VATICAN SLOWLY CATCHING UP WITH MAJORITY AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC …

… SUPPORT FOR MARRIAGE EQUALITY

CATHOLICS URGED TO MAKE MOST OF FRANCIS’ GLASNOST AND SPEAK UP

Marriage equality advocates have welcomed the Vatican’s more positive policy towards gay and lesbian people, saying it is slowly catching up to the majority of Australian Catholics who support marriage equality.

Pope Francis today released a document that declared “homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community”.

Australian Marriage Equality national spokesperson, Rodney Croome,

“A recent national poll by respecting survey company, Crosby/Textor, found that 67% of Australian Catholics believe same-sex couples should be able to marry.”

“The large majority of Australian Catholics who support marriage equality will welcome the fact that the Vatican is slowly catching up to them.”

“I urge those Catholic clergy and laity who support marriage equality, but have been silent until now, to seize the opportunity offered by the Vatican’s glasnost under Pope Francis’ and speak up.”

The Vatican document on homosexuals asked “are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities?”, but it stopped short of supporting marriage equality.

A copy of the Crosby/Textor research can be found here: http://www.australianmarriageequality.org/crosby-textor-same-sex-marriage-research-2014/
Australian Marriage Equality national director, Rodney Croome