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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 15, 2013

The Self in Self-Help

Most human beings spend their lives battling with opposing inner forces: what they think they should do versus what they are doing; how they feel about themselves versus how they are; whether they think they’re right and worthy or wrong and unworthy. The separate self is just the conglomeration of these opposing forces. When the self drops away, inner division drops away with it.

- Adyashanti, “The Taboo of Enlightenment”

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Via JMG: Prop 8: Really Most Sincerely Dead

 

Breaking news out of California:

The California Supreme Court refused Wednesday to revive Proposition 8, ending the last remaining legal challenge to same-sex marriage in the state. Meeting in closed session, the state high court rejected arguments by ProtectMarriage, Proposition 8’s sponsors, that only an appellate court could overturn a statewide law. In its challenge before the state’s highest court, ProtectMarriage argued that a single judge lacked the authority to overturn a state constitutional amendment. The group also contended that Walker’s injunction applied to two counties at most and that state officials had overstepped their authority by ordering county clerks throughout California to issue same-sex marriage licenses. State officials countered that the challenge was a veiled attempt to persuade a state court to interfere with a federal judge’s order in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

And that's that, folks!

Labels: CA Supreme Court, California, marriage equality, NOM, Prop 8, Protect Marriage, religion, suck it

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: RUSSIA: American Runner Dedicates Silver Medal To Gay Friends At Home

 

American runner Nick Symmonds yesterday won the silver medal in the 800-meter race at the World Track & Field Championships in Moscow. Speaking to the press afterwards, dedicated his win to his gay friends at home in the United States.

"As much as I can speak out about it, I believe that all humans deserve equality as however God made them," he told R-Sport after running a 1:43.55 at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. "Whether you're gay, straight, black, white, we all deserve the same rights. If there's anything I can do to champion the cause and further it, I will, shy of getting arrested." Symmonds, 29, made his opposition to a new law banning the promotion of homosexuality to minors known in a blog post for Runner's World magazine on August 6. Despite his outspokenness in the United States, he said he would he would not bring up the subject in Russia out of respect for the host country's laws. "I respect Russians' ability to govern their people," he said Tuesday. "I disagree with their laws. I do have respect for this nation. I disagree with their rules."

The Russian state news agency RIA Novosti noted that Symmonds is the first athlete to criticize Russia's anti-gay law while on that nation's soil. Several news reports speculate whether Symmonds words, as careful as they were, do put him at risk of being arrested.

Labels: Moscow, Russia, sports, straight allies

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: The Sochi Salute

 

Some on Twitter suggest that the "Sochi Salute" would simply be a wave that describes the arc of a rainbow. Like a car's windshield-wipers.

Labels: activism, Sochi Olympics, Stephen Fry

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma August 14, 2013

A Moral Politics

Given that government, in theory at least, is our common will, representing us as a people, how do we define ourselves? Will we come to the aid of those among us struggling to get by or will we throw the needy back upon their own meager resources? Is the prevailing philosophy of governance one of mutual concern and collective help, or one of stark individualism in which everyone has to fend for themselves, or at best rely on charity? This is not so much a political question as a moral one, a question pertaining to the moral basis of our common life. Much depends on how we answer it.

- Bhikkhu Bodhi, "A Moral Politics"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through August 15, 2013
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Via JMG: Sen. Chuck Schumer: Nations Should Wave The Rainbow Flag At Sochi Olympics

Sen. Chuck Schumer upset a lot anti-gay folks yesterday, judging by the comments at The Hill.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Monday said he opposed boycotting the Sochi Olympic Games despite new Russian anti-gay laws, instead urging nations to wave rainbow flags during the opening ceremonies to show support for gay rights. “That'd be pretty embarrassing for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin,” Schumer said on MSNBC's “Morning Joe.” “Let our athletes participate but still make a stand.”

Labels: Chuck Schumer, LGBT rights, Russia, Sochi Olympics

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: BRAZIL: Airborne Activists Harass Anti-Gay Commissioner Of Human Rights

Back in June, Brazilian Human Rights Commissioner Marco Feliciano, who is a virulently anti-gay pastor, supported a bill that would re-legalize "gay cure" therapy, which has been banned since 1999.  The bill passed its first hurdle in a House of Deputies committee, prompting protests in several major cities, but was withdrawn the following week by its sponsor when it became clear it would fail before the full House. A few days ago this happened on a domestic flight in Brazil:

Pastor Marco Feliciano claims he was harassed by gay activists on an aircraft, saying, "They want respect but do not give respect." Feliciano has published a report on his Twitter account of harassment suffered by him during a flight between Brasilia and São Paulo, on the morning of Friday, August 9. According to the congressman and others on the flight, some gay activists began to harass him with curses and with the song "Robocop Gay." Feliciano also said that passengers intervened and defended him, but with the size of the turmoil, the aircraft commander threatened to return to the capital.

