Philadelphia Archbishop Statement On Anti-Gay Attack Offers No Support For Victims

A statement from the Archbishop of Philadelphia in response to the gay bashing of a young same-sex couple in Center City by a dozen Catholic high school graduates offers not an ounce of apology or even sympathy.

A horrific anti-gay attack in downtown Philadelphia last week, on September 11 no less, has left the LGBT community reeling. The crime would be a hate crime but for Pennsylvania’s antediluvian laws that don’t include sexual orientation in its hate crime statutes. It is believed to have been perpetuated by a gang of twenty-something year olds, about a dozen of them, who are being described in the media and by police as “clean-cut” and “preppy.”

The victims, a gay couple, also twenty-something year olds, had be be treated in the hospital. One will get to eat through a straw for the next two month, his jaw being wired shut thanks to his homophobic attacker.

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One of the assailants was a basketball coach at a local Philadelphia Catholic high school. He was fired — technically given the opportunity to resign in lieu of being fired — for his role in the attack.

The Archbishop of Philadelphia, in a carefully and craftily-worded statement, addressed the issue by absolving the Catholic Church of any blame. He also chose to wallpaper over the fact that this was an anti-gay (hate) crime. 

But perhaps worse, the Archbishop just couldn’t bring himself to even offer a single word of support, as a human being, for the victims.

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput’s statement, published as a press release yesterday, just 133 words, in full:

“A key part of a Catholic education is forming students to respect the dignity of every human person whether we agree with them or not. What students do with that formation when they enter the adult world determines their own maturity and dignity, or their lack of it. Violence against anyone, simply because of who they are, is inexcusable and alien to what it means to be a Christian. A recent beating incident in Center City allegedly involved, in some way, a part-time coach at Archbishop Wood High School. After inquiries by school leadership, the coach was contacted regarding the matter and he resigned. Archbishop Wood’s handling of the matter was appropriate, and I support their efforts to ensure that Catholic convictions guide the behavior of their whole school community, including their staff.”

Note the lack of the word “gay,” note the fact he did not acknowledge the victims’ relationship, note that he did not even have the decency to offer a hope for their healthy recovery.

In a statement the previous day, the Archbishop denounced the attack and added it was “not an accurate reflection of our Catholic values.”

 

Image via Flickr

 

Related at The New Civil Rights Movement:

Philly Anti-Gay Hate Attack: Federal Officials At Dept. Of Justice Watching

Philly Hate Attack Mob Claiming Self Defense After Brutal Beating Sends Gay Men To Hospital