Mahony Disputes Story on His Views
Cardinal Roger M. Mahony took issue with a story in The Times on Saturday in which he voiced conditional support for gays and lesbians to serve in the armed forces.
The Los Angeles archbishop said the Times appeared to pit his views against Catholic teachings and the position of the church’s highest military bishop in the United States.
In the original interview, Mahony said gays and lesbians should be allowed to enlist but that it may not be advisable for gays to serve in certain areas. In a statement released to the press Saturday, Mahony reiterated that stance and insisted that his views are “compatible” with those of Archbishop Joseph T. Dimino, head of the Archdiocese for Military Services.
In fact, as the Times story noted, Dimino has said he favors banning gays from serving in any capacity.
Contrary to Mahony’s Saturday statement, the story did not suggest that his views were at odds with church teachings that condemn sex outside heterosexual marriage. The story said there was nothing in Mahony’s remarks that contradicted those teachings.
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