CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
Scroll To Top
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Its time for the Catholic Church leadership and Catholic citizens to take stock of their faith and practices. Its time for a broader apology that includes all the youth the church has abused: sexually, emotionally, and spiritually.
Over the past several years Ive spent a great deal of time with people who have suffered from the force of religion-based bigotry. It is truly a disgrace. And yet, I know it is also truly something we can and must change.
Ive found many in our community have put the nightmares of their childhood behind them, and that is more than understandable -- sometimes blocking those memories feels like the only way to survive. However, now I am asking you to brave the past for just one moment and think back to some of the worst times you can remember... because today, as you read this, there are still too many kids who are going through the same thing you did. I believe, together, we have the power to help them. And if we are able, how can we not?
Now is the time for the Pope and his faithful to reevaluate their dogma. Below is a letter I hope everyone, Catholic or not, will consider sending to the Pope as well as to local bishops and priests. While it is of course important that Catholics send the letter, it is equally important that all know it is appropriate for them to send it, as well. If non-Catholics stand idly by because they dont feel they are the right messenger, then they are complicit, and that is yet another tragedy. Please join me in saving gay teens from having to face this harmful force of unacceptance alone.
Dear Pope Benedict XVI, Bishops, and Priests,
Today the Church finds itself once again issuing apologies for misconduct toward a vulnerable group of people.
Years ago the Church issued apologies to Galileo, women, and Jews. There are important lessons in these past apologies, and now is an urgent time to reflect on them. Each mistake was made based on strict adherence to dogma or doctrine that turned out to be misguided or ill-informed. Religion-based bigotry is nothing new.
Today you condemn people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Science and common sense educates us to understand that sexual orientation is a natural part of a humans being, not a promiscuous choice to go against Gods will. Its time to let go of the dogma that causes so much emotional pain to so many, be they LGBT or their family and friends. History is on the side of this truth: LGBT people are a normal and productive part of society. They are just as good as anyone else.
Comparing LGBT people to murderers or alcoholics or the host of other bad behaviors that harm society is wrong and evil. Stop perpetuating this hoax. Its insulting to ones intelligence.
Every day young LGBT children are emotionally tortured by your words of condemnation. These words hurt children more than you have imagined. This is the root of depression, alcohol and drug abuse, and even suicide for so many gay people. And it comes from the way you treat gay people, not from the fact that they are gay. Consider this fair warning about the spiritual and emotional harm you cause. Now it is up to you to take action. Do not sweep this under the rug like you have the sexual abuse scandals. Do not transfer the problem.
End the harm.
Mitchell Gold is the author of CRISIS: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma Of Growing Up Gay In America.
Send a letter to the editor about this article.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
41 male celebs who did full frontal scenes
September 16 2024 2:02 PM
39 LGBTQ+ celebs you can follow on OnlyFans
November 19 2024 9:39 AM
33 actors who showed bare ass in movies & TV shows
September 17 2024 5:43 PM
26 LGBTQ+ reality dating shows & where to watch them
July 03 2024 4:21 PM
21 times male celebrities had to come out as straight
November 19 2024 3:33 PM
17 queens who quit or retired from drag after 'RuPaul's Drag Race'
November 30 2024 12:26 AM
52 steamy celebrity Calvin Klein ads we'll always be thirsty for
August 27 2024 1:08 PM
15 things only bottoms understand
October 08 2024 5:18 PM
15 gay celebrity couples who make us believe in love
October 03 2024 5:43 PM
A gay adult film star's complete guide to bottoming
September 16 2024 8:50 AM
Latest Stories
'I Saw the TV Glow' & other queer noms lead 2025 Independent Spirit Awards
December 04 2024 5:31 PM
Spotify surprise: No LGBTQ+ singers among U.S. Most Streamed Artists
December 04 2024 4:08 PM
Marissa Bode hopes 'Wicked' makes the world safer for her & her girlfriend
December 04 2024 3:14 PM
Sink or swim! Meet the queens of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' season 17
December 04 2024 2:00 PM
December 4, 2024
December 04 2024 12:36 PM
Out and About with Fortune Feimster
December 03 2024 5:30 PM
6 new Christmas movies you can watch this holiday season to make the Yuletide gay
December 03 2024 5:00 PM
Village People founder defends use of 'Y.M.C.A.' by Trump and gays
December 03 2024 4:00 PM
Disney's 'Snow White' trailer is here, and it’s already enraging the internet
December 03 2024 3:56 PM
'Wicked' is breaking *more* records as its soundtrack dominates music charts
December 03 2024 2:59 PM