“Homosexuality is a sin;” this saying is commonly thrown at homosexual individuals to invalidate their existence and use religion to hide behind hatred. However, recently, when discussing parents who kick out their children due to said children being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Pope Francis said, “Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God. You can’t kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.” 

The Pope has also stated that he believes gay citizens shouldn’t be ostrocized from society, saying, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?”

Despite these statements from the Pope, many people who worship God and follow the Bible use religion as justification for hatred. However, religion should be about loving one another and being a positive addition to society, not a source of judgement. 

Many of those who use religion as a weapon will tell members of the LGBTQ+ community that they are “hated by God” and “going to hell.” These statements contradict the baseline of religion that God loves all his children. Cathedral of the Rockies pastor Duane Anders touched on this issue pointing out that even in the creation story, “It’s the story of everybody; it’s not the story of one particular group it’s the story of all people.”

Anders went on to express the value in accepting all in religion and his belief that, “Love gave us the benefit of the doubt. When we understand that all of the world is beloved of God, we gain perspective and energy to make a different world.”  

Whilst the message of loving and accepting anyone who wants to follow a certain faith may seem non-controversial to some, Anders highlighted the backlash that he has faced simply in embracing people from all walks of life at the Cathedral of the Rockies. “When the church says things like, “all means all,” some respond “then I am out of here if you are going to welcome LGBTQ folks.” When we say things like “wear a mask,” or “Black lives matter.” (…) Some respond with their actions of cancel – no benefit of the doubt, no listening to why we hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ leading us to say or live our mission in a certain way.” 

As Anders states, the basis of Christianity is centered in loving one another and being a positive member of society. Using religion as a justification for hatred and discrimination is actively going against these base ideals. 

Religion and spirituality bring people together and build community. These communities can only be made more beautiful and enriched with diversity and loving all, instead of slamming doors in the faces of those merely looking for acceptance. And once again, “all means all.”