comment: >
  
  So what they're basically saying is that they're the only ones allowed to discriminate gay people? They denounce laws (on which they should have no say at all) while still not allowing same sex marriages, gay priests, etc. etc.
context: At first, I thought the headline said "announce" instead of denounce and I got a bit worried... >
  
  Well, ok, now for my thoughts on the article...
  I haven't kept up with recent events, but as I recall, the Roman Catholic Church, in the catechism, defines homosexuality as being "intrinsically disordered" and forbids gay people from receiving communion (as though such a prohibition could ever be enforced...)
  Now I stipulate that statement by saying I have not kept up with recent events.... maybe something has changed that I am not aware of. But assuming that the Church's stance on homosexuality is the same, then I hardly trust them to speak as an objective authority on LGBT issues. 
  The Anglican and Presbyterian Churches I really don't know anything about their positions on homosexuality. I'm Catholic, so that's why I know the Catholic Church's position.
  NOW, this IS a very important event, because it is demonstrating ecumenism, cooperation, and shared priorities across Churches/communions. "Joint statements" such as this one coming from the highest authorities of three different denominations would have been unheard of as recently as 60 years ago, maybe even 40 years ago (pre Nostra Aetate) >
  
  Presbyterian:
  ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
  In 2014, the General Assembly passed a measure that permits ministers and sessions (local church government), “to use their own discernment to conduct same-sex marriage ceremonies where allowed by law.” In addition, the General Assembly recommended an amendment to update the description of marriage in the denomination’s Book of Order so that it would no longer exclude same-sex couples. Effective June 2015, the amendment to the Book of Order updates the description of marriage as “a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman.” The latter was added during debate of the amendment on the floor of the General Assembly out of respect to the denomination’s more conservative members.
  ON NON-DISCRIMINATION
  At the 223rd General Assembly in St. Louis in June 2018, the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted unanimously on resolution calrifying the church's position that "religious freedom is not a license for discrimination against any of God’s people, and cannot justify the denial of secular employment or benefits, healthcare, public or commercial services or goods, or parental rights to persons based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or gender expression."
  ON ORDINATION
  In 2010 the General Assembly approved an amendment that allows ordination of openly LGBTQ ministers at the discretion of individual presbyteries and sessions, essentially allowing each congregation the decision to ordain or not. The amendment was ratified in 2011, following approving votes from a majority of presbyteries. In 1996, Erin Swenson became the first transgender minister to serve in the Presbyterian Church (USA) when members voted to continue her ministry following her transition from male to female. The denomination’s history of ordaining women as elders reaches back to 1883. >
  
  Of the four main Presbyterian denominations, the PCA, OPC, and EPC differ with the PCUSA on the issue. For those not aware. So not entirely encompassing of all Presbyterians. >
  
  You are correct, the others have elected to continue hatred (i.e. "conservatism.") So,  I wanted to see how many of each denomination there are. PCUSA = 1.7 Million. PCA = 371K. ECO = 115K. EPC = 125K.  So, PCUSA, the "liberal" one is about 3 times bigger than the others combined. Sad that so many left the mainstream denomination to continue hate. >
  
  Totally thought the headline was a lead in for a joke! >
  
  I wonder how much cynicism is going on here >
  
  About as much as a group of old white men can offer in the face of the knowledge that 5% of your workforce is a convicted or accused pedophile (Catholics). >
  
  Then walked into a bar... >
  
  Religion poisons everything. >
  
  I’m all for freedom of religion and all that and was raised Catholic, but the fact that this is noteworthy in 2023 still kinda baffles me. Why does humanity still put so much faith (no pun intended) in these people, their religions, and their backwards beliefs? >
  
  Protestant churches in Europe allow gay marriages and gay pastors and bishops since a long time. Glad to see our more conservative Christian brothers follow suit in the usual slow tempo. >
  
  The episcopal church (US Anglican Protestantism) basically broke from the anglicans when they ordained gay bishops. So there are American Protestant churches that are fine with gay people, too. >
  
  Note that this is not them supporting pro-LGBT laws. The pope has absolutely no interest in equality, and being slightly less homophobic, bigoted, and hate filled than they were a decade ago is not something worthy of kudos for these bigots. >
  
  Actually, any move away from bigotry should be celebrated. 
  If it’s always “not enough” then they’ll just give up. >
  
  "Don't lock gay people up in jail." is really just an anti-religious extremist/bigotry message. 
  Like when the Pope told folks to stop murdering their Jewish neighbors and that Jews don't actually eat Christian babies during the middle-ages. 
  The people committing violent acts against minorities using the church as their authority have historically drawn the ire of religious leaders who aren't keen on having blood on their hands. >
  
  Let's start with allowing lgbtq cardinals and pope.
  Edit: meant to highlight that them denouncing is just a show. >
  
  George Carlin still ahead of his time. (written ~1996 the language used < message).      " ...Catholics and other Christians are against abortions, and they're against homosexuals. Well who has less abortions than homosexuals?! Leave these fucking people alone, for Christ sake! Here is an entire class of people guaranteed never to have an abortion! And the Catholics and Christians are just tossing them aside!"
  Also: how do I insert a quote with the blue line on the margin? >
  
  I think this is a big step in the right direction in restoring the credibility of Christianity. There are going to be a lot of cynics, but this statement opens the door for so much more. >
  
  They are just saying people shouldn't be executed for being gay, which is consistent with their respective faiths' traditional teachings. For example, the Catholic Church has traditionally made a distinction between being attracted to members of the same sex and acting on that attraction. While the former is not considered a sin the latter is, which is what Pope Francis reiterated in the article. The Pope still believes that gay relationships are inherently sinful and letting gay people get married or adopt kids threatens the very moral fabric of society. However, the Catholic Church also opposes the death penalty, even for what it considers egregious sins. >
  
  Criminalization is not the same thing as execution. Laws that prevent gay people from, for instance, achieving a civil Union in a secular setting are the types of laws the pope is denouncing. While the pope may not agree with the specific instances you are citing from a religious perspective, this statement is clearly implying that religious doctrine should be considered separate from secular governments. “Threatening the very moral fabric of society” is too big of an extrapolation. If that is true, then this statement would never have been made. If we take the church as the “guardian of morality”, then it should be a mandate for it to interfere with secular governments. Again, this statement implies that secular governments should not take marching orders from the church. While this statement does leave open the door for discrimination by individuals, especially if laws protecting lgbtq+ individuals are not enacted (which they should be), it removes one of the pillars on which anti-gay societies and institutions justify their position. “Oh it’s ordained by the church” not really, the pope specifically condemned these laws. It’s definitely not enough, but it is a large step in the right direction >
  
  Cost of business. They have to keep collecting donations. Religion is delusion.