Dear Editor: I just read about the speech that Tim Kaine made at The Human Rights Campaign Dinner. He spoke about how his views on marriage equality have “evolved.”

He said, “While he always fought against discrimination in all forms, he once viewed marriage as something “separate” in line with his Catholic beliefs. He said his children helped him see the importance of marriage equality, and Kaine even went so far as to predict the Catholic Church would likewise change its stance toward gay marriage.”

I find this speech offensive on so many levels I do not know where to begin. I think the first thing that outraged me was that our supposedly “Catholic” vice presidential nominee has given the impression that the Catholic stance on gay marriage is “out of touch.”

Secondly, in an attempt to pander for votes he predicts that the Church will one day see the error of its ways (not Kaine’s actual words, but this is the picture he presented) and change its stance on gay marriage?

Who the heck is Tim Kaine to predict anything regarding Church teaching? The Church teaching on gay marriage is clear and if Tim Kaine feels he has “evolved” past those teachings, then he needs to stop identifying as a Catholic, and leave any mention of church teaching out of his political speeches.

I applaud and love Pope Francis for making it clear that we should be “non” judgmental toward our gay brothers and sisters, and yes ,we need to give them the love and respect they deserve as children of God.

But to give false hope to them by predicting a change in our Church teachings that may never come about to gain votes is despicable. To give the impression that our teachings need to change in the first place is just outrageous.

ROSEMARIE DEPTULA

Woodside