Gays want Pope's support

2005-08-16 13:59

Cologne - Leading German gay and lesbian organisations said on Tuesday they want to use the Catholic World Youth Day to open dialogue with Pope Benedict XVI.

"Our goal is to ensure that people whose sexual orientation has been given by God are morally supported by the Catholic church", said the groups, which included Germany's Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD) and the Cologne Lesbian and Gay Day (KLuST).

Same-sex loving Christians wanted to live "self-confidently and to be able to love unencumbered", said the groups, which also included the Ecumenical Homosexual and Church Working Group (HuK) and the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).

The European forum of Lesbian and Gay Christian Groups also agreed to the resolution seeking talks with the pope.

Pope condemns homosexuality

Since being elected pope in April, Benedict has reaffirmed the conservative stance towards homosexuality taken by his predecessor, John Paul II.

But many lesbians and gays who are committed Catholics say they suffer and feel rejected as a result of the pope's hard-line view on homosexuality.

The pope is due to arrive in Cologne on Thursday to join more than 400 000 young Catholics from 197 countries who are expected to attend the six-day festival in the Rhineland city.

Ahead of the event, World Youth Day secretary general Heiner Koch also called for the church leadership to forge a better relationship between the church and gays and lesbians.

"We need dialogue," Koch said in interview with the Cologne daily Express Tuesday. "I wish for a relaxation in the relationship," he said. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA