In response to Minister Sam Foley’s letter in April 6 Enterprise I feel it is important to remind people that there are many different religious viewpoints on the subject of LGBT persons.
Pope Francis released a document this week expressing another way of looking at people who are different than oneself. In this statement he urges priests around the world to be more accepting of gay men and lesbians by saying that “ by thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth.
“A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws as if they were stones to throw at people’s lives.”
The pope emphasizes that his aim is to help families, in fact everyone, to experience God’s love and know that they are welcome members of the church. “Every person, regardless of sexual orientation ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration”. The pope is calling for tolerance and mercy rather than judgment.
This is just one example of another way of viewing people of any difference in life, including LGBT people.
Jan Wiley
Carol Sommers¡
