The Archbishop of the southwestern city of Cali has said that Colombia’s Catholic Church must ask for forgiveness for its hurtful treatment of the gay community, according to El Tiempo newspaper.
In an interview with the Colombian daily, the Archbishop steered away from the issue of Church doctrine on homosexuality and focused on the “harmful” judgments and and wounds caused by the institution.
“The Church must better its relations with this community and help society understand that people are not defined by their tendencies or conduct, but rather by their own worth, dignity, rights, and duties,” he said.
According to the priest, the matter is not “doctrinal,” but “relational.”
The priest’s comments come just days after the Vatican released a document in which it challenged the Church to change its attitude toward gays, saying that they have “gift and attributes to offer.”
A Catholic Missionary Church caused controversy when it blessed a gay couple in Bogota back in 2009, a move that was found “unacceptable” by the Archdiocese in the city.
MORE: Gay couple receive blessing of Catholic Missionary Church
The Catholic Church has historically been a powerful and influential institution in Colombian society.