The church must apologize

This got a lot of coverage in gay blogs.

“I think the church must not only apologize … to a gay person it offended, but we must apologize to the poor, to women who have been exploited, to children forced into labor, apologize for having blessed so many weapons” and for having failed to accompany families who faced divorces or experienced other problems.

The Catholic Church apologizing to gay people. Great idea! Jim Burroway of Box Turtle Bulletin says we've been here before. Francis has said lots of nice things. But that doesn't mean the hierarchy from Cardinals to local priests will change the way they do things. Catholic parishioners ignore the Church's teaching on contraception because the priest isn't in the bedroom.

But it won’t get far with LGBT people because those in charge can — and do — deny marriage rites, baptisms, school enrollment, health insurance, adoption services, and even a spot in the church choir. Far worse still, many of them openly endorse ex-gay programs for LGBT youth.

Burroway says that while these pronouncements by Francis are great to hear, but the novelty has worn off.