Accept your LGBT children as God did, archbishop tells parents

Tista’ taqra bil-
Malta.

Bishop Charles Scicluna relied on Jesus’ new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you”, to call on parents of LGBT children to accept their children.

During Mass at Mdina Cathedral, Bishop Scicluna recalled that Tuesday, May 17 marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. He referred to the words of Pope Francis in a recent letter, that “God does not deny any of his children”.

“My appeal to parents is this: accept your children as God the Father did. Jesus looks at your children – as he looks at each of us – when he tells us he is giving us a new commandment to love one another,” the Archbishop said.

The same command, he continued, also demanded that we think about how refugees are treated.

He also wondered how the Maltese could show devotion to a number of saints who were also refugees, but then neglect the refugees among them.

“We show great devotion to the saints, especially Mary and Saint Joseph. They were refugees and we organize parties and take their statues in procession,” he observed. “But then we come face to face with a refugee in the flesh, how do you treat him?”

John’s account of Jesus giving the new commandment to his disciples after the Last Supper—with his impending death—was the gospel of the fifth Sunday of Easter. In the archbishop’s opinion, this commandment was the most precious gift that Jesus shared with the world, and the one that should guide relationships between people.

“It is as if Jesus told us: if I came to earth for one thing, it is to show you the way of love,” the archbishop said.

The Archbishop is 63 years old

Bishop Charles Scicluna is 63 years old today. He was born in Toronto, Canada on May 15, 1959. His parents, Emanuel and Maria, and their first son moved to Malta in 1960.

He was ordained a priest by the Archbishop of Malta, Monsignor Joseph Mercieca, on July 11, 1986.

In 1995, when he was called to the Vatican to work at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Segnatura as a Substitute Promoter of Justice.

In October 2002, Monsignor Scicluna was appointed Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He has lectured extensively on issues concerning child welfare in the Church, visiting a number of local churches in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia.

On October 6, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Scicluna as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta. He was ordained bishop on November 24, 2012.

On October 18, 2014, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Scicluna Apostolic Administrator vacant seatand on February 27, 2015, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Scicluna of Malta.

Bishop Charles Scicluna was appointed by Pope Francis in 2015 as President of the Special College within the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Holy See, and Assistant Secretary of the same congregation in 2018.