Bishop Jaime Soto speaks the truth in love about love...

...and sexuality and marriage. Bishop Soto, who is Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento,  gave  a keynote speech to the National Association of Diocesan Gay and Lesbian Ministries meeting in Long Beach on September 18th. Catholic California Daily reports:

When two Catholics from Southern California learned that Sacramento Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto was to be the keynote speaker at the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries conference in Long Beach on Sept. 18, they decided to attend themselves to see and hear the talk in person. They say what they witnessed was a bishop who “courageously but gently” gave a clear presentation of Church teaching on sexuality.
 
After California Catholic Daily reported on Bishop Soto’s plans to attend and speak at the conference (“Birds of a feather?” Sept. 15, 2008), many readers expressed disapproval or worry over how to interpret the soon-to-be Bishop of Sacramento’s decision. Bishop Soto will take over the diocese from retiring Bishop William Weigand on Nov. 30. The National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries, based in Berkeley, is a network of local ministries that has the reputation of taking, at best, an ambiguous stance on the moral character of homosexuality and homosexual acts.
 
But there was noting ambiguous about Bishop Soto’s remarks to the group. “Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,” Bishop Soto said. “For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression."
 
At least five members of the audience walked out during the bishop’s address. When he finished speaking, there was general silence -- with only a very small number applauding.
 
The chairman of the conference then announced that the bishop would answer questions at a reception that would be held in another room. That led to widespread expressions of disapproval from members of the audience, who said they wanted to be able to express their responses immediately. It was agreed that those who wanted to speak would line up. The bishop was told twice by the chairman that he was free to leave if he wanted -- or to stay and listen. Bishop Soto stayed and sat quietly listening to every response.

Read the entire report.

Be sure to read Bishop Soto's complete address, which is excellent.

Related IgnatiusInsight.com Articles, Excerpts, & Interviews:        
• Human Sexuality and the Catholic Church | Introduction to The Conjugal Act as a Personal Act | Donald P. Asci
• The Truth About Conscience | John F. Kippley
• Practicing Chastity in an Unchaste Age | Bishop Joseph F. Martino
• Authentic Freedom and the Homosexual Person | Dr. Mark Lowery
• Homosexual Orientation Is Not a "Gift" | James Hitchcock
• Can I Quote You On That? Talking to the Media About Homosexuality and the Priesthood | Mark Brumley

Comments

[LJ]

Bravo Bishop Soto! It took courage to go there and speak the truth. God bless you.

[Jack Smith]

I've heard Bishop Soto give the keynote at two events you'd expect a squish presentation.
In each case his talk was an outstandingly beautiful witness to Christ that was strong yet appealed to a very mixed audience. This is a great gift for a preacher and bishop.

[Deacon Harold]

Sacramento is truly blessed.

[Nestor]

While I was posting a comment, I noticed that one of those who sent one previously admitted his homosexual tendency. His name is Chris. I wanted him to know that personally, I consider it a quiet heroism he is offering to the Mystical Body of which the faithfuls are all part of. So, in effect, aside from his great effort to fight temptation for his own salvation, I feel he is doing us a great favor by keeping his spot in the Mystical Body healthy for the overall strength of the whole Body.

From the little that I know about the intricate and complicated situation they are in [from emotional, psychological and medical perspective], they cannot entirely be blamed why are like that. So, the more admiration I have for them when they fight against that plague and they deserve all the help we can provide - no less than the support we give to the soldiers fighting in Iraq.

May our Lord sustain him. May our Blessed Mother give him strength to help turn the tide in this vicious Spiritual Battle we all find ourselves in.