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Volume 40, Issue 12
April 8, 2003
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April 8, 2003
Vatican definition devoid of ‘social value’
By Carly Schorman
News Editor
The Vatican has made leaps and bounds toward the modern world.
Catholicism in general has redefined many edicts by new standards.
The pope has recently even been called a liberal for his anti-war stance.
But the Catholic Church has once again re-established itself as trapped
in different times.
In the recent release of a new Vatican dictionary, homosexuality is defined
as devoid of “social value.”
In a time when homosexuality is gaining acceptance around the globe and
crimes against gays are defined as hate crimes, one would hope religions
would openly accept and acknowledge different lifestyles thereby setting
the no-hate example.
Admittedly, other religions have taken prejudicial stances on homosexuality
. . . but they did not publish a dictionary.
Then again, what is to be expected of the Vatican when they have stood
against the United Nations on other issues related to sex, like refusing
to support the use of condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS?
Perhaps a moment should be taken to reflect on the place in the world
of these individuals without any social value.
A few homosexuals who have contributed a great deal to our society are:
Frances Bacon, Clive Barker, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Guy Burgess, Truman
Capote, Salvador Dali, Alfred Douglas, Edward II, Brian Epstein, Rupert
Everett, David Geffen, Allen Ginsberg, David Hockney, Simon Holt, Rock
Hudson, Langston Hughes, Henry James, Elton John, Leonardo Da Vinci, Isaac
Newton, Sappho, Gertrude Stein, Michael Stipe, Rudolph Valentino, Gore
Vidal, Andy Warhol, Walt Whitman, Oscar Wilde, Carl Wittman, and Virginia
Woolfe.
Perhaps the Vatican is overlooking direct contributions to society and
thinking more along the lines of ensuring the continuation of humanity
through reproduction.
No, two gay men cannot produce a child, nor can two lesbians, without
a third party.
However, many same-sex couples are proving to be admirable parents.
At the same time, many traditional families are demonstrating just the
opposite.
The roles of parents have been an area of constant change.
Single-parents and step-parents are two terms (among many) that have found
their way into our daily vocabulary.
It is time to make room for same-sex parents . . . most of us already
have.
Gays and lesbians have contributed to society, and have and are raising
little contributing members.
For the Vatican to define this social group in such a negative manner
is obtuse and irresponsible.
This decision forces Catholicism to take a step a way from the modern
world.
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