Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden has called on the Catholic Church to "reposition itself" on homosexuality: "It is my wish that we further develop and strengthen acceptance and tolerance for homosexuals in our parishes as well as in the whole church,” the Bishop of...
....the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen told Germany’s Catholic News Agency (KNA) in an interview on Monday. He also advocated permitting blessings for gay couples which the Catholic Church does not currently allow....
"The question is: what do I bless? I bless people. And if a person stands before me and asks for a blessing--how can I refuse this blessing? After all, a blessing is God’s approval.” That did not mean that he blesses and approves of everything a person does, Timmerevers added...
A clear distinction should be made in that respect. Timmerevers recently appointed two pastoral ministers specifically for the pastoral care of gay people in his diocese. “I am well aware that the integration of homosexuals and my current efforts to achieve this in our church...
...are not supported by everyone,” said the Catholic bishop. Many bishops and pastoral ministers found it disturbing, perhaps because it was unfamiliar territory. "The fact that I am encouraging it now may also encourage a process of reflection...."
This should take place at all levels, in parishes and in the Bishops' Conference, he said. "And last but not least, I believe the Catholic Church must reposition itself: How do we deal with same-sex people in our pastoral work, and how do we evaluate this?"...
Timmerevers referred to conversations with gay and transsexual Christians in his diocese who had told him their life and faith stories. "That moved me deeply because I noticed what a struggle many go through. They want to be Christians and live their faith in the church....
...And I do not want to leave these people alone in that struggle,” said the bishop.
(Translation from KNA @KNA_Redaktion)
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