BONDINGS Volume 29, No. 1 A Publication of New Ways Ministry Winter 2008/2009 In a First, Gay Rights Are Pressed at the U.N. right so it will be remembered,” said Scott eral system prevents us from undertaking By Neil MacFarquhar tions, rejected the idea that sexual orienta- Long, a director at Human Rights Watch. commitments and engagements where federal The New York Times tion was a matter of genetic coding. The state- The official authorities don’t December 18, 2008 ment, led by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said the effort threatened to un- American position have jurisdiction,” was based on highly said Alejandro D. An unprecedented declaration seeking to dermine the international framework of hu- technical legal Wolff, the deputy decriminalize homosexuality won the support man rights by trying to normalize pedophilia, grounds. The text, by permanent repre- of 66 countries in the United Nations Gen- among other acts. using terminology sentative. eral Assembly on Thursday, but opponents The Organization of the Islamic Confer- like “without distinc- Gay-rights ad- criticized it as an attempt to legitimize pedo- ence also failed in a last-minute attempt to tion of any kind,” vocates brought to philia and other “deplorable acts.” alter a formal resolution that Sweden spon- was too broad be- the conference from The United States refused to support the sored condemning summary executions. It cause it might be in- around the world by nonbinding measure, as did Russia, China, sought to have the words “sexual orientation” terpreted as an at- France said just the Roman Catholic Church and members of deleted as one of the central reasons for such tempt by the federal having the taboo the Organization of the Islamic Conference. killings. government to over- broken on discuss- The Holy See’s observer mission issued a Ms. Yade and the Dutch foreign minis- ride states’ rights on ing the topic at the statement saying that the declaration “chal- ter, Maxime Verhagen, said at a news con- issues like gay mar- United Nations lenges existing human rights norms.” ference that they were “disappointed” that riage, American dip- would aid their The declaration, sponsored by France the United States failed to support the decla- lomats and legal experts said. battles at home. “People in Africa can have with broad support in Europe and Latin ration. Human rights activists went further. “We are opposed to any discrimination, hope that someone is speaking for them,” said America, condemned human rights violations “The Bush administration is trying to come legally or politically, but the nature of our fed- the Rev. Jide Macaulay of Nigeria. based on homophobia, saying such measures up with Christmas presents for the religious run counter to the universal declaration of human rights. “How can we tolerate the fact that people are stoned, hanged, decapitated and tortured A Catholic Rebellion? only because of their sexual orientation?” said Rama Yade, the French state secretary for hu- In contrast to the homophobia of the Pope, Catholic bishops man rights, noting that homosexuality is banned in nearly 80 countries and subject to the death penalty in at least six. in England and Wales are urging acceptance of gay people France decided to use the format of a dec- laration because it did not have the support By Peter Tatchell can your parish family received from lay Catholics during its Listen- for an official resolution. Read out by Am- Guardian.co.uk do to make ing Day survey: bassador Jorge Argüello of Argentina, the dec- December 15, 2008 a difference?” Unusu- “The continual message from the church laration was the first on gay rights read in the ally for an official Catho- is that homosexuality is so, so dreadful. Our 192-member General Assembly itself. A pastoral leaflet au- lic publication, gay son just hasn’t stood a chance … My Although laws against homosexuality are thorized by the Catholic it acknowledges the “op- brother is gay; the church has been very in- concentrated in the Middle East, Asia and Bishops Conference pression” suffered by ho- tolerant of him.” Africa, more than one speaker addressing a of England and Wales is mosexuals: This frank admission of past failings is separate conference on the declaration noted creating more than a few “As a group that has brave and honorable, as is the suggestion that that the laws stemmed as much from the Brit- ripples throughout suffered more than its Catholics should “express appreciation for ish colonial past as from religion or tradition. the Catholic world. In a share of oppression and the gifts that homosexual Catholics bring to Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations marked departure from the contempt, the homo- their faith community”. high commissioner for human rights, speak- constant stream of anti-gay sexual community has a Exuding love, compassion and empathy, ing by video telephone, said that just like denunciations by the particular claim on