The Vatican, the LGBT Community, and the Secularization of Religion

2023-06-04


The Secularization of Relgion on the Global scale has both caused and resulted to people with the need to critically evaluate the doctrine of life that they will abide by. Secularization doesn't necessarily mean the loss of belief to the Christian gospels in this cause but it is the process in which religion and its roles lose its social and cultural significance. From this, it can be derived that secularization does not necessarily mean the act of converting to atheism and agnosticism.

As societes develop, we should not be surprised if religious belief remains high even as religious practice has declined. The secularization of religion should not be confused with the related concept of deconsecration which is the removal of consecration of something initially relgious (such as a monastery) for the purpose of being used for non-religious and civil purposes.

Though still firm with the teachings of the gospels, Pope Francis has spearheaded the inclusion of the LGBT community to the Roman Catholic Church. The church holds the doctrine stating that though same-sex attraction is not a sin, same-sex sexual acts are.

The Pope has always been inclusive towards the LGBT community. A few months ago, he has claimed that being gay "isn't a crime but only a sin." This means that being gay shouldn't be punished.

As stated on its own, it doesn't make much claim but on the context of what LGBT members suffer from the laws of other nations and states. Death penalty has been and is still practiced in some states especially in Middle Eastern countries.

According to Victor Roudometof's *Religion and Globalization*, "The modern world is a secular one not because of the mere decline of individual religiosity or a growing church-state separation, but because frameworks of understanding have shifted radically." The modern world, with all its intricacies brought forth by modern societal standards and heirarchies, technology, economic statuses, and generally upheld values, has come to the conclusion that the longheld Christian faith does not conform to the realities experienced by the majority.

The Christian faith no longer serves as the main moral compass of the West. Though it is still practiced, the fundamentals of the teachings of the faith is all that is left. It includes compassion to others, mercy to those who have sinned against us, acceptance of the individual as a brother and sister in Christ (faith in humanity), and respect of human dignity.


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