Scott Long of Human Rights Watch reported today that The Vatican said it opposes discriminatory penal legislation against gay people during a United Nations panel discussion on sexual orientation. Long says the people in attendance were “stunned”. According the Vatican’s statement, delivered by Father Philip Bene, legal attach?© to the Holy See’s UN mission:
Tags: Father Philip Bene, Pope Benedict XVI, Rome, United Nations“Thank you for convening this panel discussion and for providing the opportunity to hear some very serious concerns raised this afternoon. My comments are more in the form of a statement rather than a question.
As stated during the debate of the General Assembly last year, the Holy See continues to oppose all grave violations of human rights against homosexual persons, such as the use of the death penalty, torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The Holy See also opposes all forms of violence and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons, including discriminatory penal legislation which undermines the inherent dignity of the human person.
As raised by some of the panelists today, the murder and abuse of homosexual persons are to be confronted on all levels, especially when such violence is perpetrated by the State. While the Holy See’s position on the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity remains well known, we continue to call on all States and individuals to respect the rights of all persons and to work to promote their inherent dignity and worth.”
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So, the Vatican, although against LGBT people and same-sex relationships, still believe that discrimination and hate aimed at LGBT people is wrong and should not continue.
This word should be spread to all those people out there who believe that it’s okay to hate and discriminate against LGBT people just because they are religiously against them.
So sick of the prejudice that LGBT people face, because of “religious” beliefs…..
Comment by James — December 10, 2009 @ 9:41 pm
No, the Vatican didnt say GAY. They didnt say same-sex, and they DIDNT say LGBT. No, those are the kinder, gentler descriptions we have asked the world to use. We dont use crude and derogatory words to refer to ethnic or religious groups, or other people. but the vatican and evangelical christians and anyone else who wants to passively offend us, and identify themselves as an “enemy” to equality, continues to use the word HOMO; HOMOSEXUAL, HOMOSEXERS, etc. Even though I am 100% sure that they have been notified multiple times to STOP referring to LGBT people with sexualized (i.e. demonized) descriptors. I am a man, a fellow human. I am not a HOMO – just call me gay or someone with same-sex attractions. or would that be too kind for a “christian” to bow down to?
Comment by Peter the saint — December 11, 2009 @ 2:45 am
[...] bloggers (1, 2) saw the statement as tacit opposition to Uganda’s gay genocide legislation, although the [...]
Pingback by Vatican opposes anti-gay violence: No mention of Uganda « BaptistPlanet — December 11, 2009 @ 5:25 am
BaptistPlanet: thank you for reminding me that “…the Vatican in 2008 opposed the decriminalization of homosexuality…” Because I continue to propose the Criminalization of religious proselytizing, and most certainly the repeal of their tax exemptions. So, we can go that direction in order to meet equality and parity; or we can go the other direction and have equality of freedoms, not of criminalizations. But both are always options on the table.
Comment by Peter the saint — December 11, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
Typical two-faced response from the Catholic Church.
Just read some of the crap that this pope and the last one have published and then tell me they don’t incite others to do violence against LGBT people.
At least the thugs in Uganda are honest and open about their intentions.
Comment by Chris — December 13, 2009 @ 5:40 pm