EDITORIAL

Pope Francis & support for homosexuals

Distress eyebrows were raised in Cameroon when some months ago several national media organs were awash with reports about highly-placed Cameroonians alleged to be homosexuals. It is a taboo, sinful and a misdemeanour in Cameroon to practise same sex relationship.

But with the growing fraternity of same sex marriages, homosexuality is having its disciples, adherents, sympathizers and supporters around the world. Even though the Catholic Church with the largest following in Cameroon is opposed to same sex marriage, Pope Francis, the “holy” father in the Vatican, has demonstrated his love for homosexuals.

Head of the Vatican’s highest court, Cardinal Raymond Burke, who is openly opposed to same sex marriages has been transferred by Pope Francis to a largely ceremonial post as patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Burke has openly opposed same sex marriages while the Pope has by his various speeches shown sympathy for homosexuals.

In reaction to criticism that several Catholic priests who are banned from marriage are homosexuals, the Pope said: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge...? We shouldn't marginalise people for this. They must be integrated into society.”

The remark fundamentally changed the policy of the Catholic Church, which holds that while homosexual orientation is not in itself sinful, homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered”.

He was as interpreted by analysts, accepting homosexuality among priests “as long as they adhere to their vow of celibacy, marking a more compassionate stance on the issue”.

Adding salt to the bleeding injury was last week’s preliminary report of an extraordinary Catholic Synod on the family written by more than 200 bishops. He said homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer".

The report does not oppose the Vatican's stance on gay marriages but it was rejected by more traditional and conservative church personalities. Cardinal Burke was among the most publicly critical of the bishops who wrote the report that was approved by Pope Francis.

 “The pope, more than anyone else as the pastor of the universal church is bound to serve the truth…He is not free to change the church’s teachings with regard to the immorality of homosexual acts or the insolubility of marriage or any other doctrine of the faith.”

Cardinal Burke has been extensively upheld as “a critic of Pope Francis,” on same-sex marriages. But his supporters say the claim is not quite accurate.” His approach and emphases are very different from the Pope’s, but there has never been a public disagreement.

Burke has been an outspoken advocate of clear doctrine and unambiguous language, whereas Francis has pushed the pastoral side of the Church’s mission. One gets the impression, or it’s interpreted this way in the media, that he thinks we’re talking too much about abortion, too much about the integrity of marriage as between one man and one woman. But we can never talk enough about that,” the Cardinal added.

But the Pope’s soft spot for same sex couples has earned him applause among the gay community and criticism in the midst of adherents of Godly-ordained family values.

For neutral observers however, it is clear that the global lobby especially in the so-called developed world to accept same sex marriages has been a wedge between the cardinal and the pope, many of whose priests, the Vatican has confirmed, are gay.

Homosexuality has not been a discussion restricted to the Catholic Church. In 2003, the Church of England appointed Bishop Jeffery John, a homosexual who openly supported the blessing of same sex marriages and shortly after that the Episcopalian Church of New Hampshire elected Gene Robinson, a homosexual, as bishop. The Uniting Church of Australia also passed a resolution by 75 percent supporting the appointment of homosexual priests.

Gay relationships are finding their demonic roots in Cameroon and other African countries where it is a crime. There are even donors who are threatening to stop their assistance if gay marriages are not allowed in the developing world.

In the United States, same sex marriages are banned only in 12 states. World-wide, 16 countries have laws permitting same sex marriages.

The warp excuse given is that to ban same sex marriages is to violate the human rights of the homosexuals who argue that they do not hurt anyone. They further plead that gays do adopt abandoned children and orphans who would have been problems for society without proper “home up-bringing”.

That argument collapses when it is considered that most religions deem homosexuality as a sin and crime. Until 1973, it was even classified by the American Psychological Association as a mental disorder.

Homosexuals are a blemish to the institution of marriage between a man and a woman anointed by God on creation. It is the foundation of society in which only a man and woman can pro-create. Even the Americans who are being pushed to accept same sex marriages in their presidential campaigns swear by family values.

What has become of those fundamental ideals of the family which are the very source of existence and society? How would those campaigning for the recognition and legalisation of same sex marriages have existed if their parents were not of a biological father and mother?

Where will children they want to adopt as their own come from if they were not the product of a union between a man and woman?

Cardinal Burke has been put on the sidelines of the decision-making pivot at the Vatican, but his opposition to gay relationship must be encouraged by other religious leaders and politicians to produce an anchor for such moral turbulence creeping even into Cameroon.