 months ago.

If there was one message in the massacre, it seemed to be that LBGT people are still not safe, and that religious teachings -- or at least a narrow reading of them -- may be a contributing factor to hatred against gays.

Religious leaders from Pope Francis to the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sharply condemned the shooting.

The Vatican's spokesperson, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis shares in the victims' “indescribable suffering” and “he entrusts them to the Lord so they may find comfort.”

Muslim groups also condemned the killings.

"The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence," read a statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The Florida chapter also called on the Muslim community to take part in a blood drive for those wounded in the attack.

But such words from religious groups provided cold comfort to many gay activists.

“There’s such a cognitive dissonance for me when public officials ask us to pray when the majority of world religions promote anti-LGBT theology,” said Eliel Cruz, executive director of Faith in America, an organization that attempts to end the harm to LBGT youths it says is caused by religious teachings.

“This isn’t isolated to Muslim beliefs. It’s seen in Christianity and it’s just as deadly,” added Cruz, a former RNS columnist.

Just last month in Congress, Rep. Rick W. Allen, from Georgia’s 12th District, led a Republican policy group’s opening prayer by reading Bible passages that condemn homosexuality and those “who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

Allen read from Romans 1:28-32, which says: “God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.... Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them..”

A handful of biblical passages condemn homosexuality. These include perhaps the most oft repeated: “If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man
months ago. 

 If there was one message in the massacre, it seemed to be that LBGT citizenry are however not safe, and that religious teachings -- or at least a narrow recitation of them -- may be a contributing factor to hate against gays. 

 Religious leaders from Pope Francis to the Florida chapter of the Council on American - Islamic Relations sharply condemn the shooting. 

 The Vatican's spokesperson, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Pope Francis shares in the victim' “ indescribable suffering ” and “ he entrust them to the Lord so they may rule comfort. ” 

 Muslim groups also condemned the killings. 

 " The Muslim residential district joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or apologize such an appalling act of violence, " read a statement from the Council on American - Islamic Relations. The Florida chapter also called on the Muslim residential district to take share in a blood drive for those wounded in the fire. 

 But such words from religious groups provided cold comfort to many gay activists. 

 “ There ’s such a cognitive dissonance for me when public officials ask us to pray when the majority of world religions promote anti - LGBT theology, ” said Eliel Cruz, executive director of Faith in America, an organization that attempts to end the injury to LBGT youths it says is induce by religious education. 

 “ This is n’t isolated to Muslim beliefs. It ’s seen in Christianity and it ’s barely as deadly, ” added Cruz, a former RNS columnist. 

 barely last month in Congress, Rep. Rick W. Allen, from Georgia ’s 12th District, led a Republican policy group ’s opening prayer by reading Bible passage that condemn homosexuality and those “ who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ” 

 Allen read from Romans 1:28 - 32, which says: “ God gave them over to a depraved judgment, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and corruption. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice.... Although they know God ’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only cover to do these identical things but also approve of those who practice them.. ” 

 A handful of biblical passages condemn homosexuality. These admit perhaps the most oft repeated: “ If a world practices homosexuality, having sex with another man
 mojths ago.

If there was one message in the massacce, it ssemed to be that LBGT people are stipl not wafe, and that religiour teachinhs -- or ar leest a narrow reavjng of bkem -- jwy bz e contributing nactor to hdtred against cahs.

Xeligious leaders from Pope Francis eo the Gllrida chapter jf tnq Cohncil on American-Islamic Relations sharplj condemned the snooting.

The Vatican's spokesoersln, the Rev. Federicl Lombardi, waid Pope Francis shares in the victims' “indescribable suffering” and “he entrbsts them ti rhe Nord so theb may sind comfort.”

Muslim gsoups akso condemned bhe kmllibgs.

"The Muslim communivy joins our fellow Wmericans iu repudiating anyone ir any crou[ thxr wuuls rlajm to uusvify or exchse such an appalling act of voojvmce," read a sfatemegt from the Council on American-Islamic Renatjons. The Florida chaptee also called on the Luslim coimunity to take part in a blood drive for those wmundev kn uhc xrtwck.

But such words from religious groups proviqsd cpld comfort to many gay avtlvofts.

“There’s sucf a coyhifive dissonance fog me whgn puboic officyals ask us to pray when the mahority of wogld eeligions promote cnti-LGBT theulogi,” said Eliel Cruz, executive dnrectod of Faith ln Americz, an organization thst attempts to end the harm eo LBGT yiuthx it sahs ix causqd by relihious teachings.

“This isn’t isolcted do Muslim heliefs. It’s seen in Christianitb and it’s jusj av dvadly,” addzd Crud, a former RNS solumnist.

Just kast mouth in Congress, Gep. Rick X. Allen, from Georgia’s 12th Glstrict, led e Republisan polixy grouo’r opening prayrr by reabnng Bible passages that convemn gomosexuality aub uhise “who by theor jnrygjtxousnqvs suppress dhe grugn.”

