The Christian struggle with homosexuality

The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement's Martin Reynolds
discusses a TV sting to 'out' a prominent Vatican priest

The outing of Vatican highflier Monsignor Tommaso Stenico in a secretly filmed TV sting where he tells a young man he saw nothing sinful having gay sex and then asks the young man if he “likes” him ... offers a real insight into the struggle the Roman Catholic Church is having in its home country over homosexuality.

Not so long ago the idea of exposing a Catholic priest’s peccadilloes would have been anathema to most Italian media outlets. The fact that the Vatican has its fair share of gay priests, bishops, Cardinals and Popes was universally known and privately acknowledged but rarely if ever reported there.

This cosy relationship fractured when countries began introducing legislation recognising the civil rights of homosexuals and giving their partnerships the status of family. The Vatican has been a violent opponent of this process and opposed Civil Partnerships and gay marriage across the world and lately in Italy where the conflict between Church and liberal reformers has been heated.

An attempt earlier this year to bring civil partnerships to Italy foundered in part due to the massive lobbying from the Vatican and attitudes in Italian society hardened on both sides. Fr Tommaso is just the latest victim in this battle and he will not be the last.

The issue of homosexuality has taken an unexpected leap in relative importance amongst Christians of all shades in recent years. A matter seen in the past to be of minor ethical “third order” importance – now seems to be for many Christians a “first order truth” demanding absolute obedience.


Read the rest in the New Statesman.