Gene Corpuz, a spokesman for Dignity Honolulu (LGBT Catholics), added his group’s voice to other national gay rights organizations in praising Pope Francis for his remarks about homosexuals early this week.
The new pope’s most oft-quoted remark during an impromptu news conference was, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?"
News analysts say Francis’ comments during the plane ride back to Rome on Monday from World Youth Day in Brazil were remarkably candid and a departure from the Vatican’s usually scripted answers.
Corpuz, a longtime local Dignity board member, said in an interview, "It was completely encouraging," especially when contrasted with harsh condemnations of homosexuality by his predecessor Pope Benedict until he retired earlier this year. Dignity Honolulu offers the only weekly liturgy at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church geared toward gay Catholics in the state, he said.
"It’s nice to hear someone else say that gay people — and he’s the first pope ever to use the word ‘gay’ — are people of faith and good will. We were pleased with the tone. … He didn’t change any policies, but we hope it changes the tone of cardinals and bishops underneath" as well as their "rhetoric supporting discriminatory laws," said Corpuz, who sat on the national board of DignityUSA from 2007 to 2011.
An official statement praising the pontiff was released Monday by gay rights advocates DignityUSA, Fortunate Families, New Ways Ministry and Call to Action, which read in part:
"The pope has rejected the harsh language of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, for a compassionate approach and a pastoral tone. Lesbians and gays are no longer a ‘threat to civilization,’ rather they are people of faith and good will.
"Catholic leaders who continue to belittle gays and lesbians can no longer claim that their inflammatory remarks represent the sentiments of the pope. Bishops who oppose the expansion of basic civil rights — such as an end to discrimination in the work place — can no longer claim that the pope approves of their discriminatory agenda."
Corpuz said with a chuckle, "He even acknowledged that there are gay priests (and) that there have always been gay priests. At least someone is close to reality."
But he added that gay rights groups are still disappointed Francis doesn’t support equality for women in terms of allowing them to be ordained as priests.
Francis’ emphasis on compassion for the poor and marginalized elements of society will hopefully translate into more people including homosexuals among the marginalized who need to be accepted, he said.
"At least the current pope is moving things along, saying that gay and lesbian people are people. To be told you’re ‘objectively disordered,’ that you’re a threat to civilization, is dehumanizing," he said.
Previous news stories have quoted Benedict as saying same-gender marriage would undermine "the future of humanity itself" during a New Year’s address in January. The official Catholic catechism states that homosexuality is "intrinsically" or "objectively disordered."
