After Vatican said ‘God cannot bless sin,’ some LGBTQ people leave Catholic identity behind It took me this long to recognize that I can let go of anything that hurts me, said Eder Santillan, 35. The Vatican City flag, left, and a pride flag. Images courtesy of Creative Commons
April 19, 2021
(RNS) For the past three years, Eder Díaz Santillan has hosted a podcast on which he interviews LGBTQ people on how they’ve coped with their gender and sexual identities while being raised in traditional Catholic upbringings. He also openly discusses his own identity as a Latino and gay Catholic man.
Eder Díaz Santillan hosts the bilingual podcast “De Pueblo Católico & Gay,” where he openly discusses his identity as a Latino and gay Catholic man. (Courtesy photo)
Los Angeles Eder Díaz Santillan vividly remembers a massive mural inside the Catholic church where he worshipped as a child in Mexico. The painting depicted nude and rich people, symbolizing money, sex and power, all vices he learned could lead one to hell. Amid flames, they reached out to God for salvation.
The only thing missing in the painting, Santillan thought, was an image of himself. It was very instilled in me that I was a sin, that I was going to hell, said Santillan, 35, who is gay.