Filipino Gays Accuse Catholic Church Of 'Fanning' Homophobia

uk.gay.com ^ | January 23, 2003

[heyheyhey]

23 January, 2003

The Filipino gay community has accused the Roman Catholic Church of 'fanning' the flames of homophobia after they were excluded from an international conference on the role of families in Manila.

The Filipino gay community was angry at a statement made by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin that Christian family values were being eroded by advocates of gay marriage, as well as technology and divorce, reported Agence France-Presse.

Oscar Atadero, a spokesman for Progay Philippines, said Sin's attack on homosexuality was totally uncalled for. Atadero likened Christan gays to "Jesus outside the gates" and said that in no way was the gay community calling into question the family unit.

Sin, who spoke at the World Meeting of Families in Manila on Wednesday, said the basic family structure was being "put into question by proponents of same sex marriages."

Progay, the umbrella organization of gay organisations nationwide, wanted to join the conference, but was barred by organisers who wanted traditional family values represented.

[heyheyhey]

The charge of "homophobia" became the last refuge of the scoundrels.
¶:^D

[RobbyS]

I detest the way they have piggy-backed on the civil rights movement in the United States. Those institutions they cannot infiltrate successfully they seek to discredit.

[heyheyhey]

Somehow they gained wwwaaaay too much political power.

[RobbyS]

Well, the rumor is that they dominate the editorial board of the New York Times.

[Polycarp]

angry at a statement made by Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin that Christian family values were being eroded by advocates of gay marriage, as well as technology and divorce,

We could use bishops with the integrity and backbone of the Philippino bishops!

Several years ago, the bishops of the Philippines made a remarkable apology for their failure to teach the Church’s teaching on contraception. They said:

It is said that when seeking ways of regulating births, only 5% of you consult God. In the face of this unfortunate fact, we your pastors have been remiss: how few are there among you whom we have reached. There have been some couples eager to share their expertise and values on birth regulation with others. They did not receive adequate support from their priests. We did not give them due attention, believing then this ministry consisted merely of imparting a technique best left to married couples.

Only recently have we discovered how deep your yearning is for God to be present in your married lives. But we did not know then how to help you discover God’s presence and activity in your mission of Christian parenting. Afflicted with doubts about alternatives to contraceptive technology, we abandoned you to your confused and lonely consciences with a lame excuse: “follow what your conscience tells you.” How little we realized that it was our consciences that needed to be formed first. A greater concern would have led us to discover that religious hunger in you. Now, this is a remarkable and inspiring statement since it indicates real self-consciousness, courage, humility, and sensitivity on the part of the bishops who issued it.

[Kryptonite]

Well, even if the editorial board members aren't practicing gays and lesbians, they certainly are sympathetic to nearly every gay and lesbian cause that exists. Sickens me that Gail Collins, editor, graduated from a Jesuit University, and sickens me even more when that Univeristy touts her as an alum to hold in high regard.

[RobbyS]

It has been the knock against the Jesuits since the earliest days that power is their God. That's why the Orthodox hate them.