There’s a new organization that I’d personally like to give two thumbs up. It’s called Catholics for Equality. Anyone who reads this column knows that my feeling toward the current junta running the Catholic Church has been anger, to say the least. This current junta has almost, but not completely, brought the church back to the Inquisition. But as you know, the current pope’s last job at the Vatican was running the Office of Doctrine of the Faith, which was the office of inquisition.
Under Cardinal Ratzinger (now the pope), that office supported what amounted to slave labor of young women in Ireland as reported by “60 Minutes,” lowering the funds paid to retired nuns, leaving many in poverty after serving the church their entire lives. Then, of course, there are the LGBT and HIV/AIDS issues including condom use (especially in Africa), his constant denouncements of marriage equality, hate-crimes legislation and any form of nondiscrimination legislation. His words have inflamed the world to the point that it’s the only topic both Jews and Muslims agree on: This pope is insensitive.
Then there’s the issue that we all know, child molestation. It is rampant in his church. And he is guilty. He ran the office that did not deal with it and hid priests who were guilty. That is guilty. It even happened in his own parish. He has, of course, excuses for all these events. But letters with his signature prove otherwise. Remember, he has an excuse for it all: The dog ate my homework.
We could go on, but suffice to say, this pope has no shame. But let us not condemn the religion, only the hack that runs it. And make no mistake, he’s a hack. But this battle is better waged by Catholics, so that is why I’m thrilled by Catholics for Equality.
For many years, LGBT Catholics have had an organization called Dignity. But Dignity is more about religion and support for gay Catholics in the very hostile world of the church. Catholics for Equality seems poised to take a more direct approach and challenge the pope’s misguided ways. Gays are not the only group organizing against this junta: So are women in the church, children who have been raped, and countless others who have been mistreated under a leader who looks more like Ivan the Terrible than a Christian leader.
So we welcome a new organization that will join with others. My point to you is no matter what your feelings on religion, you should support this organization since it is fighting one of our most outrageous foes. As I’ve written before, while we should continue to fight this hate, we need to respect individuals’ right to religion.
Mark Segal is PGN publisher. He is the nation’s most-award-winning commentator in LGBT media, having just received the 2010 Columnist of the Year Award from the 2,000-member Suburban Newspapers of America. He can be reached at [email protected].