(Tipped by JMG reader Robert)

Labels: activism, Brazil, ex-gay, religion

Reposted from Joe

Sick of Homosexuality, Religious Family Gets Lost at Sea

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 13, 2013

Cutting Out Attachments

The purpose of Buddhism is to cut down anger, hatred, and jealousy. The way you do it is very simple. If you cannot handle an attachment, then you completely cut out whatever helps the attachment grow.

- Gelek Rinpoche, "A Lama For All Seasons"

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 12, 2013

The Gate of Not-Okay

The only thing that can make us uncomfortable with being alone is not liking who we are. That’s what we do when we face the wall: we face who we are. Being okay with however that arises is the most compassion and the most honesty you can ever offer yourself—to just accept yourself as you are. Even if you don’t like it, that’s okay, because not-okay is always a practice gate. We can always include what we don’t like in ourselves. But letting go of worrying about having to become perfect: that’s a gift that we give to ourselves.

- Merle Kodo Boyd, "Okay As It Is, Okay As You Are"

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 11, 2013

Not Clinging to Pleasant States

We like pleasant meditative states. There's no problem with the pleasantness of them; it's part of our life experience. The problem is that we often devote our life energy to the getting, sustaining, accumulation, and repeating of these pleasant experiences. But, as we all know, these pleasant experiences don't last, so they don't really have the capacity to bring us happiness, to bring us completion, to bring us fulfillment. We're always seeking more—that's samsara, the endless wheel of becoming, fueled by wanting.

- Joseph Goldstein, “One Dharma”

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Via FB: 76 Nations

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 10, 2013

Regarding Doubt

We feel that if we have doubts, it means that we are denying the teachings and that we should really have unquestioning faith. Now in certain religions, unquestioning faith is considered a desirable quality. But in the Buddha-dharma, this is not necessarily so. Referring to the dharma, the Buddha said, 'ehi passiko,' which means 'come and see,' or 'come and investigate,' not 'come and believe.'

- Ani Tenzin Palmo, “Necessary Doubt”

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Via JMG: Feds Announce Social Security Benefits For Spouses In Same-Sex Marriages

 

Via press release from the office of Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

I am pleased to announce that Social Security is now processing some retirement spouse claims for same-sex couples and paying benefits where they are due. The recent Supreme Court decision on Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, made just over a month ago, helps to ensure that all Americans are treated fairly and equally, with the dignity and respect they deserve. We continue to work closely with the Department of Justice. In the coming weeks and months, we will develop and implement additional policy and processing instructions. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work through the legal issues to ensure that our policy is legally sound and clear. I encourage individuals who believe they may be eligible for Social Security benefits to apply now, to protect against the loss of any potential benefits. We will process claims as soon as additional instructions become finalized.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

The Social Security Administration is limiting payment of claims for same-sex married couples currently to those couples who were married in a state the allows same-sex couples to marry and are “domiciled,” or live, in a state that recognizes same-sex couples’ marriages.
The decision means claims from same-sex couples married where such couples can legally marry but who live in a state that does not recognize such marriages are having their applications put on hold for the time being.
As of Friday, a new section for “Windsor Same-Sex Marriage Claims” — named after the Supreme Court case of United States v. Windsor, which resulted in a part of the Defense of Marriage Act being struck down — was added to the Social Security Administration’s Program Operations Manual System (POMS), which the agency describes as the primary source of information used by Social Security employees to process claims for Social Security benefits.
The claims processing instructions “allow for payment of claims” when the claimant “was married in a state that permits same-sex marriage” and “is domiciled at the time of application, or while the claim is pending a final determination, in a state that recognizes same-sex marriage.”

Labels: DOMA, feds, LGBT rights, Social Security

posted by Joe

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 9, 2013

Continuous Mind

If we believe that mind is continuous, our love for others becomes continuous. If we recognize this continuity, we do not trust temporary, tangible circumstances or take them too seriously.

- Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, "Continuous Mind"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through August 10, 2013
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Via JMG: LZ Granderson On Russia

"In talking about the 1936 Olympics, I do not equate what is happening in Russia to what happened to Jewish people during World War II. I just want to remind you that the Holocaust did not happen overnight. It was subtle. Surgical. In silence. These new anti-gay laws are disturbingly similar to the anti-Semitic Nuremberg laws Hitler passed before the 1936 Olympics. And with the Pew Institute finding 84% of Russians believe society should reject gay people, perhaps some saying they object to gays for fear of arrest, the world should question how far Russia intends to go. We should question how far Russia, our lukewarm ally, intends to go and what our participation in the 2014 Olympic Games will look like generations from now." - Openly gay sports journalist LZ Granderson, writing for CNN.  Hit the link and read the full essay.

Labels: LGBT rights, LZ Granderson, Nazis, Russia

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Civil Rights Pioneer Bayard Rustin And Astronaut Sally Ride To Be Posthumously Awarded Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Civil rights pioneer (and gay man) Bayard Rustin, who organized the 1963 March On Washington, and astronaut Sally Ride, who (at her request) was outed after her death of cancer last year, will be among the recipients of this year's Presidential Medal Of Freedom awards, the highest honor given to any civilian. Via press release from the White House:

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Executive Order signed by President John F. Kennedy establishing the Presidential Medal of Freedom, as well as the first ceremony bestowing the honor on an inaugural class of 31 recipients. Since that time, more than 500 exceptional individuals from all corners of society have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  President Obama said, “The Presidential Medal of Freedom goes to men and women who have dedicated their own lives to enriching ours. This year's honorees have been blessed with extraordinary talent, but what sets them apart is their gift for sharing that talent with the world. It will be my honor to present them with a token of our nation's gratitude."

The Human Rights Campaign reacts:

Bayard Rustin’s contributions to the American civil rights movement remain paramount to its successes to this day,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “His role in the fight for civil rights of African-Americans is all the more admirable because he made it as a gay man, experiencing prejudice not just because of his race, but because of his sexual orientation as well.” Rustin was active in the struggle for civil rights for sixty years, from organizing early freedom rides in the 1940s, to serving as key advisor to Dr. King, to helping found the A. Philip Randolph Institute.

But his advocacy was far from limited to the rights of African Americans. He worked to end apartheid in South Africa, fought for the freedom of Soviet Jews, worked to protect the property of Japanese Americans interned during World War II, and helped highlight the plight of Vietnamese “boat people.” And in the 1980s, he also spoke up for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, testifying in support of anti-discrimination legislation in New York. “Bayard Rustin dedicated his life to advocating for fairness and equality and overcame prejudice to help move our nation forward,” added Griffin.

 The 50th anniversary of the March On Washington is August 28th.
RELATED: Some of this year's other recipients will surely upset the wingnuts. They are: Ernie Banks, Ben Bradlee, Bill Clinton, Daniel Inouye, Daniel Kahneman, Richard Lugar, Loretta Lynn, Mario Molina, Arturo Sandoval, Dean Smith, Gloria Steinem, C.T. Vivian, Patricia Wald, Oprah Winfrey.

 

Labels: Bayard Rustin, civil rights, LGBT History, LGBT rights, Medal Of Freedom, Sally Ride, space program, White House

Reposted from Joe

Bodhisattva in metro HQ

Via JMG: Breitbart Headline Of The Day

 

And Teabagistan goes wild.

Labels: Breitbart, Russia, Tea Party, teabaggers

Reposted from Joe

Via Tricycle Daily Dharma:

Tricycle Daily Dharma August 8, 2013

On Gender

There’s a strong streak of anti-essentialism in feminism, just as there is in Buddhism. It is the understanding that something like gender is not fixed or absolute, that not all women or men have some masculine or feminine essence that defines us. To put it in Buddhist terms, gender has no 'self-nature.'

- Nancy Baker, "Of Samurai and Sisterhood"

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JMG HomoQuotable - Stephen Fry

"I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler's anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian 'correctively' raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and I for one, weep anew at seeing history repeat itself. 'All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,' so wrote Edmund Burke. Are you, the men and women of the IOC going to be those 'good' who allow evil to triumph? The Summer Olympics of 2012 were one of the most glorious moments of my life and the life of my country. For there to be a Russian Winter Olympics would stain the movement forever and wipe away any of that glory. The Five Rings would finally be forever smeared, besmirched and ruined in the eyes of the civilised world." - Stephen Fry, in an open letter to the IOC and British Prime Minister David Cameron.

You really should read the full essay.