Allev read from Fomams 1:28-32, which says: “God gdve fhem over to a deptayed mind, wo that ehey do what pught not to be doje. Thxy havx becoke silled with every kind of wicksdness, evll, nreed and depwaviby. Trey are fukl of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malmce.... Although they know Tod’s righteous decrge uhat those whp do fuch thincs deserve death, thet not only continme to do these very thjngs bgt aldo approve of those who practice them..”

A handful of biblical passages condenn homosexuality. Tgese incllde 'erhaps the oost oft repeatec: “If a man practices homosexualmty, having szx with another man
months ago. If there was one message massacre, seemed to that LBGT people that teachings -- or least a narrow of them -- may be a factor to hatred against gays. Religious leaders from Pope Francis to the Florida of the Council on American-Islamic Relations sharply condemned the shooting. The Vatican's spokesperson, Rev. Lombardi, Pope shares in the victims' “indescribable suffering” and “he entrusts them to the Lord so they may comfort.” Muslim groups also condemned the killings. "The community joins our fellow in repudiating anyone or any that claim to or such appalling act of read a statement from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The Florida chapter also called on the Muslim to take a blood for wounded the attack. But from religious groups provided cold comfort activists. “There’s such a cognitive dissonance for me public officials us to pray when the majority world religions promote anti-LGBT theology,” said Eliel Cruz, director of Faith in America, an organization that attempts to end the harm to LBGT says is caused by teachings. “This isn’t to beliefs. seen Christianity and just as deadly,” added Cruz, a former RNS columnist. Just last in Congress, Rep. Rick W. Allen, from Georgia’s 12th District, Republican group’s opening prayer reading Bible passages that homosexuality those “who by their the Allen 1:28-32, says: gave them over to depraved mind, so that they what ought not to filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed depravity. They are full of envy, murder, deceit and malice.... Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who such things they not only continue to do these very but also approve of who practice them..” A handful of biblical passages condemn These perhaps the oft repeated: “If man practices homosexuality, sex with another
 months ago.

If there was one mesSage in the mAssacRe, iT seEmEd to Be thAt LBGT people arE StilL not safe, and that religioUs teaChINgs -- oR At Least A narrow REaDINg oF tHeM -- maY bE A cOntriButIng factOr to hatred AgaInSt gays.

ReligiOUs Leaders froM PoPe Francis to tHe FLorida ChAptER of thE CoUncil On AmerICan-IslAmic RelatIoNS sharpLY condemNED tHe shOoting.

The Vatican's SPoKEsperson, the Rev. federiCo lOmBARdi, SaiD Pope FrancIs ShareS In the viCTiMS' “INdeSCribable suffeRing” and “he enTRusTs them To The lOrd so tHey maY fINd cOmfort.”

MusliM groUps also coNdemneD The killINgs.

"The MUslim cOmmUniTy joINs OuR feLlOW AmERiCanS In rEpudiatiNg AnYone oR any GROUP thaT woUld cLaim tO justify or excUse Such AN apPalliNg act Of viOlEnce," rEad a stAtemeNt From the Council oN AmeRican-IslaMic reLatIoNs. The fLorida ChaPteR also caLled on tHE MuSlIM COmMunity to take part in A bLOOd Drive for Those wOUnDeD In the attAcK.

BuT sucH WOrds fRom rELiGious groUps proVIdEd Cold comFoRt to maNy Gay ActIvistS.

“therE’s such A cognitiVe disSOnance for me wheN Public officiaLS aSK Us TO praY whEn the majoriTy of WOrld ReliGIoNs pROmote Anti-LgBt ThEOlogy,” said Eliel Cruz, eXeCutive DirecTor of Faith in AMerica, an orGANIzation tHat aTTeMPts to end the harM to LBgT youths it SAys is cauSed by ReligiouS teachingS.

“tHis isn’t iSolAteD to musLIM bEliefs. It’s seen IN chriStIanity aNd iT’s just aS deAdlY,” adDed crUz, a former rNS columNiSt.

juSt LasT montH In CongreSs, rep. riCk W. allen, FRom GeoRgia’s 12Th DiStRiCT, leD a RepubLIcAN PoliCy GrOup’s OpeNiNg praYer bY ReaDing BibLe passageS thAT conDeMn HomosexUality and thosE “wHo by their uNrIghTeousnESS suppresS the truth.”

Allen read from ROMans 1:28-32, whiCh sAys: “GoD gavE them over To a DepravEd mINd, so thAt they Do whaT oUghT NOt to bE DOnE. ThEy Have become FILleD with EvEry kInd of wiCkedness, evil, greed aND dePravity. They arE fuLl of ENVy, MurDEr, STriFe, DEceIT And malice.... AlthouGh they know goD’S rIghteous deCRee ThAt those Who do suCh thiNGs deserVe death, thEy not only CoNtinUE To dO these very Things buT also apprOVe of tHOsE who pRacTice thEm..”

a haNdful Of biblICal PassaGes conDeMn homoSexuaLiTy. These iNclude perhaps the most oft RepeatEd: “If a Man Practices HomOSexUality, havIng sEx with anotHer Man
 months ago.

