1115.org

The ways of the Roman Catholic church frequently pass all understanding, but this has to rank among one of their all-time greatest hits:

Gay rights groups and newspaper editorials on Tuesday condemned the Vatican for its decision to oppose a proposed U.N. resolution calling on governments worldwide to de-criminalise homosexuality.

The row erupted after the Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations told a French Catholic news agency the Holy See would oppose the resolution, which France is due to propose later this month on behalf of the 27-member European Union.

Archbishop Celestino Migliore said the Vatican opposed the resolution because it would “add new categories of those protected from discrimination” and could lead to reverse discrimination against traditional heterosexual marriage.

That’s not a typo or a reporting error. The Vatican’s permanent observer to the United Nations officially declared that the Vatican opposes “adding new categories of those protected from discrimination”. This statement has not been walked back by anyone on behalf of the Vatican. In fact, Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi defended Migliore’s comments.

Presumably that’s what they devoutly believe Jesus would do? At this point in human history, enough people have been protected from discrimination, so what we now need is to protect discrimination? Heaven forbid discrimination becomes extinct or something.

And, just to be clear what forms of discrimination the Vatican will fight to preserve, we’re not talking about equal employment opportunities or job benefits or housing discrimination. We’re talking about people being put to death for being gay. Archbishop Migliore has cheerfully gone on record as saying that he’d rather see some countries putting homosexuals to death than risk “states which do not recognise same-sex unions as ‘matrimony’ (being) pilloried and made an object of pressure”:

“If adopted, they would create new and implacable discriminations,” Migliore said. “For example, states which do not recognise same-sex unions as ‘matrimony’ will be pilloried and made an object of pressure,” Migliore said.

A strongly worded editorial in Italy’s mainstream La Stampa newspaper said the Vatican’s reasoning was “grotesque”.

Pointing out that homosexuality was still punishable by death in some Islamic countries, the editorial said what the Vatican really feared was a “chain reaction in favour of legally recognised homosexual unions in countries, like Italy, where there is currently no legislation”.

Franco Grillini, founder and honorary president of Arcigay, Italy’s leading gay rights group, said the Vatican’s reasoning smacked of “total idiocy and madness”.

“The French resolution, which is supported by all 27 members of the European Union, has nothing to do with gay marriage. It is about stopping jail and the death penalty for homosexuals,” Grillini told Reuters.
[...]
Human rights groups say homosexuality is still punishable by law in more than 85 countries and by death in a number of them, including Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen. Vatican spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said “no-one wants the death penalty or jail or fines for homosexuals” but defended Migliore’s comments, adding that the Vatican was in the majority on the issue.

Yes, no one wants the death penalty or jail for homosexuals but, hey, if that’s what it takes to stem pressure for recognizing same sex marriages, then that’s the will of God.

Also note how what the Vatican considers relevant is not whether its position is right or moral or ethical, but whether it is popular. It must be a source of great spiritual solace to the Holy Father that the Vatican’s position on this matter will be enthusiastically supported by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen.

Come to think of it, abortion probably enjoys much more support internationally than even criminalizing homosexuality. What a golden opportunity for the Holy Father to do the right thing and be in the majority!