Vatican Changes Actual Translation Of Draft That ‘Welcomed’ Gays

Lost in translation? The Vatican, after releasing a draft document that asked if the Church is ready to “welcome”gays, has answered its question — by changing the question.

The world was stunned this week when the Vatican released a document that indicated a seismic shift in how the Roman Catholic Church would treat gay people and those who have been divorced or are co-habitating.

The document, known as a relatio, suggested gay people have “gifts and qualities to offer,” and even praised same-sex relationships for being “a precious support in the life of the partners.”

“Are our communities capable of proving that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?” the relatio queried.

“Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners,” the document added.

Well, those days, as short as they were, are gone.

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Perhaps it was the positive response from those on the left, or the furious response from those on the right — or both, but the Vatican has now changed the actual translation of the document, and it’s far less LGBT-friendly.

It’s also not much of a seismic shift anymore, though Time reports that it’s possible “the original English translations more closely follow the Italian.”

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The changes may be small, but they are meaningful.

For example, the Vatican changed the word “partners,” to “these persons,” — a difference with a distinction — and the word  “precious” to “valuable.”

Original:

“Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.”

 

Updated:

Without denying the moral problems associated with homosexual unions, there are instances where mutual assistance to the point of sacrifice is a valuable support in the life of these persons.”

In another example, where once the document read, “Welcoming homosexual persons,” it now reads, “Providing for homosexual persons.”

 

Here’s the original text:

Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?

And the revised text (ellipses are in revised text)

Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community. Are we capable of providing for these people, guaranteeing […] them […] a place of fellowship in our communities? Oftentimes, they want to encounter a Church which offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of this, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?

Apparently, the answer is “no.”

 

Photo: Opening Session of the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. 
Image by Catholic Church England and Wales/© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk via Flickr Creative Commons license

 

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