La Salle Brothers in Philippines Start LGBT Group; Other International News
While much attention has been given to LGBT rights in the U.S following the election and the U.S. bishops’ meeting, there are several developments internationally to report. Today’s post includes four updates with links to news reports if you would like to read further.
Catholic School in Philippines Starts LGBT Group
A La Salle Brothers school in the Philippines approved BHIVE, an LGBT-oriented group at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, reported the Manila Standard. It is the first school in the Brothers system in that country to take such a step.
Carmelita Lazatin, the College’s Vice Chancellor for Lasallian Mission and Student Life explained that diversity “has always been one of its richest resources for learning and innovation,” and that BHIVE would help “explore the reach of the words ‘inclusive’ and ‘education.'”
John Carlo Lazo, a BHIVE leader, said this approval comes after a five-year process, but now hopes to open “new opportunities for conversation,” as well as providing a safe space for LGBT students. The school is located on several campuses in Manila.
Fiji Archbishop Calls for Respect of LGBT People
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong of Suva in Fiji affirmed the need to respect communities marginalized for their sexual or gender identity, reported The Fiji Times. Chong cited Pope Francis for addressing LGBTI people himself, saying “everyone is the same” and should therefore be respected.
In 2015, Chong, while commenting on pornography, said that the church must provide a”proper positive education on human sexuality,” which teaches that “sexuality is for the purpose of relationships, the physical side of our sexuality is secondary to the emotional relationship.” Chong said further:
” ‘Each person has to develop to be a mature sexual person, whether it’s through masculine or feminine and even homosexuals, they have their own sexual orientation which is a gift from God and through their sexual orientation, they relate to people.’ “
Zambian Bishops Impede HIV/AIDS Prevention
LGBT advocates in Zambia criticized both the nation’s prison system and Catholic officials for the promotion of abstinence as a solution to the higher than average rates of HIV infection found among prisoners, reported AllAfrica. Catholic officials stated that the distribution of condoms as a prevention measure would be considered as promoting homosexual activity.
Fr. Paul Samasumo, speaking for the Zambia Episcopal Conference, said the church supported a policy of using only abstinence education as a prevention method, and the prisons have done so.
Prevention efforts have also been hampered due to the criminalization of homosexuality, a holdover from British colonial rule. Being convicted of same-sex activity carries a punishment of up to 14 years in prison.
English Bishop Cautions Against ‘Ideology of Gender’ in Schools
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury, England wrote a letter to Catholic educators on how to handle gender identity questions in schools, framed by him as “the ideology of gender which underlies transgenderism.” He urged schools not to be “swayed or fall victim to the errors of our times.” It appears that his own understanding of trans realities and questions of gender seems limited.
For all the latest updates on Catholic LGBT issues, subscribe to our blog using the provided “Follow” box in the upper right hand corner of this page. Contact [email protected] with questions and news tips.
–Robert Shine, New Ways Ministry, November 26, 2016
Bishop Davies’ missive is a warning shot across the bow of Catholic educators in the UK (not just in his own diocese), a transparent attempt to intimidate them into toeing the line on transgenderism already set down by Pope Francis.
Are dissenting Catholic educators in the UK now going to suffer the retaliation long meted out to non-conforming LGBT Catholics employed by Church institutions in the US? The loss of their jobs? If Davies is foolish enough to try this tactic here, it will backfire…very, very badly on him; he’ll just make a public fool of himself.
There is much greater awareness of LGBT rights in the UK, and much greater support of these rights.
One thing Pope Francis and Bishop Davies WON’T find here, if trans-students are discriminated against in any way or expelled from schools, is the smell of the sheepish.
“the ideology of gender which underlies transgenderism.” And what is this “ideology of gender”? Sound to me like the churchmen are dabbling in philosophy instead of the human sciences.
Sounds like the La Salle Brothers and the Fiji Archbishop are moving in the right direction. Kudos to them.
Mark Davies has made many homophobic utterances over the years – he has form for this type of intimidation.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2252699/Mark-Davies-Senior-Roman-Catholic-Bishop-links-push-gay-marriage-Nazi-attack-religion.html
Thanks for that reminder of Bishop Davies’ silly, though offensive, flight of fancy.
There is good news, though: sensible and honest people didn’t listen to him; the British Government certainly didn’t and legislated for same-sex marriage.