By Carol Kuruvilla, Queer Voices, 12\/04\/18<\/p>\n
Pope Francis claimed in an interview that homosexuality has become a \u201cfashionable\u201d lifestyle in some societies.<\/em><\/p>\n Pope Francis has suggested that being gay has become \u201cfashionable\u201d in some modern-day societies \u2015 a remark that has prompted concern among queer Catholics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In an interview<\/a> with a Spanish priest about religious vocations<\/a>, Francis reportedly said that there is \u201cno place for this kind of affection\u201d in the lives of Roman Catholic priests, religious brothers and religious sisters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIn our societies, it even seems homosexuality is fashionable. And this mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the church,\u201d Francis was quoted as saying in the interview, according to the Associated Press.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of the queer Catholic advocacy group DignityUSA, said she thinks Francis is treating the \u201cgenuine but limited progress\u201d some countries have achieved in recognizing queer people\u2019s basic human rights as a \u201cfrivolous fad or trend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But queer identities aren\u2019t a \u201cmatter of fashion,\u201d Duddy-Burke said in a statement<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cAny gains that have been made in achieving LGBTQI rights in recent decades have come at the cost of incalculable pain and sacrifice by LGBTQI people,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cRather than belittle such progress, the Pope should examine how the Catholic Church has contributed to the unjust oppression of LGBTQI people for centuries, and how its unsung LGBTQI clergy and vowed religious men and women have contributed immeasurably to the good it has done.\u201d<\/p>\n Francis\u2019 remarks were part of a four-hour-long interview he had in August with the missionary priest Fernando Prado. The Strength of Vocation,<\/em>\u00a0a book containing a transcript of the interview, will be published in 10 languages next week. Excerpts from the book appeared on the Italian news website Corriere della Sera <\/a>on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the excerpts, Francis said that homosexuality in the Catholic Church is something that \u201cworries\u201d him. He said seminaries and convents should take great care to screen out gay and lesbian applicants who may not keep their vows to celibacy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe Church urges that persons with this rooted tendency not be accepted into (priestly) ministry or consecrated life,\u201d he said in the interview, according to Reuters.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n He urged queer priests and nuns<\/a> who have already taken their vows (which include a vow of celibacy) to in fact remain celibate. If they can\u2019t, Francis said, \u201cit is better that they leave the priesthood or the consecrated life rather than live a double life.\u201d<\/p>\n Duddy-Burke said Francis\u2019 comments suggest that gay and lesbian Catholics are somehow less able than their straight peers to commit themselves to religious life. The comments also portray LGBTQ Catholics as a threat to the church, she said. .<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHis comments reinforce negative and long discredited stereotypes that have led to discrimination and violence against our community,\u201d Duddy-Burke said. \u201cFurthermore, they are demeaning to all the lesbian sisters and gay priests and brothers who have faithfully served the church for decades, and to all who are currently preparing for such ministries.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Catholic doctrine<\/a>\u00a0teaches<\/a> that there\u2019s a difference between experiencing same-sex attraction and acting on these feelings. While the church preaches that gay and lesbian Catholics should be \u201caccepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity,\u201d it still claims that\u00a0\u201chomosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.\u201d\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n In 2005, under Pope Benedict XVI\u2019s watch, the Vatican declared that<\/a>\u00a0priesthood candidates who have \u201cdeep-seated homosexual tendencies\u201d or support \u201cgay culture\u201d should not be ordained.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n For his part, Francis has taken a \u201clove the sinner, hate the sin\u201d approach towards LGBTQ Catholics. He\u2019s made several welcoming<\/a> gestures<\/a> \u2015 including reportedly telling a gay sex-abuse survivor in May<\/a> that \u201cGod made you this way.\u201d\u00a0But ultimately, the pontiff remains loyal to church teaching.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Days after his conversation with the abuse survivor,\u00a0Francis reportedly advised Italian bishops to \u201ckeep your eyes open\u201d for priesthood applicants who may be gay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIf in doubt,\u00a0better not let them enter,\u201d he said at the meeting, according to Reuters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Rev. James Martin<\/a>, a Jesuit author who for years has urged greater dialogue between the church and LGBTQ Catholics, suggested on Twitter that Francis wasn\u2019t arguing against the ordination of gay priests as a whole, but specifically against gay priests who don\u2019t lead celibate lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Still, Martin said, Francis\u2019 words about homosexuality being \u201cfashionable\u201d were \u201cwrong and hurtful.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cIt goes against every reputable psychiatrist and, more important, the experience of LGBT people,\u201d Martin wrote on Twitter Monday.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Robert Shine, associate director of the queer Catholic advocacy group New Ways Ministry, said in a blog post that Francis has \u201cmuch to learn\u201d about sexuality and gender issues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe closet in which so many lesbian, gay, and bisexual clergy and religious are forced is destructive,\u201d Shine wrote.<\/a> \u201cThe culture of shame such exclusionary policies enforce harms the entire People of God.\u201d<\/p>\n