Archbishop of Liverpool commended for support of gay vigil

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Archbishop of Liverpool Patrick Kelly has been commended for showing support to a vigil held against homophobic hatred.

Speaking at the Liverpool Remembrance Day Parade last Sunday, Archbishop Kelly cited the thousands of people who “said no to hatred”.

The vigil was held on Sunday November 1st, two weeks after gay trainee policeman James Parkes was attacked by a group of teenagers in the city’s gay quarter.

Addressing the Remembrance Parade, Archbishop Kelly said: “Three times in a week thousands have lined our city’s streets. First, in the face of the homophobic attack on police constable James Parkes, thousands said no to such hatred.

“Secondly thousands came to give the warmest of homecomings to soldiers of the 2nd Battalion the Rifles, among them Rifleman Warren Richardson, on his crutches, with Corporal Nathan Hau at his side, who had pulled him to safety when he was shot.

“And today, silently to remember with thankfulness those who sacrificed their todays so that our tomorrows would be lived out in safety, security, not scarred by hatred of others, because they are other.”

Local councillor Steve Radford, who is gay, told PinkNews.co.uk he welcomed the “unequivocal support and recognition” given to the vigil by the Archbishop.

He said: “For generations the Roman Catholic Church has been seen as a body hostile to the gay and lesbian community.

“It is against this backcloth the words of Archbishop Kelly at the Liverpool Remembrance Day Parade were profound and extremely welcome.

“Let us pray this clear stand by Archbishop Kelly will give leadership to Roman Catholic institutions far and wide.”

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