AN American diocese has announced it is to sponsor a weekly mass for Catholic homosexuals and lesbians.
Bishop Pierre DuMaine of San Jose, California, approved the Mass and other recommendations drawn up in 1986 for ministry to Catholic homosexuals.
However, the chairman of the pastoral resource committee, Fr Gary Scott said "that everything connected with the Mass must be in accordance with Church teaching".
The committee discussed the plan over a period of several months with the San Jose chapter of the unofficial Catholic homosexual group Dignity. It approved the Mass and the other proposals drawn up by the Church.
But it could not recommend an official ministry because of Dignity's opposition to church teaching on homosexuality.
Dignity lost its right to use Catholic facilities in several dioceses after the Vatican published a document urging local church authorities to support only groups that unequivocally backed church teaching on homosexuality.