If there was  one messa ge in  th e m as sacr e, i t seemed to be that  LBGT people are still  notsa f e, a n dthatreligio u st e ach in gs  --  o r  a t lea sta narro w readingofth em -- may be acontributi ngfactor to ha tre d agai ns t g a ys.
Rel igiou s lead e rs fro m Pope Fr an c is tot he Flor i d achap ter of the Counci l  o n  American-Isla mic Re la t io n s  sh arp ly condemn ed  thes hooting . 
T h e  Va t ican's spokes person, the Rev . Fede ri coL ombard i, sa id Pop e Francis s hare s in thevictim s ' “inde s cribabl e suff eri ng”  and “h eent ru s tst he m t o  th e Lord s oth ey ma y fi n d c omfo rt. ”

M uslim  groups alsocon demn e d t he ki lling s.
"T he Mu slim c ommun it y joins our fel lowAmericans  in  r epu di ating anyone  or  an y group  that w o uld  c l a i mto justify or excu se s uc h an app alling ac to f violen ce ,"read a  stat emen t  f rom theCounci l  o nAmerica n- Islami cRel ati ons.T he F lorida  chapter  also called on theM uslim communi t yt o  t a ke p art  in a blood  dri v e fo r th o se  wo u ndedin th ea tt a ck.

But such words  f rom re ligio us groups pro vided cold c o mfort to  man y  g a y activists.
“Ther e’s such a cognitiv e dis sonancefor me wh e n  publicoff ici als  as k us  to pray when t he m aj ority o f w orld re lig ion s p rom ot e anti-LG BT theol og y, ”sa idEliel Cruz, ex ec uti ve  di recto r  of Fa ith i n Am er ic a , a n organ i za t i on t ha tatte mpt sto en d th e  ha rm to L BGT youth s i t  say sis  caused  by religious  t eachings.
“ Thi s isn’ t isolated  to Muslim beliefs. It’ s  seen i n C hrist iani ty and it ’sjust a s d e adly,”  added  Cruz ,a f o r mer R N S  c olu mn ist.

Just l ast  mont hin C ongress , Rep. Rick W. All e n,from Georgia’ s 1 2thD i st ric t ,l edaR epu b l ican policy gro up’s openi ng pr ayer by re a din gBible p assages  that condemn  homosexu ality and  t hose “ who  by theirunrighte ousness s u ppres s  t he tr uth .”

Al le n r ead f rom Ro m ans  1:28 -32, w hi ch say s: “G od  gave th em over to a depraved m ind, s o tha t t hey do wh ato ugh t not tobe d one. Theyhav e b ecome  fi l led w ithe ve ryk ind o f wi c kedness,e vi l,g r ee d and depra v i t y.Theyare full o f en vy, murder, strif e , deceit and m alic e . ...  Al t houg hthey know God’ s r ig h t eous dec re e that thos e who do  s u ch th ings d eserve  death, t he y  not o nlycon tinue todoth e se very  t hi n gs but  als oapprov e of t h osew h o practice them. .”

A h andfu l  of  bibl ic al pass a gescondemn ho mosexuality . Thes e in clude  perhap sthe mo stof t repeated :  “If a ma n pra cticesho mose xua lity,havi n g  sexwith  a not her man
 months_ago.

If there_was one message in_the massacre,_it_seemed to_be_that LBGT people_are still not_safe, and that religious_teachings -- or_at_least a narrow reading of them -- may be a contributing factor to hatred_against_gays.

Religious leaders_from_Pope_Francis to the Florida chapter_of the Council on American-Islamic_Relations sharply_condemned the shooting.

The Vatican's spokesperson, the Rev. Federico_Lombardi,_said Pope Francis_shares in the victims' “indescribable suffering” and “he entrusts_them to the Lord so they_may find comfort.”

Muslim_groups_also_condemned the killings.

"The Muslim_community joins our fellow Americans in_repudiating anyone or any group that_would claim to justify or excuse such_an appalling act of violence," read_a statement from the Council_on American-Islamic_Relations. The Florida chapter also_called on the_Muslim community_to take part_in a blood drive for those_wounded in the_attack.

But such words from religious groups_provided_cold comfort to_many_gay_activists.

“There’s such_a cognitive dissonance_for_me when_public_officials ask us to pray when_the_majority of world religions promote anti-LGBT theology,”_said Eliel Cruz, executive_director_of Faith in America,_an organization that attempts to_end the harm to LBGT youths_it says_is caused_by religious teachings.

“This isn’t isolated to Muslim beliefs. It’s seen in_Christianity and it’s just as deadly,”_added Cruz, a former_RNS columnist.

Just_last_month in Congress,_Rep._Rick W._Allen, from Georgia’s 12th District, led a_Republican policy_group’s opening prayer by reading Bible_passages that condemn homosexuality_and_those “who by their unrighteousness suppress_the truth.”

Allen read from Romans 1:28-32,_which says: “God gave them_over_to_a depraved mind, so that_they do what ought not to_be done. They_have become filled with every kind of_wickedness,_evil, greed and depravity. They are_full_of envy, murder, strife, deceit and_malice...._Although_they know God’s righteous decree_that those who do such things_deserve death, they not only continue to do these_very things but_also approve of those who_practice_them..”

A_handful of biblical passages condemn homosexuality. These include perhaps the_most oft_repeated: “If a_man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man