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Q-NOTES • APRIL 23 . 2005
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G(w Catholic community
reflects on legacy of
John Paul II
Leaders look forward to more open,
inclusive church
by Richard Lindsay
With the passing of Pope John Paul II,
the world must begin to account for
the legacy of an important and influ
ential figure of the 20th Century. John
Paul II brought a new day of hope for
many, by his advocacy for the poor
and for developing nations, for peace
and for human rights. His pontificate,
however, frequently left lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender Catholics
bereft of hope, and still waiting for the
bright day of their full inclusion in the
Church. The following are quotes
from three leading American Catholic
voices for lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender equality on the legacy of
John Paul II and their hopes for the
future of the Roman Catholic Church.
“The death of the Pope provides a
golden opportunity for the Catholic
Church to rejoice in his geopolitical
accomplishments and take up where he left
off in the achievement of justice among
Catholics. Women expect the same free
dom of choice Pope John Paul II urged for
Cubans. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
people deserve the same respect and freedom he
championed for those who lived under
Communism. Let that be his legacy."
— Mary E. Hunt. PhD.
Co-director
WATER
Women’s Alliance for Theology,
Ethics and Ritual
“Pope john Paul II was a leader of deep piety
and strong convictions. His moral leadership was
heeded not only by Catholics, but by politicians,
philosophers, and religious leaders throughout
the world.
“He was a man whose ideas were deeply
formed by coming of age in his native Poland
occupied first by the Nazis, and then by the
Communists. These experiences of oppression
inspired his deep concern for social justice. He
will be remembered for his strong voice on
human rights and dignity.
"Unfortunately, his record on gay/lesbian
issues is not as admirable. His 26-year pontifi
cate was marked by an end to dialogue on many
theological issues, including homosexuality. He
closed the windows of renewal that were opened
by Pope John XXIII and the Second Vatican
Council...
“We pray for the repose of his soul, and we
pray that the Holy Spirit will provide our Church
with a leader who shares Pope john Paul ll's
strong voice and moral courage, but who will
provide us with a Church that is more open to
dialogue, reconciliation, and gay/lesbian equali
ty. Lesbian/gay Catholics and their families need
a leader who offers a healing hand after john
Paul’s pontificate which often caused them so
much pain."
— Francis DeBernardo
Executive Director
Nev/ 'Ways Ministry
“While we join millions around the world in
earnest prayer for the Pope’s eternal salvation
and the future of our Church, we remember that
this papacy has used harsh and derogatory lan
guage such as ‘objectively disordered and intrin
sically evil’ to describe gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender (GLBT) people.
Polls show that Americans wont a new pope who
is less conservative than John Paul II.
“This Pope led the Church in teaching dam-
agng misrepresentations about the hedth and
holiness of our loving relationships — calling
them part of an ‘ideology of evil’ — and about
the raising of our children while covering up the
real abuse of children and related abuse of power
by some of john Paul IPs brother bishops and
priests. He also misused h'ls authority to slop fel
low cardinals and bishops from speaking for the
obvious moral good of using condoms in the pre
vention of the spread of HIV.
“We are saddened that john Paul II has left
this life without having used his personal faith,
intellect and authority to learn how God is
speaking through GLBT people to spread the
Gospel.
“The Church’s teachings on sexuality and
personal responsibility are arrested in a juvenile
stage. They show neither respect for the moral
development of individuals nor for Cod’s work in
each of us in the development of our consciences
and spiritual lives.... In this regard, ive believe
(Vatican leaders) must fully inform their con
sciences as moral lai\’ requires by seeking to
understand the spiritual lives of GLBT Catholics,
by considering the ongoing works of theologians
and social science researchers knowledgeable
about GLBT issues and relationships, and by
exploring the genuine Gospel call of jesus Christ
to love and Inclusion.”
— Sam Sinnett
President
Dignity USA
Dr. Maty E. Hunt, Sam Sinnett, and Francis
DeBernardo are members of the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force Religous Leadership
Roundtable.
info:
www.dignityuso org
www.dignif/usa.org
www.his.com/~mhunt