A Catholic priest in training came out as gay on Friday, saying his sexuality shouldn’t define him before God and calling for the Church to be more welcoming to outsiders.
Damian Torres-Botello, who, like Pope Francis, is a member of the Jesuit order, published an essay in the Jesuit Post this morning entitled “This I Believe: Created in God’s Image.” The article, which was reportedly approved by Torres-Botello’s superiors, describes his initial struggles with discerning a call to ministry, noting that his friends and family expressed concerns he could face obstacles as a person of color and “would be forced into the closet after seventeen years of accepting myself as gay.”
But Torres-Botello said he doesn’t feel his sexuality should keep him from God.
“Yet here’s the truth I know and believe: I am created in God’s image and likeness, just as God creates us all. It is actually that simple,” he wrote.
[,,,]
Although Torres-Botello’s public profession of his sexuality is highly
unusual for a priest in training — especially with the consent of church
leadership — it’s not necessarily a direct violation of Catholic
teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
states that “homosexual tendencies” are “objectively disordered,” but
also asks LGBT people to remain chaste — just like priests. In addition,
Torres-Botello’s call for a more welcoming church reflects other
aspects of the Catechism, which says “Every sign of unjust
discrimination [against LGBT people] should be avoided.” And while the
post makes broad appeals for acceptance, it doesn’t recommend any
specific policies or changes to Catholic teaching on sexuality.
Priest In Training Comes Out As Gay And Has A Powerful Message For The Catholic Church | ThinkProgress
No comments:
Post a Comment