Archbishop Wuerl: No Catholic Position on DADT, But . . . .

The Catholic cardinal archbishop of Washington, D.C., Donald Wuerl, tells FOX news that the Catholic church has no position on DADT, but whatever happens as discrimination against gays and lesbians in the military is abolished must be seen in the context of Catholic teaching--which is that human sexuality must be exercised responsibly and within marriage:

On "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Wuerl said, "And there isn't a specific Catholic Church position, but whatever happens, it has to be seen in terms of the church's teaching position. And that is, human sexuality is something that is supposed to be exercised responsibly and within the context of marriage."

And isn't it fascinating that the one Catholic teaching Wuerl doesn't mention here--the only pertinent Catholic teaching to be invoked in discussion of DADT, an overtly discriminatory policy that has nothing at all to do with sexual activity or marriage--is the Catholic Catechism's statement that, 

Nonetheless, according to the teaching of the Church, men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.

Does Archbishop Wuerl regard discrimination against gay and lesbian human beings which bars them from military service simply because they are gay and lesbian as just discrimination?  If not, how can he say that the Catholic church has no specific position on DADT, or how can he invoke Catholic teaching without adverting at all to the preceding official statement of an official Catholic magisterial document?

The implication is obvious, and this is the message that the U.S. Catholic bishops intend to keep giving to the faithful and the public at large: in every respect possible, the Catholic church supports discrimination against gay and lesbian human beings, and intends whenever possible to resist laws that curb that discrimination.  Those who actively discriminate against gay and lesbian human beings are welcome in our church.

Gay and lesbian persons are not welcome.

FOX's listeners heard precisely what they wanted to hear from Wuerl.  Talk about evangelizing by challenging prevailing cultural concepts that contravene the gospel . . . . 

Shameful.