U.S. Bishops approved a pastoral plan on ministering to gay and lesbian Catholics by a 194-to-37 vote at their annual conference on Tuesday in Baltimore.
During tense moments debating the doctrine called “Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclinations,” members of the governing body were denied an opportunity to add extensive revisions before voting on its release.
Bishops disagreed over the use of the word “disorder” to describe homosexuality, effectiveness of therapies and lack of explicit examples of ministries that help gay men and lesbians live according to church beliefs.
Under the adopted guidelines, bishops will encourage men and women who do not act on their homosexuality to become full and active members of the Catholic community.
“This issue has been churning for some time. We seem to have captured the right balance between information that will guide bishops and the pastoral realities of ministering to those with homosexual inclinations,” said Baltimore Archbishop William Keeler.
Organizations opposing the doctrine responded to the voting results with outrage. “Gay and lesbian Catholics don?t want togive up being gay for being Catholic, or vice versa.
“We?ve seen the tension before in history over people who were considered oxymorons ? women voters, free African-Americans. The Church treats gay Catholics as if they are only concerned with their sexual identity,” said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry.
“It is my personal hope that people will read the document in its entirety and see its intention. It?s directed toward bishops to promote sound and effective ministry that will help those with homosexual inclinations form friendships with God,” said Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine that wrote the material.
According to the document, guidelines were established “because more than a few persons with homosexual inclinations feel themselves to be unwelcomed and rejected” by the church.
Tuesday was the last day that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is open to the public.
Closed sessions will continue until Thursday.
