Catholics should promote gay rights says Mexican bishop

The leaders of Mexico’s Catholic Church have generally been at the forefront of putting down gay rights. Yet one prominent bishop has bucked the trend and has spoken in favor of Mexico's gays.

In remarks made to Mexico’s Milenio, Saltillo bishop Raul Vera called on Catholics to recognize the rights of gay individuals. Vera claimed that Mexico’s LGBT community faces “major discrimination” which he observed first hand during the debate over same-sex marriage. As he recalled during a speech at a recent U.S. gay rights conference:

“Uno de estos momentos críticos fue acompañarlos cuando se desató una campaña homofóbica de parte de los buenos católicos para impedir la legalización de las uniones entre personas de la comunidad lésbico-gay”, dijo el Obispo…

“Tuve que aceptar lo que me vendría encima de parte de los buenos católicos que me acusaron ante la Nunciatura, pero salí a la defensa de su dignidad y los derechos que como ciudadanos tienen.
Translation – “On of the most important moments was to accompany (Mexican homosexuals) in the face of a homophobic campaign by good Catholics to impede same-sex civil unions” said the bishop…

“I had to accept that good Catholics would accuse me in front of the nunciature but I came out in defense of the dignity of gays and the rights they have as citizens.”

Vera has previously spoken out against leaders of Mexico’s Catholic archdiocese; last month, he blasted the Church for issuing a statement critiquing women who wear “provocative clothes.” Yet at times Vera does see eye-to-eye with church leaders like when he spoke out against a local public plan to distribute condoms.

Vera’s work in defense of human rights has been praised by the Mexican representative of the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights.

Image- Vanguardia

Sources (English)- The Latin Americanist, SignOnSanDiego.com

Sources (Spanish)- Vanguardia, El Tiempo, Milenio, CIMAC Noticias