Global Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches ( MCC ), the Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, spoke out today in response to a "senior Vatican official" who said the Vatican was urging the White House to disinvite openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson and "Nuns on the Bus" leader, Sister Simone Campbell, from the event to welcome the Pope at the White House on Tuesday morning.
According to the Wall Street Journal, an unnamed "senior Vatican official" said the White House should disinvite Bishop Robinson and Sister Simone because they might seek a photo op with Pope Francis that would imply approval of LGBTQ people or nuns who seek more leadership roles for women.
"As one of the LGBTQ faith leaders who will be at the White House on Tuesday morning to welcome the Pope, I want to let the Vatican and the world know that we will be present to offer hospitality and respect to Pope Francis," said the Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson, Global Moderator of MCC.
"Will we be pushing our way to the front? Perhaps we should. In the Bible, the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment was a social outcast who fought for her moment with Jesus. Although we know that the Pope is not Jesus, we know a word from Pope Francis about the right to life for LGBTQ people in Africa, Eastern Europe, and the USA could reduce hate, and save so many lives.
"As the Global Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, I speak for LGBTQ people around the world who are literally dying for the Pope to take the next step after his 'Who am I to judge?' statement and say, 'LGBTQ people are created in the image of God and deserve to live without fear of prison, persecution, or execution.'"
Founded in 1968, Metropolitan Community Churches ( MCC ) has been at the vanguard of civil and human rights movements by addressing issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, economics, climate change, aging and global human rights. MCC was the first to perform same gender marriages and has been on the forefront of the struggle towards marriage equality in the US and ot
