As a catholic you surely missed the mark I am atheist but went to a cathotlc school and I know for a fact Bible outlaws homosexuality. 1 Romans 27, 1 Timothy 1:10 to name a few. Even as an atheist I now what quoted in Leviticus was a covenant for that period and don't apply today. I have so much respect for these men willing to miss such a crucial game in the season for their beliefs. If there was a an Islamic symbols of Jerseys I will have no issues for a gay person not wanting to wear it.I’m a Catholic. Nowhere in the bible does it state homosexuality is forbidden. In places where it is mentioned, such as Leviticus, it is specific to a certain group of people, in particular Hebrew priests - although the code of Leviticus is superseded by the commandment to follow Jesus.
In the New Testament, the one brief mention is theorised by many scholars as a strike against the then-common practice of adult men having sex with young boys. It never specifically mentions that all same-sex relationships are bad - love thy neighbour is a much more common theme, and there are no qualifications to that command.
Now of course the church has historically been at the forefront of the persecution of same sex attracted people, and it is to their great shame. In my opinion it is based on at best a misinterpretation of the original sacred texts, and at worst a wilful misreading to codify the prejudice of early senior members of the clergy. It’s abhorrent, but to the current Pope’s credit, they are righting some of the wrongs of the past by saying that we should welcome and live all people regardless of their orientation, and that simply being same sex attracted is not a sin. There’s still progress that needs to be made, but I have hope.
To be a Christian is to believe that the Pope is God’s messenger. As he has said that we should love and welcome everyone regardless of sexual orientation, I’m afraid hiding behind religious beliefs doesn’t wash with me. To do so is to cling on to the old beliefs that even the church has moved on from.
Oh and one final thing - the church has always banned sex outside marriage - it’s one of the 10 commandments. If any of the Manly 7 have ever had a one night stand, they’ve committed a far graver sin in the eyes of God than wearing a jersey with a few rainbow stripes.
They’re hypocrites, cowards, and they deserve all the condemnation they’re going to receive. They’re using religion to cover for homophobia and I’m f**king sick of it.