Married couple TJ Williams-Hauger and Brad Hauger went to Washington, D.C. last week ( as VIP guests ) when Pope Francis visited the White House.
In a statement to Windy City Times, Williams-Hauger, a seminary student, said, "It was good to be at the White House with friends, colleagues [as well as] lovers and doers of peace and justice during such an important and historic occasion. It was exciting to see the Holy Father and the Holy Fiat! But let us be careful not to become so star-struck that we close our eyes to his message.
"He challenged us all to work in a spirit of cooperation, to be welcoming to all people in the world. [Regarding] immigration, he reminded everyone that there is no one who is not an immigrant. He also reminded us that taking care of the environment is our responsibility and that people of faith must understand that science and faith goes hand and hand.
"He is prophetic in action as well as spoken wordsas he chose not to dine with the wealthy, but to eat with the poor, as Jesus would do."
In Philadelphia on Sept. 27, the pontiff made his most direct reference to same-sex marriage, as he spoke of the "unprecedented changes" that are having "social, cultural and, unfortunately, now juridical effects on family bonds," The Huffington Post noted. He told bishops that, in response to these changes, they should reach out to spread their faith through the bonds of friendship.
The pope prefaced his address with remarks on the church's continuing sex-abuse crisis; he initially spoke about it earlier in his trip while in Washington, D.C. On Sept. 27, he met with victims.
The Huffington Post item is at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/pope-francis-gay-marriage-and-families_5607eb53e4b0dd850307ed5a.
Andrew Davis