After suggesting gays and lesbians might be worthwhile human beings, the Vatican quickly backtracked, claiming the church did not mean to create “the impression of a positive evaluation” of same-sex relationships.

On Monday the Vatican suggested the Catholic church should welcome and appreciate gays; however, by Tuesday, after a furious backlash by conservative Catholics, the Vatican reaffirmed it’s distaste for, and demonization of, the LGBT community.

In Monday’s report, the Vatican boldly declared:

“Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community. Are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?”

The statement was the first time the Vatican had said anything positive about gay relationships, and was widely praised by liberals, and hailed by the media as a great breakthrough.

However, the statement had no teeth, and did not alter in any way the Roman Catholic teaching that homosexuality is “objectively disordered.”

More to the point, by Tuesday, the Vatican had already backtracked on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships.

How sad to think that the Catholic church is unable to sustain the simple suggestion that gays and lesbians are worthwhile human beings with “gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community.”

To answer the rhetorical question posed on Monday, the Vatican has answered: No, the Catholic church is not capable of welcoming gays and lesbians; No, the Catholic church is not capable of accepting and valuing their sexual orientation.

In short, the Roman Catholic church continues to endorse homophobia, discrimination, and bigotry.