“For the way the Church has treated them”
Pastoral coordinator at Palm Springs parish apologizes to homosexuals
A woman religious who serves as pastoral coordinator at the largest Catholic parish in Palm Springs has apologized for the way some Church leaders have treated homosexuals, comparing them to the Japanese unjustly interred during World War II and African-Americans in the Deep South before the civil rights movement.
Sister Diane Smith, a member of the sisters of Saint Joseph Carondolet, is pastoral coordinator at St. Theresa Parish in Palm Springs. Pastoral coordinators, appointed by the bishop, administer parishes when no priest to available to serve as pastor. It is a means by which some bishops deal with the priest shortage.
Sr. Smith’s apology was published in the Sunday, May 29, parish bulletin. Sr. Smith referenced an email she had received from a woman, presumably Catholic, who had made making amends to homosexuals “for the way the Church has treated them” one of her goals in life. “I have been deeply touched that so many of our gay and lesbian community have stayed in the church as active participants not only at worship but in the many ministries here at St. Theresa,” wrote Sr. Smith. “I, too, would like to apologize on behalf of the Church. For anyone who has been hurt by a member of Church leadership I also apologize.”
H/t AQ, read further at, California Catholic Daily...
Photo from kreuz.net...