Catholic Man Subjected To Death Threats For Being Gay Meets Pope Francis

07.06.2022 - 06:59 / starobserver.com.au

Four years after a Catholic man was hounded out of the San Diego Church for being gay, he met Pope Francis last month and spoke at a conference at the Vatican. Aaron Bianco,  a professor of theology at the University of San Diego and a pastoral associate at St. John the Evangelist Church in the Diocese of San Diego, received death threats from right-wing Catholic organisations and had “no fags” spray painted on a wall in his office at the parish.

The harassment and threats forced him to resign from the church in 2018. Last month, Bianco was invited to speak at an international conference on Pope Francis’ 2016 apostolic letter on marriage and family life, Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”). Bianco spoke on the topic ‘Amoris Laetitia and LGBT people ‘ at the conference held in the Vatican from May 11-15, 2022.

. Coincidentally, San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy who had supported Bianco in 2018, was recently named Cardinal by Pope Francis.Aaron Bianco with his partner.In his talk, Bianco, who has been in a committed relationship for the past 17 years, reflected on his experience as a gay man in the Catholic church. “My experiences reflect the deep pain, confusion and joy of many LGBT Catholics. These experiences have led me to a deep love for the Church but also a realistic view of the magisterium and sometimes their unrealistic views of love and sexual morality.

To the LGBT Catholic, this can often lead to dismay and confusion,” said Bianco. Pope Francis (centre) at the conference on Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”) in May 2022.Bianco said that while the quote was a wonderful first step, “in reality, those in the LGBT community believe that God has made them the way they are. In their hearts and consciences, they do not