When in Rome ... World Pride 2000
If one chose this week to do what the Romans do, along with floods of Catholics on pilgrimages celebrating the height of Millennium Jubilee and along with hundreds of thousands of gays and lesbians flocking to participate in World Pride 2000, one would be in quite crowded and volatile streets.
As both groups descend upon Rome, or more specifically the Vatican, they share a common goal of destination, but rather disparate plans for action upon their arrival.
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Fast Fact "It is time for the Church to recognize that the right to sexual identity is a civil right that must not be denied..." Father D'Amico calling for "a new focus in the Church." |
Although the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality was not stated as a basis for choice of Rome and The Vatican for location of this year's March, the Church's stance was certainly on the agenda.
One of the scheduled conferences "Homosexuality, Religion and Minority Freedoms" was attended by Father Severino D'Amico, a Catholic priest who addressed the panel against the orders of his Archbishop, Silvano Piovanelli.
Another Catholic priest, Father Gianni Baget Bozzo, spoke on the topic of homosexuality in the priesthood, describing it as "widespread."
Bozzo has been an outspoken advocate of what he calls "a new approach to the problem of homosexuality" for the Catholic Church. His approach seeks to find a middle ground between the present condemnation of homosexual acts and "calls to accept homosexuality."
In an attempt to clarify its official position on homosexuality one of Pope John Paul II's closest advisors re-published the oxymoronic statement that "while homosexuality itself was not condemned, homosexual acts were."
The Church also continued its attempts to quiet priests who criticize the Church's position, including Bishop Jacques Galliot who was scheduled to speak at one of the conferences. Galliot was previously stripped of his diocese five years ago for his support of those who criticize the Church's stance and further revealed that he was ordered by the Vatican not to attend the conference or the World Pride March.
Gay and lesbian marchers and supporters had hoped to be able to march by the Roman Colosseum but Vatican pressure on Rome officials was sufficient to ensure that the required permission would not be granted.
In response March organizers planned to protest the substitute route by staging a demonstration at the Colosseum while 65,000 visiting Poles held religious ceremonies inside the monument, but apparently changed their minds as no such protest cured.
March organizers have estimated that 250,000, gays, lesbians and supporters made the trip to Rome for this celebration, mostly from within Italy and other parts of Europe.
In pride,
Deborah
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