Until the "Day against Homophobia" on 17 May, we will be presenting people, projects and campaigns that are committed to fighting homophobia here on the blog. We talk to them and listen to their stories. They are diverse, colourful and exciting and show the many different faces this commitment can take.
Part 3: The Vatican: homophile and homophobic at the same time
Homophobia in the Catholic Church
David Berger (44) has caused a furore: the conservative theologian made a career in the Catholic Church and was eventually a professor at a papal academy in Rome - until he came out as gay with his book "Der heilige Schein". As a result, he not only lost his job at the Vatican, but also his licence to teach religion in Germany. In an interview with Philip Eicker, he explains the reasons for homophobia in the Catholic Church.
Mr Berger, is the Vatican a homophobic place?
I would call him homophilic-homophobic. Both are present. There is an enormously homophilic atmosphere among all the men there. Especially as you can assume that around half of them are at least homosexual. That's why gay sex is practised extensively there. Not in the Vatican, of course, but in the neighbourhood.
Do you see a direct link between homophobia and homosexuality?
I can't prove this scientifically, but this is how I have experienced it: those who have appeared particularly homophobic in lectures and private conversations have in most cases secretly led a gay life themselves - but without self-acceptance. When people said to them: "You're gay too!", they reacted with horror. It's sex with men, but you can't call it gay because it's forbidden.
Where does this homophobia come from?
On the one hand, it is competitive thinking. For centuries, the priesthood of the Catholic Church was the Life model for gay men. The Ratzinger generation didn't have the opportunity to simply go to iwwit.de for information. Back then, if you didn't want to get married or become a cranky old uncle, you could only become a priest. For these men, the celibate lifestyle was the perfect shelter. With the legalisation of homosexuality in Europe and the gay movement, this basic task of the Catholic Church became obsolete. The gay lifestyle competes with being a priest.
On the other hand: When I see how others live happily as gay men, but I have always denied myself my sexuality, a mirror is held up to me: You could live like that too! This is how extreme homophobia arises - especially among men who have not come to terms with their homosexuality.
However, the rejection of homosexuality is not a contemporary phenomenon. It simply contradicts Catholic doctrine ...
There is a long tradition of forbidding homosexuality, that is true. Also in the Holy Scriptures. However, the Church has already dropped far more traditional prohibitions, such as lending money at interest. The ban on homosexuality, on the other hand, is still useful today because it is a tool of power. If I forbid the many homosexually inclined clerics from having sex, even though the sexual need is so fundamental, then I have many subordinates with skeletons in their closets. I can then keep them loyal, even blackmail them if necessary.
Have you also proclaimed homophobia?
No, never. When I was editor of the Catholic monthly magazine Theological no more homophobic articles have appeared there. I rejected them all. That was noticed and they wanted to put me under pressure. I was given to understand that my private life was known, that they knew I was living with a man. This was hinted at again and again - until I made myself unpressurisable by coming out publicly.
That was the end of your career.
Yes, I knew that. But in the end, the state of being vulnerable to blackmail had such a strong psychological impact that I was happy to accept the end of my theological career.
What prompted you to come out publicly?
One trigger was a talk programme on Anne Will, where Bishop Overbeck said that being homosexual is a sin. In doing so, he went far beyond Catholic doctrine. No church leader had ever said that before.
What made you say goodbye with a scandalous book?
The constant blackmail. I was put under increasing pressure. When the church's political orientation changed under Benedict XVI, I realised that the conservative line of thought that I represented ultimately led to people being blackmailed. Something had built up that had to come out.
Can you give an example of such blackmail?
When the Pope rehabilitated the reactionary Pius Brothers, I signed a petition against it. After that, I was criticised by my superiors in the Theological-I was summoned to the editorial office. At first I was told: "They planted this on you." So I was offered the opportunity to deny my signature. I confirmed it anyway. Then came the question: "Did you know that homosexuals also signed there? Do you want your name to be among all the homosexuals?" This was to make it clear to me: If you sign something like that, you have to expect that we will out you. It was also an economic threat, because when I came out, I also lost my teaching licence as a Catholic religious education teacher.
Do you hope that the Catholic Church's attitude towards homosexuality will change in the next 20 years?
No, not in the foreseeable future. The next pope will probably come from Latin America or Africa and be even more conservative on socio-political issues.
Literature tip: David Berger: Der heilige Schein. Als schwuler Theologe in der katholischen Kirche, List Taschenbuchverlag, 9,99 Euro
