El Paso Catholic Bishop Says Priest Was Stating Personal Opinion Concerning Gays

Catholic Diocese of El Paso Bishop Armando X. Ochoa said that a recent newspaper column by a local priest “claiming to speak for Catholic Doctrine were the personal opinions of individuals and do not necessarily express the belief of the Catholic Church.”

Ochoa made the statement in his guest column in Sunday’s El Paso Times in reference to the Rev. Michael Rodriguez ‘s recent column about the Catholic church and homosexuality. Watch Rodriguez and gay rights advocate Pifas Silva’s talk about the Catholic church and homosexuality on ABC-7 Xtra here.

“When we talk about abortion and homosexuality, we are talking about human beings dealing with all kinds of concerns and unresolved challenges,” Ochoa said in the column. “Our Church does not want to simply judge and condemn, but first to offer Christ’s love and compassion. God’s first and primary law is love and how love of others is at the same time our love for God.”

Ochoa also urged all pastoral agents to reach out to homosexuals and their families with compassion.

Read Ochoa’s full column here.