At the meeting, requested by the Minister of Equality, they spoke about the so-called “conversion therapies”. In this regard, Bishop Argüello pointed out that this is an imprecise, broad and unscientific expression, which the Catholic Church does not support and which is not within the scope of its pastoral action. The President of the Episcopal Conference also stressed that not all those therapies that are not “affirmative therapies” can be treated as “conversion therapies”.
Bishop Argüello added that the “Transformed” project, according to the people who carry it out, invites conversion to Christ and to the proposal of life that arises from the Gospel and is offered to all people.
The Minister and the President of the Conference were able to share their views on the issue of distributing communion to homosexual persons. Bishop Argüello explained that there is no discrimination in this regard in the Catholic Church, since the basic rule for receiving communion, which is to be in God’s grace, equally affects all Catholics, regardless of any other condition, including sexual orientation.
Finally, both agreed on the importance of the principles of freedom, equality and non-discrimination for our constitutional society.
The meeting lasted approximately one hour in an atmosphere of cordiality and trust.
