The prelate states clearly that “being homosexual is not a sin” and maintains that in the Church there has been “greater awareness that a person cannot be discriminated against for being homosexual, nor can we add more suffering to stories that unfortunately have had a lot of suffering.”
«Being homosexual is not a sin. Indeed, it is not. And in that sense, the contribution of Pope Francis has been wonderful, because it has made us realize something that is very important, and that is that the Gospel, the life of faith, is not for those who consider themselves saints, not for those who are fulfilling all the norms from the outside, but for everyone. I think we have become more aware that a person cannot be discriminated against for being homosexual, nor can we add more suffering to stories that unfortunately have had a lot of suffering.»
Marriage and blessings
When asked about the possibility of same-sex marriages being celebrated in the Church, Satué responds that “there will never be a marriage between same-sex people,” since marriage, from the Catholic perspective, is between a man and a woman. “Marriage for us will always be, I believe, man and woman,” he states.
However, in his opinion, “the blessing of people who have a same-sex couple project is a step forward” and he adds that “we will have to find a way to better fit this undeniable reality into our practice.”
«I believe there will never be a marriage between same-sex people, because marriage for us is between a man and a woman. But, well, the blessing of people who have a same-sex couple project yes, in my point of view, is a step forward. That is, marriage for us will always be, I believe, man and woman, but certainly, we will have to find a way to better fit this undeniable reality into our practice.»
Women in the Church
Regarding the role of women, the bishop acknowledges that female ordination “is a door that is currently closed” and that it is not a near possibility. Nevertheless, he points to a prior challenge that he considers urgent:
«I think we have a previous challenge, and that is for women to participate in everything that is possible for them to participate in, and that they still do not participate in, or not sufficiently. It is still news that a woman is head of a Dicastery, there is one. That has to become natural. In our dioceses, there have to be more women in areas of responsibility.»
The interview, which also covers issues such as housing, migration, Málaga’s Holy Week, secularization, or abuses within the Church, thus provides a broad panorama of Satué’s pastoral vision in the diocese of Málaga.