Pope gives hope to gay Catholics, same-sex marriage supporters

Ed Hotaling had almost given up on the Catholic Church.

The church he attended in Albany, New York, was “very, very liberal,” and he felt welcomed even though he was gay.

But when Hotaling attended an Easter Mass after moving to Delaware, the priest emphatically stated that marriage is between a man and a woman.

“I can’t come here if this is the person who is supposed to be giving me spiritual guidance,” Hotaling said.

Hotaling, who lives in Rehoboth, started attending an Episcopalian church, where he felt more welcome and could participate in many of the same rites as Catholics.

But these days, because of Pope Francis, he’s considering going back.

“I am married to a man, and I’m sure that if he met me [Francis] would say congratulations and be very happy about it,” Hotaling said.

With Francis coming to Philadelphia this weekend, Hotaling and many others who are gay or who support gay marriage are cheering a church leader they believe is trying to make the church more inclusive.

Francis has grabbed international attention for public statements taking a softer tone on homosexuality. Two years ago, he said “if someone is gay and searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Hotaling hopes that tone will allow more Catholic churches to become like the one he attended in Albany.

“I think that, without changing church law per se, but by the way he talks, it will give a lot of churches who might have wanted to move in that direction a sense that the weight has been lifted from their shoulders,” Hotaling said. “Things are evolving probably 50 times faster than I ever imagined as a gay person.”

The church has not officially changed its doctrine on homosexuality or gay marriage. Most who would like to see that change admit it is not realistic to expect an instant shift in an organization as big and old as the Catholic Church.

Lisa Goodman, president of Equality Delaware, points out that Delaware didn’t legalize same-sex marriage on the first attempt. It took years of debate before Gov. Jack Markell signed the law legalizing those marriages last year.

“No change happens and sticks without a conversation that changes hearts and minds first,” Goodman said. “I think our community views Pope Francis as starting a very welcome change in the conversation.”

Steve Elkins, founder of Camp Rehoboth, says he is glad to see a major Christian public figure taking a more inclusive approach to gay rights, especially as some Republican presidential candidates take hardline stances.

“As a Christian and a human being, I like what he’s saying,” Elkins said. “It is very interesting that he is taking those steps, and I’m hoping he is going to turn these words into action.”

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@delawareonline.com, (302) 324-2428 or on Twitter @TNJ_malbright.