The Vatican is investigating the
outreach work of Raul Vera, the Catholic bishop of Saltillo, Mexico.
Vera confirmed to the Zocalo
Saltillo that the Vatican has asked him a series of questions in
connection with a gay-inclusive group of Catholics headed by Noe
Ruiz.
Vera has publicly affiliated his
diocese with the group and sponsored its film festivals.
The bishop alleged that the inquiry was
prompted by reports from the Catholic news agency ACI Prensa, which
is based in Peru: “They allege that I am against the magisterium
of the Church and unfortunately they are driven by prejudice and
phobias against the homosexual community.”
“In the Diocese of Saltillo, we have
very clear objectives,” Vera
told the paper. “We work with [the gay community] to help them
recover their human dignity, which is frequently attacked at home and
in society, and they are treated like filthy people.”
“Some would like to weaken my work on
behalf of vulnerable groups, that is what they want, but I'm going to
go ahead in the struggle for human dignity which is the principle of
the Gospel,” he added.