It is a surreal experience to read screeds, such as the one by Mr. Daniel Bartolo (The Times of Malta, 30^th December 2008), replete with misrepresentations and miscomprehensions of the Pope’s words and intentions. Mr. Bartolo makes reference to the Vatican’s opposition to the declaration of the EU at the UN for the universal decriminalization of homosexuality. If he had bothered to look up the facts, he would have found out that the Vatican objected not to the decriminalization of homosexuality but to the draft proposal which “does not just ask for the decriminalization of homosexuality. It also includes a declaration that might put pressure on or discriminate against communities that uphold marriage as only being between a man and a woman.” (http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0806042.htm). It is hard to believe that any sane person would contest the fact that whatever the nature of a homosexual relationship, it is not the same as, or equivalent to, the social and biological bond between a man and a woman. In this context, the Vatican was entirely right to oppose any declaration that may come to be used to equate any homosexual relationship with heterosexual marriage. The shame belongs to the EU and the UN which conspired to put a call for the decriminalization of homosexuality on the same proposal that may be used to equate homosexual relationships with heterosexual conjugality and to put pressure for the international community to do likewise.

Mr. Bartolo also states that the Pope said “that saving humanity from homosexuality and transexuality was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.” The Pope said no such thing. The actual words of the Pope are the following: “È necessario che ci sia qualcosa come una ecologia dell’uomo, intesa nel senso giusto. Non è una metafisica superata, se la Chiesa parla della natura dell’essere umano come uomo e donna e chiede che quest’ordine della creazione venga rispettato. Qui si tratta di fatto della fede nel Creatore e dell’ascolto del linguaggio della creazione, il cui disprezzo sarebbe un’autodistruzione dell’uomo e quindi una distruzione dell’opera stessa di Dio. Ciò che spesso viene espresso ed inteso con il termine “gender”, si risolve in definitiva nella autoemancipazione dell’uomo dal creato e dal Creatore. L’uomo vuole farsi da solo e disporre sempre ed esclusivamente da solo ciò che lo riguarda. Ma in questo modo vive contro la verità, vive contro lo Spirito creatore. Le foreste tropicali meritano, sì, la nostra protezione, ma non la merita meno l’uomo come creatura, nella quale è iscritto un messaggio che non significa contraddizione della nostra libertà, ma la sua condizione. Grandi teologi della Scolastica hanno qualificato il matrimonio, cioè il legame per tutta la vita tra uomo e donna, come sacramento della creazione, che lo stesso Creatore ha istituito e che Cristo – senza modificare il messaggio della creazione – ha poi accolto nella storia della sua alleanza con gli uomini.”

(http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/december/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20081222_curia-romana_it.html). These words have never been quoted by the international press because the original address was in Italian and only a German translation exists. Neither, perhaps, did it suit the purpose of the mainstream media to provide a full and accurate translation of the Pope’s words. Be it as it may, it is clear that the Pope did not equate saving the rainforest from destruction with saving humanity from homosexuality or transexuality. He did not even mention these alternative forms of sexuality. He simply reiterated and affirmed the traditional teachings of the Catholic Church – as is his duty. In any case, his words are entirely reasonable although I stand to be corrected if some luminary were to show me that il legame tra un uomo ed un altro (o tra due donne) e un sacramento della creazione. I wait with bated breath.

Nonetheless, the words of the Pope are for committed Catholics who believe fully in the dogmas and doctrines of the Church. There is no need for any other to pay heed to, or participate in the rites of, the Catholic Church. They can leave such “burdens” for the rest of us faithful Catholics.

On a final note, Mr. Bartolo may be interested to learn that the LGBT cause is harmed, not by the misreported words of a Pontiff abiding by his duty but rather by the tantrums of those who expect the Church to dance to their tune without caring a fig for her messengers and their words.