It’s refreshing when major extremist Christian leaders wear their professional victim status on their sleeves, or in this case, their elaborate frocks:
VATICAN CITY (RNS) A Vatican official told a United Nations body on Tuesday (March 22) that people who openly object to homosexual behavior are at risk of losing their human rights when they are prosecuted or stigmatized for their beliefs.
“People are being attacked for taking positions that do not support sexual behavior between people of the same sex,” said Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi, the Vatican’s representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.
“When they express their moral beliefs or beliefs about human nature, which may also be expressions of religious convictions, or state opinions about scientific claims, they are stigmatized, and worse — they are vilified, and prosecuted,” Tomasi said.
“The truth is, these attacks are violations of fundamental human rights, and cannot be justified under any circumstances.”
In his statement, Tomasi said the Vatican “condemn(ed) all violence that is targeted against people because of their sexual feelings and thoughts, or sexual behaviors.” The Vatican also rejects all legal discrimination “based just on the person’s feelings and thoughts, including sexual thoughts and feelings.”
Their HUMAN RIGHTS?! Please, Archbishop Whoever, tell me about the extremist anti-gay Christians who have been denied housing, bullied, murdered, jailed for being bigots having a “moral objection to homosexuality.” No, seriously.
The worst part of this is the implicit denial of the direct connection between the Vatican’s promulgation of anti-gay hate speech, and physical violence against gays. They may not carry out the physical attacks, but they are in league with those who do. Additionally, the unjustified psychological attacks on gay people are no better than physical attacks. They cause the victim to be emotionally crippled in a way not inferior to physical injury. They cause the victim to be stigmatized and thought of as inferior within society, which obviously is a massive psychological blow. The alleged “moral positions” against homosexuality would be laughed out of any reasonable court. We must demand that the Vatican cease its physchological violence (bullying) against gay people. They are bullies. “Moral position” is a cover for bullying. It isn’t a “moral position;” it’s a hateful opinion, unsubstantiated by science.
Seriously Vatican official. CITE CASES. I want to hear who is losing their human rights. I was anti-gay for a long time, surrounded by an anti-gay church, all my friends and family, I only lost anything when I came out. I lost my friends, family, church, and that was before the vandalism and prank calls and people trying to get my now ex-fiance kicked out of the military. From someone who experienced both sides, it’s clear where I was victimized.
Also, by this logic, aren’t racists losing their human rights as well?
I absolutely agree with the church– this far.
no one should be prosecuted for being an anti gay butthead, unless they are directly inciting violence against people and there are laws that prohibit that.
however, as for being villified– do you mean what the church has been doing to us for centuries? Sorry, you get no protection on that. we villify hypocritesm child molesters, and racists– and rightfully so.
The hierarchy of the RC Church has about as much ‘moral authority’ as a pimp who sells under-aged kids.
Poor poor Archbishop Silvano M. Tomasi. There have been a number of cases in the UK testing the limits of freedom of religion guaranteed by Article 9 European Convention on Human Rights. These cases have all been lost since the Courts have ruled that:
“Article 9 does not protect every act motivated or inspired by a religion or belief. Moreover, in exercising his freedom to manifest his religion, an application may need to take his specific situation into account.”
Article 9 is one several ‘qualified’ rights. A person can’t just beleive anything they like and then just go and try and practise that wherever and whatever the circusmtances.
Tomasi is a liar – people are free to ‘express’ whatever they like but not to do whatever they like in the name of religion..
Latest case brought:
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2011/375.html
“The Vatican also rejects all legal discrimination “based just on the person’s feelings and thoughts, including sexual thoughts and feelings.”.
Those lying scumbags! When the U.N. introduced a resolution calling for the decriminalization of gayness the Vatican was first to the podium opposing the resolution.
No, no, Priya, they said a person’s feelings. LGBT people aren’t actually people. ;)
Poor dears.
Oh boo hoo! It appalls me to no end that these so called righteous and religious people can stand in front of the world and say this without any hint of shame. Priya is right – they are the one of many sanctimonious pricks who are first out of the box to try to stop any and all movements that just might take the legal and societal condemnation off of us. BUT (and it’s an important BUT) they don’t foster any hatred or animosity against anyone because of their sexual orientation. Yea, b******t. Dear Vatican bigots, we feel your love constantly.