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[Catholic Caucus] LGBTQ Catholic groups call pope's use of Italian slur 'shocking and hurtful'
National Catholic Reporter ^ | May 28, 2024 | Camillo Barone

Posted on 05/28/2024 5:25:20 PM PDT by ebb tide

[Catholic Caucus] LGBTQ Catholic groups call pope's use of Italian slur 'shocking and hurtful'

DignityUSA, a national organization advocating for LGBTQ Catholics, has denounced Pope Francis' recent reported use of an Italian slur when discussing the admission of gay men to priestly seminaries as "shocking and hurtful."

"We are glad that Pope Francis has apologized for using such a demeaning term," said Marianne Duddy-Burke, the group's executive director, in a May 28 statement. "We know that this was shocking and hurtful to many, especially to the innumerable gay priests who have served God’s people faithfully and well. We stand with them, and with the people who have benefited from their ministry. The truth is that the Church simply could not function without those countless gay priests, bishops and maybe even popes who currently serve and have served over the centuries."

In an interview with NCR, Duddy-Burke said that "incidents like this are also very traumatizing, especially to people who have watched the pope and have hope due to his pastoral approach, even in things like his meeting with me in October 2023. They start to feel they may be able to feel real welcome and value in our church, and then those hopes are dashed when something like this happens."

Earlier on May 28, the Vatican issued an apology for the pope's reported use of an anti-gay slur during a recent closed-door meeting with Italian bishops. The 87-year-old pontiff reportedly made the controversial remark while discussing the suitability of gay men for priestly training.

The Vatican statement did not directly confirm whether the pope used the term, but said: "The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others."

In the May 20 meeting, Francis reportedly advised the Italian bishops about permitting gay men to enter seminaries. According to reports from reputable Italian newspapers such as Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica, the pope used the Italian word "frociaggine," which translates to "faggotry" or "faggotness," in his remarks.

The comments came during a discussion on proposed amendments to guidelines for seminary candidates. Francis, a native of Argentina who speaks Italian as a second language, may not have realized the offensive nature of his words, Corriere della Sera speculated.

Reporting on the pope's supposed comments has reignited debate over the church's stance on LGBTQ+ issues. A 2005 ruling from the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education prohibits the ordination of men who are actively gay or have "deep-seated" homosexual tendencies, a position reaffirmed by Pope Francis in 2016. In 2018, he reportedly reiterated to Italian bishops the need to exclude gay candidates from the priesthood, in a similar closed-door meeting with the prelates.

"Unfortunately, even if intended as a joke, the pope's comment reveals the depth of anti-gay bias and institutional discrimination that still exist in our church," said Duddy-Burke.

"It is wrong to demean any group of people, including those of us who are LGBTQIA+," she said. "And it is wrong to continue to act as if God calls only straight, cisgender men to service in the church and the world."

New Ways Ministry, another prominent Catholic LGBTQ advocacy group, also issued a statement in response to the pope's reported comments. Francis DeBernardo, the group's executive director, expressed appreciation for the pope's apology, saying it is a significant step toward more respectful dialogue within the church.

"His apology is a model for all Catholic leaders who continue to use language and ideas that offend LGBTQ+ people, even unknowingly," said DeBernardo. The Vatican's apology was interpreted by New Ways as an acknowledgment that the use of the slur was inadvertent.

New Ways also expressed disappointment over the pope's lack of specificity regarding his stance on gay men in the priesthood. DeBernardo said Francis should clarify his comments to prevent misinterpretations that could lead to a "blanket ban" on gay men entering seminaries.

He quoted the pope's famous 2013 remark — "Who am I to judge?" — urging Francis to offer a clearer and more compassionate statement that recognizes the faithful service of many gay priests.

"We hope this incident will encourage him to learn more about the language he uses and be more careful because misuse can be dangerously harmful," said DeBernardo.



TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: apostates; ceasethisfaggotry; frankenchurch; homos; morepopenews
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His apology is a model for all Catholic leaders who continue to use language and ideas that offend LGBTQ+ people, even unknowingly," said DeBernardo. The Vatican's apology was interpreted by New Ways as an acknowledgment that the use of the slur was inadvertent.

Ahh, the poor little dears were offended, so Bergoglio has promptly apologized and here we are again with:

'There is room for everyone in the Church, for everyone! No one is useless; no one is superfluous; there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.'

