Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto, who will become the ordinary of Sacramento, California, at the end of November, was invited to speak to the conference of the National Association of Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. These are people who work directly for bishops.
Bishop Soto simply repeated the Church’s teachings.
“Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,” Bishop Soto said. “For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression.”
At least five audience members walked out during his remarks and afterward he endured a group of audience members who berated him for what he said. A board member of the organization was overheard telling one of the tables in the room: “On behalf of the board, I apologize. We had no idea Bishop Soto was going to say what he said.”
Despite the official-sounding name, the NACDLGM is not composed of “people who work directly for bishops.” Pretty much anybody can join who wants to. I would guess that actual diocesan employees are a distinct minority.
At the theological consortium where I attended, they had their offices in one of the more liberal Protestant schools. From their literature, I always got the impression they were never officially sanctioned.
Oh, and forgive my oversight:
Bravo, Your Excellency! Well done!