Ahead of next week’s visit of the Pope to Washington, the Vatican has “taken offense” at a decision by the Obama administration to invite former Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to hold that position; an activist nun, Sister Simone Campbell, who is executive director of Network, a self-described “Catholic social justice lobby”; and Mateo Williamson, a former co-head of the transgender caucus of DignityUSA, a group for LGBT Catholics that advocates for equality within the church, reports The Advocate.
Apparently the Vatican is afraid that the Pope will have his picture taken with these individuals which will be misconstrued as a papal endorsement.
According to The Advocate report, what’s known is that the event is planned for Wednesday, the pope’s first full day in the U.S., on the south lawn of the White House. But few other details have been released, and conservative websites have been stewing over reports of the gay, trans, liberal, and Episcopalian guests.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest warned reporters Thursday to not draw conclusions on specific guests “because there will be 15,000 other people there, too.”
