Into the fiery furnace

Bishop Jaime Soto, the coadjutor Bishop of Sacramento, recently went to speak to the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries conference in Long Beach, California. At the website of the Diocese of Sacramento, you can read the full text of his speech.

His Lordship criticised the contraceptive culture, asserted the value of marriage and the family, and promoted the virtue of chastity. Regarding sexual expression in same-sex relationships, he said:
Let me be clear here. Sexual intercourse, outside of the marriage covenant between a man and a woman, can be alluring and intoxicating but it will not lead to that liberating journey of true self-discovery and an authentic discovery of God. For that reason, it is sinful. Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distract them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all. For this reason, it is sinful.
At the California Catholic Daily, there is a report of the meeting. Apparently, "at least five" people walked out and a board member of the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries said:
"On behalf of the board, I apologize. We had no idea Bishop Soto was going to say what he said."
It is rather a shame that they had no idea that a Catholic Bishop would straightforwardly give the teaching of the Catholic Church. Congratulations to Bishop Soto for going along and doing just that.

Perhaps they were expecting that a Catholic Bishop would say something different?

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