Dissenters rip Cardinal Ratzinger's 1986 letter on homosexuality on 40th anniversary (National Catholic Reporter)

Critics of Catholic teaching on homosexuality have issued renewed criticism of a 1986 letter regarding the pastoral care of homosexual persons on its 40th anniversary. The letter was issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the leadership of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI.

Sister Jeannine Gramick, cofounder of New Ways Ministry, said she and others were not surprised by the document but were horrified upon reading it. Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, stated he was shocked by the letter and described it as un-Catholic.