Mgr Jacques Gaillot'sFiring by the Vatican
Mgr Jacques Gaillot's
The Vatican's firing of an outspoken liberal bishop has sparked controversy across France and revealed deep divisions within the Catholic Church. Many of the Church's top officials in France have expressed dismay at the removal of Monsignor Jacques Gaillot, bishop of Evreux in Normandy since 1982. On Sunday, groups of faithful gathered outside their churches in protest.
Gaillot, dubbed "The Red Cleric" for his fearless public stands on controversial church issues, once said that condoms were the best way of fighting AIDS. He also spoke in favor of an abortion-inducing pill. Other stands Gaillot has taken include arguing for the ordination of married men and urging tolerance of homosexuals--both in contrast to the tightening of traditional Roman Catholic doctrine which has marked the reign of Pope John Paul II.
In response to escalating public criticism from theologians, the Vatican has been cracking down on outspoken dissidents. Gaillot will celebrate his final mass in Evreux next Sunday.
Nonciature Apostolique
10, avenue du Président Wilson
75116 Paris
Métro Alma Marceau ou Trocadéro
"Soeur Edith", secretary of the Gay Pride Association and Sister of
Perpetual Indulgence, speaking to TV channel France 3, in front of the
Nonciature.
Mgr Gaillot, in a demonstration against AIDS, April 2nd, 1995.
Photos
1995 -
René Lalement
A l'inverse de cet humanisme, le Pape et une certaine hiérarchie ecclésiastique cultivent un discours d'exclusion meurtrier (interdiction de l'usage de la capote), et leurs atteintes à la liberté d'aimer sont plus que nombreuses (condamnation des pratiques homosexuelles, de l'avortement et de la pilule).
Même si dans les pays modernes et démocratiques de nombreux croyants n'écoutent plus le Pape, lui préférant ici les propos et les positions de Jacques Gaillot ou de l'Abbé Pierre, il est évident que l'aura du chef de l'église catholique dans les pays pauvres augmente la misère de ceux-ci comme une culture du désespoir.
Jacques Gaillot a su utiliser sa fonction épiscopale au service des problèmes sociaux de notre temps. En espérant le faire taire, la parole officielle de l'Église choisit le camp de la réaction.
C'est pourquoi, croyants ou non, nous considérons ce limogeage comme un acte révoltant, une atteinte à la dignité et à la liberté humaine.
Collectif de soutien à Mgr Jacques Gaillot,
c/o Centre Gai et Lesbien, 3 rue Keller, 75011 Paris
Tel: 33+(1)43 57 21 47
fax: 33+(1)43 57 27 93
The parisian association writes in a text published on Jan. 17th: "once again, the catholic Church has shown its tolerance and open-minded spirit by firing Mgr Gaillot. He knows how to fight against any form of discrimination, a message that Vatican isn't ready to hear, prefering to facilitate contamination from AIDS by refusing the promotion of condom. The Church doesn't take care of excluded persons, it does exclude persons".
AIDES regrette qu'une nouvelle fois la rigidité du Vatican empêche l'Eglise catholique de prendre la place qui devrait être la sienne dans la lutte contre le SIDA".
"Le fait d'être catholique et de soutenir aujourd'hui les positions du Pape va-t-il devenir un des premiers facteurs de risques?" s'interroge l'association.
Pope John Paul's decision indignates the french association against AIDS. Mgr Gaillot "symbolises nowadays an open-minded spirit in the catholic Church" and "he always fought for the integration of the weakest persons, specially those with HIV" says a text sent to the press. AIDES regrets that, once again, Vatican's rigidity forbids the catholic Church to take the place that should be it's in the fight against AIDS. And the association asks the question : "The first way to catch AIDS, is it to be catholic and to support Pope's decision ?".
"N'oublions pas que l'Eglise, unie, romaine et catholique, reste notre ennemie" estime le communiqué qui affirme que "soutenir M. Gaillot c'est conforter de Villiers". "Que M. Gaillot devienne protestant ou ce qu'il veut, c'est son histoire mais ce n'est pas celle des PD" poursuit le texte qui demande en conclusion "un peu de décence".
The organisation for homosexual difference (ADH), located in Rennes (Britanny, west of France), refused to support a common action. In a text, the organisation explains : "our history doesn't incitate us to support in any way a clergyman who, whatever his personal quality that we're aware of, represents by his function an excuse to the worse repressions and anti-gay moralism". "Don't forget that the Church, united, roman and catholic, is still our ennemy", states the text. "Supporting Mgr Gaillot is acknowledging De Villiers (rightist french politician)". "Let Mgr Gaillot become a protestant, or anything else, that's his concern, not the queer's" concludes the text, asking for "decence".
Jean-Benoit Richard
Copyright Gais et Lesbiennes Branchés,
1995
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