03/13/2024
As an activist, RECOVERED Catholic, SECULAR minister, author, human, and a mom—I cannot let this go regarding Pope Francis and my gentle request is that you spread this around. I posted the following on Facebook, Instagram, and I private messaged the Pope. 🤣
"Pope Francis, asking folks to TOLERATE our LGBTQ+ community is not in alignment with unconditional love—just ask any dog! When one tolerates someone means you accept them although you do not particularly like them. In my view, to be tolerated is a judgement. I paraphrased your recent statement where you suggest blessings could be offered to the LGBTQ+ community under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage is yet another judgement. HOW DARE YOU! Although these are steps in the right direction, you have a long way to go. These statements are unacceptable and NOT enough. By the way, anyone is capable of blessing another. One does NOT need to be ordained to have that ability. Blessings are heart-centered and come from the most powerful energy in existence, which is LOVE. Pope Francis, another serious matter to consider, when you single out the LGBTQ+ community using language such as tolerate and by limiting their participation in sacraments you are telling the world God made a mistake. That YOU JUDGE this community as unworthy; that they are to be treated as such and not to be fully embraced; that they are somehow unacceptable. Not only is this egregious, it is also dangerous. Pope Francis, until you stop judging YOU ARE COMPLICIT when violence and hate crimes are directed toward the LGBTQ+ community. Shame on you!”
Rev. Vera Lauren
