Bishop of Antwerp uncomfortable with LGBTI award

The leader of Roman Catholics in Antwerp says that he does not wish to receive a prize for something that forms part and parcel of his mission as a bishop.

The Çavaria prize is awarded in recognition of efforts to ensure equal rights for Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and the intersexed.

This year both singer Will Ferdy and the Bishop of Antwerp receive the prize. Çavaria has said that it will not respond to the bishop’s request not to receive it.

It was only last September that the Flemish bishop wrote a remarkable open letter to his colleague bishops on the occasion of a bishops’ synod in Rome.

As part of the pastoral challenges to the family and in the context of evangelism the bishop called for acceptance of homosexuality.

Çavaria spokesman Jeroen Borghs noted that this was an important appeal: “It represents massive support for religious gays and lesbians, their parents and family.”

Flandersnews.be / Expatica