Time magazine’s, Jeff Israely notes:
After acquiring a reputation as an aggressive, doctrine-enforcing Cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI has surprised many with his gentle manner and his writings on Christian love.
Not so fast…
Benedict’s envoy to the United Nations, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, has announced that the Vatican will oppose a proposed U.N. declaration calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals. At first blush, no one should be surprised to find the Catholic Church hierarchy butting heads with gay rights activists. But this particular French-sponsored proposal, which has the backing of all 27 European Union countries, calls for an end to the practice of criminalizing and punishing people for their sexual orientation. Most dramatically, in some countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, homosexuality can be punished by death.
Ah, attachment. It never fails to amaze. And to be fair, traditional Buddhism isn’t all openness and tolerance on this issue either. I wonder, for instance, what it would be like if the Dalai Lama took a decidedly Buddhist stand supporting gay marriage or an even more comprehensive stand on global discrimination of homosexuality.