the leaflet goes on to advise priests and pa- apartheid laws that criminalized sexual rela- Vatican, it urges clergy and the concern of the rishioners: tions between different races, laws against ho- churchgoers to be respect- church.” “Try not to assume that everyone is het- mosexuality “are increasingly becoming rec- ful and welcoming towards Indeed, the leaflet erosexual ... Avoid stereotyping and condemn- ognized as anachronistic and as inconsistent lesbian and gay people. includes a disarmingly ing ... Remember that homophobic jokes both with international law and with tradi- The leaflet, which is honest admission of and asides can be cruel and hurtful; a care- Peter Tatchell tional values of dignity, inclusion and respect distributed to dioceses, is en- the role played by the less word can mean another experience of re- for all.” titled: “What is life like if Catholic Church in the jection and pain.” The opposing statement read in the Gen- you or someone in your family is gay or les- victimization and marginalization of lesbian The leaflet’s suggested reading list of eral Assembly, supported by nearly 60 na- bian in their sexual orientation? ... and what and gay people. It quotes comments seminal Catholic statements on homosexuality does not, notably, include any statements from the Vatican. It omits all papal documents de- Be careful not to offend gay worshippers, Catholic priests warned nouncing homosexuality and endorsing legal discrimination against lesbian and gay people. Catholic traditionalists have, predictably, By Simon Caldwell condemned the leaflet’s liberal message and Dailymail.co.uk - London, England are undermined by Pope Benedict XVI's op- by Pope Benedict XVI's opposition to gay accused the English and Welsh church of November 29, 2008 position to gay marriage marriage. defying Vatican orthodoxy. Roman Catholic priests have been Priests are also encouraged to put up The advice was criticised by Lynette One English critic, Father Ray Blake, has banned from using 'heterosexist' language in posters advertising 'support services' for ho- Burrows, a Catholic commentator, as 'pitiful'. described the leaflet as ”troubling” because their churches in case they offend gay wor- mosexuals, a move bound to infuriate many She said it was ridiculous that Church it does not mention the traditional shippers. Catholics who believe gay sexual activity to leaders appeared to be ' grovelling' to a secu- Catholic teaching that homosexuals should They have been told by their bishops not be sinful. lar agenda. live a life of chastity. to assume that every churchgoer is a hetero- The advice was welcomed by gay rights 'It is things like this that are enfeebling Although I am an atheist and a strong sexual and to reflect this 'in language and campaigner Peter Tatchell as a 'positive ini- the Church at the moment - the concentra- critic of Catholic homophobia (and sexism), conversation'. tiative which will bring great comfort to gay tion on things that don't matter and missing I applaud this leaflet. It is a welcome, 'Remember that homophobic jokes and Catholics and their families'. the things that do,' she said. positive initiative which will bring great com- asides can be cruel and hurtful - a careless He said: 'Its sympathetic, understanding 'What is pitiful as well as demeaning is fort to gay Catholics and their families. Its word can mean another experience of rejec- message is a big improvement on the past that the Church is running after homosexual sympathetic, understanding message is a huge tion and pain,' say the bishops in a leaflet homophobia of some Catholic pronounce- opinion but nothing is going to make homo- improvement on the stern, uncompromising advising priests and worshippers how to be ments on homosexuality.' sexuals like the Catholic Church. homophobia of most Vatican more welcoming to gay people. However, he said the 'laudable change 'This is because the Catholic Church pronouncements on homosexuality. Activists say any moves by the Catholic of tone' was undermined by the 'homopho- teaches that homosexuality is a disorder and Church to be more tolerant of homosexuality bic content of the Catholic Catechism' and whatever the bishops say will not change that.' Continued on page 4 Page 2 BONDINGS Vol. 29, No. 1 B NDINGS News from New Ways Ministry By Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director Winter 2008/2009 Vol. 29, No. 1 The closing of 2008 and the dawn of 2009 might have can president, Barack Obama, the decline in the economy has put many people into extremely dire circumstances. Francis DeBernardo, Editor been what Charles Dickens was thinking about when he opened “A Tale of Two Cities” with the famous line, “It was As we review events in the arena of lesbian/gay issues in Board of Directors the best of times. It was the worst of times.” the Catholic Church, the same Dickensian sentiment expresses Mary Byers Daily headlines proclaim the truth of this sentiment for the mood, too.