05/10/2007
Gays in Brazil Protest Pope's Arrival
Gays in the state of Bahia, Brazil marked Pope Benedict XVI's arrival in the country with a protest at the Cathedral of Salvador in the city's Pelourinho section on Wednesday.
According to German Press Agency DPA, "The group said the cathedral property was used to torture and murder homosexuals during the colonial period, when the Catholic church judged them as 'heretics' for violating its dogma. The organization's president, Marcelo Cerqueira, said the protests would also be aimed at other rules, reaffirmed by Benedict XVI, such as the condemnation of divorce and the use of birth-control pills and condoms. 'It is a criticism against the (Church's) positions and in favour of freedom,' he said. Cerqueira stressed that his group was not against Catholics, but against the conservative positions represented by the pope, 'who sows discord and is culpable for many victims infected with the HIV virus,
and for many unwanted pregnancies.' He said the Vatican's policies 'heighten hatred and homophobia,' and noted that a homosexual is killed every two days in Brazil, often by stabbings and gunshots."
And in Sao Paolo, where the Pope arrived, activists assembled in Republica Square with colorful banners declaring "homophobia is a sin" and "Jesus Loves Gays".
The Pope is in Brazil until May 13th.
Posted 8:39 AM EST by Andy Towle in Brazil, Catholic Church, News, Pope Benedict, Religion | Permalink
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pretty sure that other sign reads:
HYPOCRISY ARRIVES!
CONDOM (lit. "little shirt") IS HEALTH!
Posted by: elliott | May 10, 2007 10:26:20 AM
I love the guys in the lower pics. They remind me of Mush Mouth from Fat Albert and the Cosby kids.
Posted by: Matt | May 10, 2007 10:56:37 AM
The banner on the right says "homophobia is a sin", the banner on the left says "enough of hypocrisy! condoms are health".
And, nothing personal, but as a long-time resident of São PAULO I get tired of American media spelling the name wrong!
Posted by: Michael | May 10, 2007 10:56:51 AM
Elliott, it says "enough with hipocrisy."
Posted by: xtc | May 10, 2007 10:58:42 AM
Brazil I am so proud of you. Down with Catholic dogma!
Posted by: JLS | May 10, 2007 11:12:09 AM
Wow, when Papa Ratzi loses control of Spain, Ireland and Brazil, you know the Vatican is in meltdown.
Posted by: Zeke | May 10, 2007 12:55:51 PM
Wow, some fat ass tranny burning the Pope in effigy. And you wonder why no one takes us seriously.
Posted by: MARK | May 10, 2007 1:33:16 PM
Mark, Somehow I doubt you would be as outraged if it were the Pope burning a "fat ass tranny" at the stake.
I don't know what makes anti-gay not take us seriously (actually I think they DO take us seriously; why else would they obsess about over us so much?) but I have no doubt what makes people not take YOU seriously.
Posted by: Zeke | May 10, 2007 1:41:38 PM
Zeke,
Your a legend in your own mind. Catholics aren't "obsessed" with you sweetie. You're obsessed with playing the "victim".
Catholics aren't anti-gay... they are opposed to gay marriage. To each his own... Boo fucking hoo! A dogma i don't practice or even believe in doesn't like me! How will i go on Scarlet???
You seem awfully concerned and angry about a religion that's not even yours... and, when was the last time any pope burned a tranny at the stake??? huh??? date, time, details please??? Your just on another one of your hyperbolic rants. If the gay community wants to have responsibly dialog with the Catholic Church, then burning the Pope in effigy isn't exactly a good way to get the conversation started. Although i don't see any point in conversing with the Vatican anyway. I'm not Catholic! I also have no desire to meet Richard Gere, you see... i am not a buddist either. get it!
Posted by: MARK | May 10, 2007 2:23:59 PM
You tell 'em, Zeke.
I couldn't help but visualize the Pope (with an satanic smile on his face) sacrificing the poor tranny...oh, my Lord...LOL Tell you what, the tranny'd be cussin' his holiness till all the faggots have burned to cinders.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | May 10, 2007 2:39:51 PM
Sorry, I don't feed trolls.
