Monsignor Krzystof Charamsa.
Pope Francis should lead from the front, after a week of confusion over the Catholic Church’s stance on homosexuality
This time last week, Pope Francis was heading back to Rome, discussing issues on the papal plane with journalists, after a hugely successful visit to the United States and Cuba.
The major themes of his papacy had been put across clearly and boldly – winning plaudits from politicians and commentators across the board (with the exception of the Tea Party and some Republican presidential candidates) – as he told members of the US Congress and the United Nations to do more for those less fortunate.
But what a difference a week can make. Now Francis finds himself caught up in a series of confusions concerning homosexuality and the Church. Everyone is watching to see if the Argentine-born pontiff will hold the Vatican’s line, that has isolated so many happy, loving Catholics from their faith over the years, because they happen to be gay.
Francis, of course, famously said “Who am I to judge?” in reference to homosexuality. But that was more casual comment than statement of Church policy. It seems pretty clear too that Krysztof Charasma has indeed been judged this weekend.
Kentuckly country clerk Kim Davis, who decided to break the law, rather than her personal beliefs.
First, news emerged that Francis had met with Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk, who refused to issues licences for same-sex marriages and ended up in prison as a result. Any meeting or endorsement was sure to gain column inches and attention, so why did the pontiff meet her? The Vatican was certainly aware enough of the consequences to keep it quiet, so one must ask why did they go through with it?
As they broke the news, Davis and her lawyer were keen to emphasize just how personal, private and long the meeting was, as well as how the pope backed her position. But the Vatican immediately sought to downplay it, saying the meeting was barely even that.
The Church’s machinery even went so far as to push the line that Francis gave one “real audience” during his trip – with a video quickly circulating this week of the pontiff greeting his long-term friend Yayo Grassi, a gay man who met with the pope in Washington, who accompanied by his partner of 19 years.
Yesterday, the issue took another turn. On the eve of a key Church Synod (one that will discuss homosexuality among other things), Krysztof Charamsa – a senior priest and Vatican theologian since 2003 – revealed he was gay and in a long-term relationship, saying he wanted to challenge the Church’s “backwards” attitude toward homosexuality.
Charasma was instantly sacked from the positions he held in the Church.
“The decision to make such a pointed statement on the eve of the opening of the Synod appears very serious and irresponsible, since it aims to subject the Synod assembly to undue media pressure,” Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.
Pope Francis
That’s a pretty bold and almost untruthful claim, especially considering the developments this week and the Church’s response to the Davis meeting.
Francis, of course, famously said “Who am I to judge?” in reference to homosexuality. But that was more casual comment than statement of Church policy. It seems pretty clear too that Charasma has indeed been judged this weekend.
Francis should now take the opportunity to lead from the front here. Perhaps it is time the pontiff, with or without the support of the Curia, declare his position on the issue as clearly as he did when speaking of poverty, or the death penalty, to the US Congress last week.
He could start today. Each Sunday of course he has a captive audience in St Peter’s Square and the Church’s line – which seems contrary to Francis’ open arms approach – is increasingly becoming blurred.
@URLgoeshere
An edited version of this column was published in the Buenos Aires Herald, on Sunday, October 4, 2015 as part of the ‘Perceptions’ series.
Link: http://buenosairesherald.com/article/200181/mixed-signals-.