Vatican U.N. delegation calls for end to unjust discrimination against homosexuals

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Vatican City, Dec 19, 2008 / 05:04 pm (CNA).- Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the apostolic nuncio leading the Holy See’s permanent observer mission to the United Nations, has called for an end to unjust discrimination and criminal penalties directed against homosexual persons. However, he reiterated concerns that a U.N. proposal advocating legal protections for "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" is ill-defined and overbroad.

On Thursday afternoon Archbishop Migliore, speaking to a session of the UN General Assembly, remarked: "the Holy See appreciates the attempts made in the 'Declaration on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity' - presented at the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008 - to condemn all forms of violence against homosexual persons as well as urge States to take necessary measures to put an end to all criminal penalties against them."

"At the same time, the Holy See notes that the wording of this Declaration goes well beyond the above-mentioned and shared intent," he added.

He said the document’s categories of "sexual orientation" and "gender identity," under international law, "find no recognition or clear and agreed definition."

"If they had to be taken into consideration in the proclaiming and implementing of fundamental rights, these would create serious uncertainty in the law as well as undermine the ability of States to enter into and enforce new and existing human rights conventions and standards," the archbishop stated.

Saying the document rightfully condemns "all forms of violence against homosexual persons," and rightfully seeks to protect them from violence, he said that in total the document "goes beyond this goal and instead gives rise to uncertainty in the law and challenges existing human rights norms."

"The Holy See continues to advocate that every sign of unjust discrimination towards homosexual persons should be avoided and urges States to do away with criminal penalties against them," Archbishop Migliore concluded.

According to Reuters, in the past the archbishop has warned that the European-backed text could lead to reverse discrimination, warning "states which do not recognize same-sex unions as 'matrimony' will be pilloried and made an object of pressure."

Reuters reports that sponsors of the European resolution say "homosexuality" is punishable by law in 77 countries and by death in seven countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia.

An Arab-backed statement read by Syria at the U.N. on Thursday said the text could lead to "the social normalization, and possibly the legitimization, of many deplorable acts including pedophilia." The Arab statement voiced concern about attempts to "create 'new rights' or 'new standards,' by misinterpreting the Universal Declaration and international treaties."

Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi told Reuters that the Vatican did not support the Arab-backed statement.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that men and women with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" must be treated with "respect, compassion, and sensitivity" and says "Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."

Calling homosexual persons to chastity, the Catechism says that Church teaching, following Sacred Scripture’s presentation of homosexual acts as "acts of grave depravity," considers such acts "intrinsically disordered" and "under no circumstances" should be approved of.

Comments: 11

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Nathan
Los Angeles, CA, USA 01/18/2009 03:37 PM EST

In 2000, Pope John Paul II apologized for the sins of the Church in general and for the Inquisition in particular. He felt obliged to seek forgiveness for sins committed against Jews, heretics, women, Gypsies and native peoples, but not homosexuals. I guess the torture and execution of homosexuals at the hands of the Church was justified. So in this context, this condemnation of all forms of violence against homosexual persons rings a bit hollow. The Catholic Church throughout its history has always been hostile to homosexuals, a few lines of empty platitudes in the Catechism will never change that.

Published by: David Pokrywka
Frankfort, KY. USA 01/07/2009 06:02 PM EST

There is a feeling amongst even some Catholics here in the US that the transfiguration of Jesus was an Event where Jesus was some sort of transvestite and that the Blessed Virgin Mary was some sort male disguised as a woman. I think the Church should speak out on these issues of Faith.

Published by: Jack Angelo Territo
Buffalo,ny USA 01/05/2009 03:27 PM EST

The U.N. ,the Vatican, the United States are protecting homosexuals , WHO is going to protect them against GODs wrath????

Published by: Kelsieb
San Diego, CA, USA 01/05/2009 01:28 PM EST

It is wonderful to see the church stand against violence (though it looks like imprisonment is still o.k.) against Gays. Just as sexual relations went from a necessary evil to a treasured manifestation of the love between committed pairs (i.e., married couples)in our lifetime, the love and life-enrichment provided in no different way to same-sex couples will be recognized soon, even by the church.

Published by: Corey
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA 01/02/2009 11:24 AM EST

To Miss Moon, anathema does not mean that the subject no longer exists in the eyes of the Church; it simply means that the Church strongly disapproves of it but that there is grounds for reconciliation. Furthermore, the Church would have a 'say' in nearly all temporal and spiritual matters where humanity is concerned and this gives it validation on speaking on this and other topics.

I praise the Holy Father and the clergy for all the hard work they are doing to better such a chaotic world in which children are born and raised.

Published by: Pierre St. Croix
Quebec 12/25/2008 12:23 PM EST

Yes, the Church should only exercise Righteous Descrimination against degenerates and perverts by declaring with ever greater force the great evil and abomination that threatens to undo the beauty of God's plan for all his people. Certainly the wrath of God will be poured out against these workers of iniquity in the day of approaching vengeance, soon to come!! Let them be anathamized by all who profess faith in God the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit!!!

Published by: Belen
Argentina 12/23/2008 03:49 AM EST

Isabella Moon:

The Catholic Church is AGAINST, and i repeat, AGAINST all forms of discrimination. The church accepts homosexuals as children of God. But, acording to the Catechism of the Catholic church: 2357 Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual ACTS as ACTS of grave depravity,140 tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered."141 They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.
The church disaproves of homosexual ACTS, not people.

Published by: Isabella Moon
Sydney Australia 12/20/2008 08:14 PM EST

So, following Catechism, its okay to be homosexual, as long as you aren't actually homosexual?

I always thought that anathema meant that the subject no longer existed before the eyes of the Church... so why is the Church involved in the consultation of a subject that is then non-existant?

Published by: linda
UK 12/20/2008 10:37 AM EST

If the Holy See doesn't get out from under the thumb of the UN they are going to end up looking silly and manipulated.

The UN has a funny habit of categorising people according to their sexual habits, while Catholicism only categorises actions. The Church should remain true to her own doctrines which are superior in every way.

Published by: Francis Minh
District 1, Saigon City, Vietnam 12/20/2008 01:43 AM EST

Thanks Church ! Thanks The Holy Father Benedict XVI and His Excellency Most Rev. Celestino Migliore

Published by: Brian
Indianapolis, IN, USA 12/19/2008 05:24 PM EST

Thank you, archbishop.

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