Gay Catholics Welcome In The Church? Vatican Comments Yield Cautious Optimism

Long shunned by the church, gay Catholics are reacting positively to a document just issued by the Vatican that indicates the church is becoming more accepting of gay parishioners. The document states that gay people have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community and should be welcomed by the church. While same-sex marriages are still out of the question, the comments have been heralded by gay groups as an encouraging sign that the 2,000-year-old institution is offering a more progressive stance toward historically marginalized members of its flock.

The bishops report is a preliminary one published midway through a two-week synod called by Pope Francis to discuss the churchs position on moral issues such as cohabiting unmarried couples, whether divorced and remarried individuals can receive Communion and how to treat children from these unconventional families. While the bishops were clear that the church would not abandon its teachings on marriage as defined between a man and a woman, the 12- page report acknowledged that same-sex couples which the document described as homosexual unions -- language that is largely unprecedented -- often provide mutual aid to the point of sacrifice for each partner in the relationship. The bishops also said the church will pay special attention to children of gay couples, but did not give any specifics on how this would be accomplished. Additionally, the bishops concluded there are positive aspects of civil unions and cohabitation a dramatic shift from traditional teachings which said such unmarried straight couples were living in sin.

The report is an official summary of discussions and prepared speeches given during the first week of the synod. Since the document, referred to by its Latin name "relatio," was read out loud to 200 bishops, priests and lay people and shared online on Monday, LGBT groups have reacted positively to the comments, but remain wary on how it will translate to the parish level.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA an organization that works for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the Catholic Church -- said the relatio offered unexpected positive signs for gay Catholics and their families.

The change in tone is remarkable, Duddy-Burke told International Business Times. To go from being labeled as objectively disordered to having gifts and qualities needed by the church is very welcome among LGBT people.

Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, another advocacy group for gay Catholics, agreed that it was a positive change, but added that the churchs stance on same-sex marriage did not come as a surprise.

What is also significant and hopeful is what is not said. In stating that same-gender marriages are not accepted by the hierarchy, there is no vicious condemnation of them, as previous hierarchical statements have," DeBernardo said in a statement, referring to remarks made by former Popes John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and their supporters.

While the document may be revolutionary for its unprecedented language towards some (but not all) members of the LGBT community --it has been criticizedfor ignoring the concerns of transgender individuals -- it is still a draft and does not guarantee that any lasting changes will be made at the local level.

Will [Catholic bishops] stop leading the fight against marriage equality, and stop firing church workers who marry their same-sex partners? Will priests stop denying Communion to LGBT people? Duddy-Burke asks.

The former question has a direct impact on Nicholas Coppola. The 49-year-old retired construction worker from Long Island attended Mass every morning at his parish, St. Anthony's in Oceanside, New York, for almost a decade. A proud gay Catholic, he did not keep sexuality secret from his fellow parishioners. However, when he married his longtime boyfriend, David, his pastor said he was fired from his volunteer posts.

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Gay Catholics Welcome In The Church? Vatican Comments Yield Cautious Optimism