LOS ANGELES : Archdiocese Says Statement on Gays Has No Effect Here
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A Vatican statement urging U.S. Catholic leaders to fight legislation that would outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians will not change the more tolerant policies of the archdiocese of Los Angeles, a spokesman said Friday.
“The Vatican announcement will have no effect on any policies or practices of the Los Angeles archdiocese,” Bill Rivera said. “It is intended as a guidance for certain kinds of legislative initiatives, none of which have any effect locally.”
According to news reports, a recent Vatican statement compared homosexuality to mental illness and said governments should deny certain privileges to gays to promote the traditional family and protect society.
Rivera noted that the Los Angeles Archdiocese has opposed discrimination against gays and lesbians in the belief that their sexual orientation is not freely chosen and therefore not sinful.
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