Many LGBT organizations have spoken out against the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger as the new pope. (Pope Benedict XVI was officially installed Apr. 24.) Reactions have ranged from disappointment to outright anger.

Soulforce, an organization that advocates freedom for LGBT individuals from religious and political oppression, released a statement in which the group recalled an unsuccessful attempt to meet with the new pontiff: ‘In 2000, Soulforce tried to meet with Ratzinger while we were in Rome. He not only refused to meet with us, but his administrators threatened to call the Swiss police.’ Soulforce added that Ratzinger now ‘brings [the office of] the inquisition to his appointment as Pope.’

The National Latina/o Coalition for Justice, which incorporates LGBT and non-LGBT groups, was also saddened by the selection. In a statement, the group commented that it ‘believes [that the] election may cement social fundamentalism in the Catholic Church, alienate those who truly understand the beauty of Jesus‚s acceptance of differences, and further pull apart a church in crisis. Furthermore, Pope

Benedict‚s writings as Cardinal and Dean of the College of Cardinals leave little hope in the role of women and LGBT people as part of the faithful flock of the Catholic Church.’

Disapproval of the new pope has extended beyond America as well. Brett Lock of the British gay-rights group OutRage! said in a statement that ‘ [t] he election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope has consolidated the Vatican‚s shift towards the authoritarian right. It signals dark days ahead for the rights of women, gay people and for liberal humanitarian values.’ The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), which is headquartered in Belgium, also expressed its dismay over Ratzinger‚s elevation to the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. ILGA co-secretary general Kursad Kahramanolgu said that it seems ‘as if hatemongering is now the quickest route to promotion in the Vatican.’

Local reactions have reflected disappointment ˆ and hope. Ramon Rodriguez of Dignity Chicago, a local GLBT Catholic organization, stated that ‘ [b] efore he was elected Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger was a driving force in shaping the Vatican’s policy against GLBT people. We hope that under his new role, His Holiness will come to see that GLBT people can and do love the Church, and that our relationships are indeed life-giving and life-affirming.’ The LGBT Catholic organization known as Rainbow Sash issued that it ‘had hoped for a pastor and shepherd; instead, we get a doctrinal enforcer. Certainly, this pope will continue with the world-wide anti-gay agenda.’ However, Joe Murray (the U.S. convener of the movement) added that ‘the Rainbow Sash Movement will continue to stand against homophobia within our Church. We must re-commit ourselves to hope, and focus on the Lord.’ The organization also called on supporters to be with it on May 15 (Pentecost Sunday) to make a statement against homophobia in the church.

Those who chose a wait-and-see approach regarding Benedict‚s stance on homosexuality did not have to wait long. BBC News reported that Benedict has already

condemned a government bill in Spain that allows gays and lesbians to wed. (The bill actually would make Spain the first European country to allow gay people to adopt children and marry.) However, ABC News Online has reported that Spain has struck back at Vatican criticism, saying the measure affects no one’s rights.

The German pontiff is the Roman Catholic Church‚s 264th successor to St. Peter.