Bishop Joseph Strickland’s recent call for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to address the confirmation of ABC anchor Gio Benitez, who is openly married to a man, appears to have been met with silence. Strickland expressed his concerns, stating that the celebration of Benitez’s confirmation, given his same-sex relationship, required discussion. However, his appeal was seemingly bypassed during a USCCB gathering.
Instead of addressing Strickland’s concerns, the meeting proceeded with other scheduled items. Most Reverend James Massa reportedly directed attention to an advertisement for a faith and science symposium at Notre Dame. Following this, Most Reverend Timothy Broglio introduced a special pastoral message on immigration, effectively sidestepping the issue raised by Bishop Strickland. This perceived snub highlights the ongoing divisions within the Catholic Church regarding LGBTQ+ issues and the reception of openly gay individuals into the faith.