On March 15, Pope Francis signed an official statement from the Vatican forbidding same-gender marriage. This was in line with the ideology that the Catholic Church has upheld for decades, believing that such unions are a sin. However, what occurred after that was revolutionary.
Many German priests sought justice on May 10 by going against the Vatican and giving their blessings to same-gender couples.
In the past, Pope Francis has held meetings with LGBTQ+ couples and encouraged them to raise their children in the Catholic Church. In 2013, he said, “Who am I to judge?” in regards to gay couples who are seeking God. His recent actions contradict past statements, and the Catholic Church continues to glorify harmful and bigoted views in the name of tradition.
It is admirable what priests are doing in Germany. Besides blessing same-gender marriages, they had previously petitioned for their acceptance within the church and gained over 2,000 signatures. People from all over the world have advanced their thinking in the past decade and embraced the LGBTQ+ community. It is about time the Catholic Church caught up and preached acceptance rather than ostracism.
The reality is that the Catholic Church has failed to acknowledge many of the contradictory views they uphold. They claim that only God can judge and that he forgives all, but by forbidding same-gender marriage, they perpetuate hate within our society. There is no denying that the Catholic Church holds a great influence on the lives of many, including LGBTQ+ people who are raised Catholic. Therefore they must be aware of how their denial of same-gender unions marginalizes the LGBTQ+ community.
The LGBTQ+ community faces enormous waves of hatred and violence that are only amplified when institutions such as the Catholic Church target it. Queer identities are villainized within the church by being perceived as a sin. The consequences are detrimental as anti-gay sentiments continue to spread.
These sentiments can impact young adults such as 19-year-old Amy Paul. In 1996, she testified at a public hearing by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission on LGBTQ+ youth. Along with 23 other young adults, Paul opened up about the violence and homophobia she faced within her community and at home. Her parents were outraged when she came out to them. They made her choose between family or what they claimed was her “lifestyle.”
People do not realize that such reactions and ultimatums from family members have a detrimental effect on individuals such as Paul. A 1993 study of 194 LGBTQ+ youth found that 81 had attempted suicide. In many cases, their parents had invalidated their existence or those who had not come out yet believed that their parents would reject them. This hatred and bigotry are not what our society should be contributing towards.
At the end of the day, love always wins. The Vatican can keep on denying LGBTQ+ unions, but no amount of hate can completely silence queer voices. It is about time that the Catholic Church as an institution stopped living in the past and put forward substantial efforts to accept the LGBTQ+ community.
The German priests’ actions only show that there is much-needed change with the members of the Catholic Church. But more needs to be done, and everyone can do something about it. We must speak out and support the community as much as possible with ongoing petitions.
Stand up against those spreading anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, and acknowledge the legitimacy of same-gender unions. Donating to organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project can also help in the fight for equality. We must take action to ensure members of the LGBTQ+ community are free to practice their faith without restraint, just as straight people already are.
