Progress is inevitable…
As if this past decade had brought enlightenment to legislators, jurists, politicians, parents but most importantly to religious leaders who now embrace the inclusive approach to homosexuality in many churches around the world. But the Catholic Church, one of the largest in the world is still far from connecting with a significant portion of its followers. Pope Francis made the first right step forward, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Berlin won the Respect Prize by Berlin’s Alliance Against Homophobia, and many more will follow. I am just hoping the hierarchy does not win over reform…
Advancing LGBT rights in the U.S. is increasingly a struggle about supporting families, both in the church and under the law. Below are several stories in which Catholics are standing up for just civil laws and inclusive pastoral care.
Adoption Rights
New legislation, known as the Inclusion Act, has been introduced in the U.S. Congress that would allow religiously-based agencies receiving government funds to refuse same-gender couples access to foster care and adoption services. This act has received the support of at least three Catholic bishops, but Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA criticized it in an essay on The Huffington Post. She also happens to be the adoptive parent, with her wife ,of two girls. She wrote:
“In almost every case, [same-sex couples] have given their kids an abundance of love and stability. The intentionality with which they chose to parent is carried forward into their raising of their daughters and sons. They have…
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