"The Pope has said, 'Who am I to judge' now must say, "Do no harm!'
Mount Rainier, Maryland and New York, NY — Global faith leaders and advocates have announced a twitter campaign urging Pope Francis to speak out against the recent passage of anti-gay laws around the world.
Pastor Joseph Tolton, Executive Director of The Fellowship Global said, "People of faith and hope from all traditions will tweet the Pope to urge him to make a pronouncement to the world to 'Do no harm!' to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ) people everywhere. The rising tide of draconian laws to criminalize LGBT people and their supporters allow vigilantes to rape, beat and kill people who are suspected of being LGBT with impunity. This must stop!"
"The #PopeSpeakOut campaign will urge the Pope to make a simple and heartfelt statement to stop the persecution," said Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director of New Ways Ministry the Catholic organization spearheading the twitter campaign. "People from so many countries are being forced to flee their homes, and much of the persecution is based on misguided religious beliefs. So many people are looking to the Pope for guidance in this life or death moment."
"We were amazed and gratified when Pope Francis said 'Who am I to judge,' Continued DeBernardo, "The laws against same-gender love in Russia, Uganda, Nigeria and India criminalize our family members and communities. We need a powerful, faith-based statement from Pope Francis to support our freedom and our lives."
According to Pastor Tolton, the #PopeSpeakOut campaign is the first step of a movement called "No More Triangle Nations," a reference to the pink triangle assigned to gay men in Nazi concentration camps during the Holocaust.
"The triangle was adopted by the HIV/AIDS movement in the 1980s to represent the death of gay people driven by a health crisis the U.S. government ignored. Each of these instances resulted in the systematic death and oppression of LGBT people driven by legally sanctioned practices, much like the ones we are witnessing today," said Tolton.
Advocates can join the movement by participating in the campaign and sharing their voices with the Pope. More information can be found by following @NewWaysMinistry.
New Ways Ministry is a 37-year old national Catholic ministry of justice and reconciliation for LGBT people and the wider church community founded by Sister Jeannine Gramick and Father Robert Nugent. For further information, visit www.NewWaysMinistry.org .
The Fellowship Global is a partnership with circles of Christian clergy and LGBTI people in the African Diaspora to express a faith perspective that supports the social, legal, and moral inclusion of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