Labels: Britain, David Cameron, HomoQuotable, IOC, LGBT rights, Russia, Sochi Olympics, sports, Stephen Fry

Reposted from Joe

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 7, 2013

Genuine Discernment

The fundamental aim of Buddhist practice is not belief; it’s enlightenment, the awakening that takes place when illusion has been overcome. It may sound simple, but it’s probably the most difficult thing of all to achieve. It isn’t some kind of magical reward that someone can give you or that a strong belief will enable you to acquire. The true path to awakening is genuine discernment; it’s the very opposite of belief.

- Trinlay Tulku Rinpoche, “The Seeds of Life”

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 6, 2013

Don't Make Your Suffering Worse

In a classic sutra, the Buddha had said that if someone shoots you in the foot, don’t pick up the bow and shoot yourself in the foot again. Don’t make your suffering worse by arguing with what’s so. That’s a second arrow. Accept pain. Don’t criticize yourself, or others, for feeling pain: that is a second arrow. Don’t regret what cannot be changed, or try to predict what cannot be known.

- Katy Butler, "A Life Too Long"

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 5, 2013

Every Single Moment

In truth, every single moment of our lives presents us with a choice: either awaken to the reality of the present moment, or stay sleepy and push aspects of that reality away.

- Will Johnson, “Full Body, Empty Mind”

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 4, 2013

The Real Enemy

When your mind is trained in self-discipline, even if you are surrounded by hostile forces, your peace of mind will hardly be disturbed. On the other hand, your mental peace and calm can easily be disrupted by your own negative thoughts and emotions. The real enemy is within, not outside.

- The Dalai Lama, "The Enemy Within"

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Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma August 3, 2013

Gaining Insight from Obstacles

Using meditation or therapy to try to shut down parts of our experience is ultimately counterproductive. We do not have to be afraid of entering unfamiliar territory once we have learned how to hold experience within the gentleness of our own minds. Learning to transform obstacles into objects of meditation provides a much needed bridge between the stillness of the concentrated mind and the movement of real life.

- Mark Epstein, "Stopping the Wind"

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Via JMG: Sec. Of State John Kerry: Visas Are Now Available For Same-Sex Couples

Secretary of State John Kerry today announced the immediate availability of visas for same-sex couples. Via Metro Weekly:

"If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen, your visa application will be treated equally. If you are the spouse of a non-citizen, your visa application will be treated equally. And if you are in a country that doesn’t recognize your same-sex marriage, then your visa application will still be treated equally at every single one of our 222 visa processing centers around the world," Kerry said during an appearance at the U.S. embassy in London.
The announcement is the latest repercussion following the Supreme Court's June decision striking down Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as between a man and a woman. "Now, as long as a marriage has been performed in a jurisdiction that recognizes it so that it is legal, then that marriage is valid under U.S. immigration laws, and every married couple will be treated exactly the same, and that is what we believe is appropriate," Kerry added.

The new policy will also apply to the children of the foreign spouse in a same-sex marriage.

Labels: DOMA, John Kerry, LGBT rights, State Department

Reposted from Joe

Via GayPolitics Report: LGBT Olympians may not "propagandize," Russian sports minister warns

LGBT athletes can participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but they risk arrest if they advocate for LGBT equality while in Russia, says Vitaly L. Mutko, the Russian minister of sports. Mutko's comments this week contradict a statement issued earlier by the International Olympic Committee, which said it had received assurances from Russia that its new anti-LGBT laws would not be used against athletes and spectators at the games. Human rights groups want Olympic officials to speak more forcefully against the laws and urge their repeal, though a coalition of LGBT sports groups said this week they oppose a formal boycott of the games. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/1), USA Today (8/1), Washington Blade (Washington, D.C.) (8/2)

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Tricycle Daily Dharma August 2, 2013

Expansive Peace

Whether we’re seeking inner peace or global peace or a combination of the two, the way to experience it is to build on the foundation of unconditional openness to all that arises. Peace isn’t an experience free of challenges, free of rough and smooth—it’s an experience that’s expansive enough to include all that arises without feeling threatened.

- Pema Chödrön, "Unlimited Friendliness"

Read the entire article in the Wisdom Collection through August 3, 2013
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 August 1, 2013

The Meditative Mind in Daily Life

It is essential that you cultivate the twin elements of concentration and inquiry in your meditation. Concentration will bring stability, stillness, and spaciousness; inquiry will bring alertness, vividness, brightness, and clarity. Combined, they will help you to develop creative awareness, an ability to bring a meditative mind to all aspects of your daily life.