Room for everyone except for traditional Catholics.

1 posted on 05/28/2024 5:25:20 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: Al Hitan; Fedora; irishjuggler; Jaded; kalee; markomalley; miele man; Mrs. Don-o; ...

Ping


2 posted on 05/28/2024 5:25:55 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

The proper Italian term is Fag-o-lino


3 posted on 05/28/2024 5:27:14 PM PDT by Gman
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To: ebb tide

Didn’t he work as a bouncer as a young man? He probably knows a lot of salty lingo.


4 posted on 05/28/2024 5:29:48 PM PDT by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
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To: ebb tide
There's absolutely *nothing* wrong with any Christian clergyman to make it clear that homosexual acts are *always* sinful.”Slurs” might not be good however.
5 posted on 05/28/2024 5:34:54 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Lethal Force Authorized At Mar-a-Lago!)
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To: Gman
The proper Italian term is Fag-o-lino

I think the scientific term is "homo erectus". LOL

6 posted on 05/28/2024 5:39:07 PM PDT by Tell It Right (A1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: ebb tide

7 posted on 05/28/2024 5:42:27 PM PDT by Dan Zachary
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To: Gay State Conservative

I prefer slurs, like “serpents”, “devils”, “sodomites”, etc. to compliments like “gay”, or “funny boy”.

The former are mentioned in the Bible; the latter are not.


8 posted on 05/28/2024 5:47:27 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

I can’t believe Bergoglio called them Buttigiegers.


9 posted on 05/28/2024 5:47:50 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum; rod5591

Pope Francis meets with, hugs same-sex couple
10 posted on 05/28/2024 5:54:13 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide
IIRC the sternest words that Jesus had for the prostitute was “go and sin no more”.
11 posted on 05/28/2024 6:03:24 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Lethal Force Authorized At Mar-a-Lago!)
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To: ebb tide

A Fricassee? A...a fric... what did he just say?


12 posted on 05/28/2024 6:16:46 PM PDT by know.your.why (<>)
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To: Gay State Conservative
"Know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
[1 Corinthians 6:15]

"You serpents, generation of vipers, how will you flee from the judgment of hell?
[Matthew 23:33]  

"They shall not take to wife a harlot or a vile prostitute, nor one that has been put away from her husband: because they are consecrated to their God,
[Leviticus 21:7]

And there came one of the seven angels, who had the seven vials, and spoke with me, saying: Come, I will shew thee the condemnation of the great harlot, who sitteth upon many waters,
[Apocalypse (Revelation) 17:1]

"For true and just are his judgments, who hath judged the great harlot which corrupted the earth with her fornication, and hath revenged the blood of his servants, at her hands.
[Apocalypse (Revelation) 19:2]


13 posted on 05/28/2024 6:27:17 PM PDT by ebb tide
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To: ebb tide

It’s okay for black people to use the n-word. I imagine this word is okay if used by Italian gays. Does this hint at something about Francis?


14 posted on 05/28/2024 6:37:04 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear (Kafka was an optimist.)
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To: ebb tide

According to Duddy-Burke, Almighty God has anti-gay bias and discrimination. if you read His book


15 posted on 05/28/2024 8:59:00 PM PDT by A strike (no tyranny that cannot be justified by 'climate change')
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To: A strike

The first time I agree with Franky, and the limp wristed fagulas cry until the Dope apologizes.


16 posted on 05/29/2024 12:14:40 AM PDT by Trump_Triumphant ("They recognized Him in the breaking of the Bread")
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To: ebb tide

I can’t help thinking this was all Bergoglio’s coordinated plan. Let this “get out” and then apologize.


17 posted on 05/29/2024 5:30:23 AM PDT by piusv (Francis didn't start the Fire)
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To: ebb tide

I thought Faggotry was sort of a nicer word.


18 posted on 05/29/2024 11:20:11 AM PDT by Rappini ("No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in it's preservation" MacArthr)
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To: Gay State Conservative

How can it be a “slur” if it accurately describes the activity?

Slang, maybe - but not a “slur”.


19 posted on 05/29/2024 6:45:31 PM PDT by castlebrew (Gun Control means hitting where you're aiming!))
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To: piusv
Barnhardt
20 posted on 05/29/2024 7:52:34 PM PDT by ebb tide
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