Posted by: Zeke | May 10, 2007 3:00:25 PM
one can only hope Benny sneaks out at night in his prada shorts and wakes up the next morning on the beach freshly cut with one less liver.
Posted by: A.J. | May 10, 2007 3:53:50 PM
AJ,
first... its PRADA SHOES!
second...we have two kidneys, but only ONE liver.
Other then that... your argument is sound.
Posted by: mark | May 10, 2007 5:56:50 PM
Hmm... Why be concerned over "a religion that isn't even mine"?? How 'bout because none of us live in a bubble??!!
With 5 (that's over half, honey) UNITED STATES Supreme Court Justices that *just happen to be* Catholic, I have GREAT concern over what these fanatics might think. Especially with the Pope's penchant for issuing edicts about how good Catholics should vote in politics.
Just because 21st century gay people in the US have yet to experience concentration camps- or the Iquisition- doesn't mean that it can't happen.
Posted by: Dean | May 10, 2007 6:46:13 PM
I cannot believe what is going on in Brasil with these gay protesters. Yes, it is very terrible that gays are discriminated against but if you ignorant people knew that in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it states that homosexuals "must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition." -2358
Here in the United States, our council of catholic bishops is actually trying to help homosexuals live good, pure and christian lives. It is hard for me to understand how they could hate the pope for not allowing gay marriage (which god never mentioned to exist) and promiscuous activity!
Posted by: omofilofilos | May 11, 2007 1:48:42 AM
Here in the United States, our council of catholic bishops is actually trying to help homosexuals live good, pure and christian lives.-omofilofilos
Uh, yeah... right.
And God also never mentions evolution, television, North and South America... or Mars for that matter. However, I- at least- am certain that all of these things exist.
You did give me one laugh (albeit one I've had before) by railing against gay marriage AND promiscuity. By all means... keep gay people from forming legally recognized relationships and then demean them for being promiscuous.
I suggest if you're such a die-hard Catholic then you probably shouldn't be cruising the gay blogs.
Posted by: Dean | May 11, 2007 3:06:44 AM
Yeah, trying to get us to live, "good, pure and christian lives" through celebacy and "conversion" "therapy".
Spare me the compassion trolling.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 1:32:53 PM
I was just there 2 weeks ago--really an amazing place. Wish I could be there to protest.
The signs read:
"Stop with hipocracy! Condoms are health!"
and
"Jesus loves the gays!"
Posted by: journeybrasil | May 11, 2007 3:17:14 PM
No, im pretty sure that the catholic bishops of america are against conversion therapy, and im not saying gay people shouldnt have some form of secular marriage like civil unions, but it shouldnt be performed by the church is what i'm saying. On another note: celibacy is a virtue that many of us should take seriously because it is a form of purity of the body. We should be pure when we recieve God into our soul and body through communion to fully understand and love him. Just before the end of 2006, the catholic bishops released a statment called "Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination" to guide priests to teach catholics that homosexuality is not a sin, and homosexuals shouldnt be discriminated for who they are!
Posted by: omofilofilos | May 11, 2007 4:27:33 PM
So, I'm allowed[sic] by the Catholics to have a secular same-sex relationship but I'm not allowed to ask for God's blessing and guidance on it? How very... "Christian" of them.
I am well aware of the Catholic stance on homosexuality. You're partly right... they don't believe it is a sin to be homosexual. They DO, however, believe it is a sin to engage in homosexual relationships. Well, to quote a comedic line...
"The Pope says it's okay to be homosexual just not to practice homosexuality. Well, that's fine. I think it's okay to be Catholic just not to practice Catholicism."
Religions as a whole or by the church are free to believe whatever they like. If I don't agree with their beliefs, I don't have to attend their church. HOWEVER... they should know that if they insist on trying to make their individual beliefs into laws then they WILL continue to have a fight on their hands.
