Guadalajara is known as one of the bulwarks of Catholicism in Mexico, and maybe because of that fact it is also the base of a strong, well organized and proud gay community.
After the widely diffused statement by Pope Francisco last week about being “nobody to judge gay people,” The Reporter probed the pulse of members of the Tapatio gay community on his message.
According to Luis Guzman, vice-president of the influential organization for diversity respect Cohesion de Diversidades AC (Codise), the Pope’s words were taken out of context by the auspicious media.“It was not even a statement in a strict definition. He was responding to a direct question of the press, and worldwide, the media has echoed this phrase. I do understand that in some way that’s good for everybody. It makes the leader of Catholic Church look like a good man”.
Guzman makes clear that no mater what the Pope said, in no way has the posture of Church changed about its stance on “homosexual activities.” He admits though, that the widely spread statement, will definitely help the common man to have a different view of homosexual people.
“If the Pope, the first man of religion, says that he is not supposed to judge gays, we can expect that some conservative tapatios might follow him”, said Guzman. “Its not much, but its a plus.”
Alejandro, a young journalist and human rights activist is not that optimistic. “Since he was elected, it has been evident that the new Pope wants to appear as a warm man, who is down to earth, different from Benedict XVI; but if you read the whole interview it makes clear that things are, and will be the same. There’s nothing new in fact, the Church has said before that they have nothing against homosexuals, but we are sinners for being as we are, and only gay people who approach the Church will be saved. That is not tolerance.”
Karla, a stage artist and drama teacher with a bachelor in communications agrees with the idea that the Pope’s personal opinion does not make much of a difference. “He may be not judgmental, but that doesn’t change the stand of the Catholic Church, which has very clear and rigid guidelines,” she says with obvious skepticism.
Diego, a highly educated Catholic lawyer with a long career in public service, who now works for federal government, believes that the official posture of Rome will take a long time to change. But the Pope’s words do bring a glimmer of hope for Diego, who was raised in and embraces this faith in Guadalajara. “Things in religion move very slowly. Centuries have passed with absolutely no change in this sensible topic. But any small measure of sympathy is a big improvement”, he says with a tinge of hope.