January 30, 2014: A Church official in New Delhi has spoken out in support of gay
rights after India's Supreme Court refused to review its earlier verdict criminalizing
gay sex in the country.
The two-member bench on Tuesday rejected the review
petition filed by the federal government and the Naz Foundation seeking a stay on
the court’s December judgment making gay sex an offence punishable by up to 10 years
in prison. The Supreme Court had set aside a 2009 Delhi High Court order decriminalizing
gay sex.
“The church is against making gay sex a criminal act. These people
are human beings and have some rights and entitlements. They should not be barred
from any act and tagged as criminals,” Father Charles Irudayam, secretary of the Indian
bishops’ justice, peace and development, told ucanews.com. The priest said "it is
our duty to show pastoral care for such people."
Following the court's December
ruling, Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Mumbai and president of the Indian bishops’ conference,
said that the church has "never considered gay people criminals."
"As Christians,
we express our full respect for homosexuals. The Catholic Church is opposed to the
legalization of gay marriage, but teaches that homosexuals have the same dignity of
every human being and condemns all forms of unjust discrimination, harassment or abuse,"
Cardinal Gracias said. (Source: UCAN)