- Martine Batchelor, "A Refuge into Being"

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A New Pope - The Pope says Gay People are OK

Via JMG: US Olympic Committee: We're Working To Ensure Safety At Sochi Olympics

In a letter sent to sporting organizations, the US Olympic Committee has vowed that it is working to ensure the safety of all attendees and participants at the Sochi Olympics. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed:

“The Olympic Charter prohibits any form of discrimination and clearly calls out the practice of sport as a human right that should be available to all. Like us, the IOC recognizes the seriousness of this issue,” U.S Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun wrote on July 25. The letter, obtained by BuzzFeed, was sent in the midst of ongoing questions about the enforcement of Russia’s anti-LGBT propaganda law in advance of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Embiggen the image to read the full letter.

Labels: LGBT rights, Russia, Sochi Olympics, sports

Reposted from Joe

JMG Petition Of The Day:

The petition has been launched by Truth Wins Out:

NBC's Olympic coverage has long featured myriad human interest pieces, about the athletes competing, and about all aspects of life in the home nation. There is more than enough time in prime time Olympic coverage for hard-hitting pieces exposing the reality of what LGBT people, political dissidents and other minorities face every day under the Putin regime. 

Rachel Maddow is one of the most respected television journalists in the United States, with a reputation for being thorough, fair, informative and entertaining. Rachel has the expertise and the instincts to tell this full story to a viewing audience who are appalled by the treatment of their Russian brothers and sisters. Adding her to NBC's coverage won't fly in the face of the Olympic spirit, but rather enhance it, as there is nothing in the ethics or the history of the Olympic Games that can coexist peacefully with the war Russia is waging against her own citizens, and the rest of the world needs to know.
NBC is fortunate to have such an esteemed, beloved journalist in their family of networks. Bringing her into the Olympics coverage is, frankly, a no-brainer. Do the right thing, NBC, for the Olympics, and for the Russian people. The world is watching.

Read and sign here.

Labels: journalism, LGBT rights, NBC, Rachel Maddow, Russia, Sochi Olympics, sports

Reposted from Joe

Via JMG: Tricycle Daily Dharma

Tricycle Daily Dharma July 31, 2013

Right Lying

If I’m torn between truth and falsehood, I have to ask myself if the choice I’m leaning toward would be self-serving or selfless, harsh or kind, harmful or harmless. Only then can I know what’s best to do.

- Lin Jensen, "Right Lying"

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Via GayPolitics Report:

Pope urges respect for gays

Pope Francis said in a news conference Monday that gay people should not be marginalized, adding that he had no right to judge them if they have goodwill. While the remarks did not deviate from Catholic teaching on issues of sexual orientation, they represented a clear shift from the tone of Francis’ predecessors, observers say. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)/On Faith (7/29), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/29)

Via JMG: Pope: Who Am I To Judge Gay People?

Pope Francis today refused to condemn gay people during a conversation with reporters on his return flight from Brazil.  Via NBC News:

Pope Francis said “who am I to judge?” gay people as he discussed one of the most divisive issues affecting the Catholic Church Monday. “I have yet to find anyone who has a business card that says he is gay,” the pontiff said at a press conference on his plane while returning from Brazil, where he talked about a number of subjects. “They say they exist. If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” he added. The official position of the Catholic Church on the issue is that while homosexual desires or attractions are not in themselves sinful, the physical acts are.

And now we'll get several days of interpretations of what the Pope really meant.
UPDATE: Here the same item as reported by the BBC.  

Pope Francis has said gay people should not be judged or marginalised. Speaking to reporters on a flight back from Brazil, he said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?" He also referred to the teachings of the Roman Catholic church, which say that while homosexual acts are sinful, homosexual orientation is not. The Pope's remarks are being seen as much more conciliatory than his predecessor's position on the issue.

UPDATE II: And here's the story from Associated Press, which provides some much needed context.

Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn't judge priests for their sexual orientation in a remarkably open and wide-ranging news conference as he returned from his first foreign trip. "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked. While stressing Catholic social teaching that calls for homosexuals to be treated with dignity and not marginalized, Francis said it was something else entirely to conspire to use private information for blackmail or to exert pressure. Francis was responding to reports that a trusted aide was involved in an alleged gay tryst a decade ago. He said he investigated the allegations according to canon law and found nothing to back them up. But he took journalists to task for reporting on the matter, saying the allegations concerned matters of sin, not crimes like sexually abusing children.

Labels: Catholic Church, homosexuality, Pope Francis

Reposted from Joe