Posted by: Dean | May 12, 2007 3:23:41 AM
OMOFILOFILOS, Where are you getting your information my friend? You are saying things that are patently and absolutely NOT true. I think you need to do more investigation into the Church's/Bishop's/Pope's position on homosexuality, especially the more recent one's. You can repeat this information ad nauseam but it doesn't make it true.
And who are you to say that, "it shouldnt be performed by the church is what i'm saying"? Who put you, or the Catholic church in charge of what other churches do and don't do? My denomination, the United Church of Christ, support FULL legal and FULL spiritual marriage equality. Unitarians, Meeting of Friends (Quakers), Disciples of Christ, Some American Baptist, Some Episcopal, The Church of Sweden, the United Church of Canada and other faith groups/congregations support marriage equality.
Passing marriage equality laws would in no way impinge on the religious freedom of the Catholic church or any other church that is against gay marriage. IT WILL however impinge on their ASSUMED authority to dictate what all other churches do. And the law, as it stands now, DOES IMPINGE on the religious freedom of churches who support marriage equality.
THAT my friend is the Inconvenient Truth.
Posted by: Zeke | May 12, 2007 8:08:55 AM
I have no doubt that, at some point in the future, the Catholic Church will have to add homosexuals to the LONG list of people that they have to apologize to for the pain and oppression that they inflicted on them as a result of scientific ignorance and misguided religious beliefs.
I won't be around to hear it but I have no doubt it's coming.
Posted by: Zeke | May 12, 2007 8:13:42 AM
the Catholic Church doesn't believe it can govern over the authority and actions of Schismatic and recently-created churches such as those you just listed ZEKE. Tho I do agree that the Catholic church should allow governments to allow civil unions for gays to allow gays in relationships to have the same secular benefits of marriage.
One thing i know the catholic church will never approve of is any type of sexual activity outside of marriage, whether hetero or homosexual. Why it is that some Catholic Churches are focusing more on how bad homosexual sex is instead of also including how bad straight premarital sex in their sermons is something I don't know, but i hope that they correct.
The Catholic Church believes (to some degree) that homosexuals are born the way they are just as heteros are born the way they are too, it is okay to be in a gay relationship, have a boyfriend/girlfriend, kiss each other, etc., but when it comes to sex, we should try to resist it for the virtue of chastity. Personally, i think chastity is a virtue destined for the very pious and holy, but for most people it should be a lesser sin that would be forgiven through the sacrament of confession (such as swearing). Sexual acts to me doesn't seem as that bad of a sin, yet resisting it is an amazing form of holiness and will power (which is why the Catholic Church supports chastity.)
Posted by: omofilofilos | May 12, 2007 3:05:41 PM
Recently created? The UCC is the direct descendant of the Puritans from the 1600's. I don't know how that is considered to be recently created. It's clear that you have absolutely no knowledge outside of your misunderstanding of Catholic doctrine.
Regardless of what you know, or think you know about the Catholic church and other churches, I say AGAIN, the Catholic church and NO OTHER church has the right to limit the religious expression of any other church. Do what ever the hell you want to do as a Catholic, just keep your religious beliefs out of my government, out of my constitution, out of my my rights and out of my church.
When straight people start living by the "amazing form of holiness" that is chastity, then I will. Hell you can't even keep your priests chaste, or out of the pants of little boys, don't talk to me about the holiness of chastity.
Posted by: Zeke | May 12, 2007 8:22:53 PM
Recently created? The UCC is the direct descendant of the Puritans from the 1600's.- Zeke
LOL, Zeke. Somehow, I think our Catholic friend considers ALL churches- except Catholic- "recently created". In fact, probably still considers Martin Luther a heretic.
I'm willing to bet (uh-oh, gambling, another "sin") that Omo can't explain to me *why* being gay is a sin... WITHOUT resorting to "the Bible says so". MY definition of sin is something that harms someone- either someone else or the individual. Murder, lying, adultery, stealing. Those are sins. I've never really understood how homosexuality fits in with the group... and no one has ever given me a satisfactory explanation. Mainly because there isn't one.
Posted by: Dean | May 12, 2007 9:13:22 PM