Kasper's Right: The African Episcopate and Homosexuality

Suffice it to say that I never thought I'd see the day where I'd go to bat for Walter Kasper. Even less did I think that I'd be defending him during these tumultuous times where he's proven to be...well...less than helpful for the Church. However, despite my deep disagreements with the Cardinal's proposals on many issues, I feel compelled to stick up for him. Over the past day or so, veteran reporter Edwin Pentin released an interview wherein His Eminence waxes less than eloquently on the topic of his African brothers and homosexuality (emphases mine).

Pentin: It has been said that he added five special rapporteurs on Friday to help the general rapporteur, Cardinal Peter Erdo. Is that because he’s trying to push things through according to his wishes?

Kasper: I do not see this going on in the Pope’s head. But I think the majority of these five people are open people who want to go on with this. The problem, as well, is that there are different problems of different continents and different cultures. Africa is totally different from the West. Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo. For us, we say we ought not to discriminate, we don’t want to discriminate in certain respects.

P. But are African participants listened to in this regard?

K. No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them].

P. They’re not listened to?

K. In Africa of course [their views are listened to], where it’s a taboo.

P. What has changed for you, regarding the methodology of this synod? [question from French journalist]

K. I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve. There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.

The incessant, frothing shrieks of racism from almost every corner of the Catholic blogosphere have eliminated almost any any chance of reasonable discussion on the topic. Rorate, God bless 'em, headed their piece with this: 

Da fuq...?

So, is Kasper actually a closet bigot who thinks himself superior than his Third World counterparts? Well, yeah probably. However, that doesn't mean he's necessarily wrong about large swathes of the African episcopate. Come with me for a second to Nigeria, where the Church is exploding and the faith is strong. You may have heard something about Nigeria's recent anti-homosexual legislation, which includes up to 10-year-prison sentences for "directly or indirectly [making] a public show of same sex amorous relationship." Assuredly the Nigerian bishops arose as one and, while reaffirming the moral illicitude of homosexual acts, denounced such draconian castings of the first stone. Assuredly, they adhered to the line of then-Pope Benedict XVI who, "opposed...‘unjust discrimination’ against gay men and lesbians.” Er, well, no. Not exactly. The Chairman of the Nigerian Conference of Bishops hailed the legislation as "courageous" and "a step in the right direction." They held Masses of Thanksgiving, for cripe's sake. In an age where the Pope is trying to achieve rapprochement with gays, without changing doctrine, the African bishops lag severely behind and don't even think its a problem.

Is it really racist to say that, maybe, these aren't the folks we should be taking our cues on LGBQT-Catholic relations from? Is it really all that condescending to suggest that the Afro-Islamic world, including the Christian clergy therein, could stand to catch up a bit with the West on human rights? Does anyone really think we should be listening to these people on how to deal with homosexuals in Seattle or Brussels? You'd have to be nuts to buy that. 

Now I need to go take a shower.