Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the US military archdiocese has spoken out against the effort to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" rule on gay relationships. The move sets up a possible conflict between Pentagon brass and the 285 Roman Catholic priests who serve on active-duty in the military, the Daily Caller sayd.
"Those with a homosexual orientation can expect respect and treatment worthy of their human dignity," said Archbishop Timothy Broglio, Catholic overseer for military chaplains, in a statement released late last week.
"However, unions between individuals of the same gender resembling marriage will not be accepted or blessed by Catholic chaplains."
The statement follows an April 28 letter from 41 retired Army, Air Force and Navy chaplains to President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates saying that repealing the rule would present chaplains with "a profoundly difficult moral choice" - whether to obey God or men.
"Sacrificing the moral beliefs of individuals or their living conditions to respond to merely political considerations is neither just nor prudent especially for the armed forces at a time of war," Broglio said. "Catholics believe that nothing will be done if there is a careful and prudent evaluation of the effects of a change."
"No restrictions or limitations on the teaching of Catholic morality can be accepted," said Broglio. "First Amendment rights regarding the free exercise of religion must be respected."
But Broglio made it clear that compassion would be a top priority as chaplains walk a razor's edge.
"Catholic chaplains must show compassion for persons with a homosexual orientation but can never condone - even silently - homosexual behavior," Broglio said.
"A change might have a negative effect on the role of the chaplain not only in the pulpit, but also in the classroom, in the barracks, and in the office."
SIC: CTHUSA