Quebec rabbis sign document accepting homosexuals

Montreal - Three Montreal Orthodox rabbis have joined many others by signing a statement calling for the acceptance of homosexuals into synagogues.

They join more than 150 rabbis from around the world who have already signed the document, which is called Statement of Principles on the Place of Jews with a Homosexual Orientation in Our Community. The statement was formed after debate among Orthodox rabbis, educators, mental health professionals and homosexual Jews. "We have wonderful members of our community in our congregation who are gay, and come to us anticipating and expecting to be welcomed into our community," Adam Scheier, rabbi of the Shaar Hashomayim Congregation in Westmount and president of the Montreal Board of Rabbis told the CBC. David Brody, who is a gay member of Scheier's Orthodox congregation, called the statement progressive but added that he would have liked it to include gay marriage. "It says that we are also created in the image of God, yet we are not allowed to love like heterosexuals," he said. "I do believe that there is a place within Orthodox Judaism for affirmation ceremonies." The statement says: “All human beings are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect (kevod haberiyot).” It states that “embarrassing, harassing or demeaning someone with a homosexual orientation or same-sex attraction is a violation of Torah prohibitions that embody the deepest values of Judaism.” The document says that whether sexual orientation is primarily genetic or environmentally generated is irrelevant when it comes to how they should be treated. “Halakhah sees heterosexual marriage as the ideal model and sole legitimate outlet for human sexual expression,” it states. The document says halakha only prohibits homosexual acts; not orientation or feelings of same-sex attraction. It warns against “change therapies” as being ineffective or psychologically damaging for some people, and affirms the “religious right of those with a homosexual orientation to reject therapeutic approaches they reasonably see as useless or dangerous.” The document states that the decision about whether to be open about one’s sexual orientation should be left to individuals, and that they are “opposed on ethical and moral grounds to both the 'outing' of individuals who want to remain private and to coercing those who desire to be open about their orientation to keep it hidden.” It also says that Jews of homosexual orientation should, under most circumstances, not be encouraged to marry someone of the other gender. It adds that homosexuals should be welcomed as full members of the synagogue and school community. “We do not here address what synagogues should do about accepting members who are openly practicing homosexuals and/or living with a same-sex partner,” it states. “Each synagogue together with its rabbi must establish its own standard with regard to membership for open violators of halakha.”