When Bishop Jaime Soto was invited to be the keynote speaker at the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries conference, attendees were expecting him "to explore the grace-full life in which Jesus loves us and saves us."
At least that's what the brochure for the September event promised.
Instead, the soon-to-be bishop of Sacramento shared a clear presentation of Church teaching on sexuality.
“Sexual relations between people of the same sex can be alluring for homosexuals, but it deviates from the true meaning of the act and distracts them from the true nature of love to which God has called us all,” Soto told the Long Beach, Calif., crowd. “For this reason, it is sinful. Married love is a beautiful, heroic expression of faithful, life-giving, life-creating love. It should not be accommodated and manipulated for those who would believe that they can and have a right to mimic its unique expression."
At least five members of the audience walked out during the bishop’s address, according to news reports. And a board member apologized, saying, "We had no idea Bishop Soto was going to say what he said."
Jeff Johnston, gender issues analyst for Focus on the Family, applauded Soto's courage.
"He explained beautifully God’s design for sexuality and marriage," he said. "He gently taught about how sin and our culture have distorted God’s design, and he invited the listeners to participate in the transforming life of the Church."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the full text of Bishop Soto's speech.
Through conferences, education, counseling and research, Focus on the Family's Love Won Out team strives to uphold God's design for sexuality in a way that transforms lives.
— Jennifer Mesko
(NOTE: Referral to Web sites not produced by Focus on the Family is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the sites' content.)
