“Opposition to any form of discrimination against homosexuals, while at the same time recalling the fundamental values of the Church in this field”: that’s the position expressed by the Swiss Bishops’ Conference in a document issued in recent days. In their statement the Swiss bishops “express regret for the injustices suffered by homosexual persons and ask for pardon if such discrimination were committed in the name of the Church or of the Christian faith”. The bishops, though disapproving of homosexual acts, declare that they do not reject homosexual persons and recall that “there exist ways of continence that do not humiliate the person, on the contrary they enrich it”. As regard homosexual unions, the Swiss bishops declare that “they do not oppose registration of such unions but the unique character of marriage between man and woman must be protected in an unconditional manner”. In the view of the Swiss episcopate, “a homosexual couple cannot be blessed, since such a rite could resemble sacramental marriage and generate confusion, but anyone, whatever his sexual tendency, may be blessed by God”. Scope for the involvement of homosexuals in the life of the Church is not lacking either: “It’s a matter of discerning on a case by case basis”. However, the bishops declare, “deciding explicitly not to live a life of sexual continence would make homosexuals unsuitable for a ministry in the Church”.
