Durbin Statement on Resignation of Anti-LGBT Dominican Cardinal
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement on reports of the resignation of Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Last December, Senator Durbin sent a letter to Pope Francis regarding hostile, anti-LGBT statements made by Cardinal López against U.S. Ambassador Wally Brewster, who is openly gay.
“Intolerance and bigotry have no place in the modern world, and they certainly have no place in a faith committed to tolerance and compassion. When hateful words come from places of authority – on the campaign stump or from the pulpit – they can do immense damage, denigrating people simply for being different,” said Durbin. “I commend Pope Francis for his efforts to make sure the leadership of his Church lives up to its message of compassion and tolerance.”