclusive Church were defeated.” Correspondents say the text welcoming gay
people and remarried Catholics had been watered
down in the final version that was voted on – but
it appears that they still met with resistance from
conservatives. All other parts of the draft report were accepted by
the synod. Christopher Lamb, from British Catholic journal
The Tablet, told the BBC that the discussion at the
synod was “a huge achievement in itself”. He said it was important to remember that many
of the bishops at the synod were from countries
where homosexuality is illegal. “We have now got an acceptance that we need a
new language in the Church when talking about
gay couples and homosexuality in general,” he
added.

The gay pressure groups are very minute in number but are extremely powerful and influential. The Catholic church still remains one of the beacon of hope that this new trend of evil and shame to the civilisation of humanity is given a name which it rightfuly deserves- perversity in disguise.

I reserve my comment