Paco Bello is a Catholic priest who wants to spread the message that Jesus had to put up with a lot of controversy and prejudice during his short visit to Earth - kind of like a certain group of people. That’s right: Los gays! Father Bello raised a rainbow flag for 24 hours on the facade of his church during Pride Week to symbolize his allegiance to the gay community and what he feels is their rightful place as wholly accepted members within the Catholic Church and the secular community. And maybe to play Jesus himself. Just a lil.’ Below, some juicy excerpts from his interview with 20 Minutos:

Your gesture doesn’t quite gel with the idea the Church sets forth regarding homosexuals. What do you think about the question of whether gays should be granted permission to marry and adopt children?

I think its their right to unite themselves in marriage. Take note that until 12th century the Church had sanctified union among homosexuals. So says Boswell is his book Same-Sex Weddings (Muchnik Editores S.A.). As for adoption, I’m totally on board. What children need is love, comprehension… If someone approaches me saying that children adopted by gay people might become gay themselves, I’d counter with the fact that gay people we know today have been the product of heterosexual unions. So, that argument doesn’t really fly.

And then he turned some water into Zima. He can do anything! Father Bello, while not gay himself (although, serious question, can priests really publicly claim a sexual persona at all?), says he feels connected to the GLBT community because, like Christ, they’ve had to face oppression. He also says he’s glad to have put up the flag, because its done so much to foster discussion throughout Spain. Which, if you’ve had any contact with Spain, you’d know is slightly homophobic:

Did you expect such a blacklash to your decision to fly the flag?

Truthfully, no. I thought it was a way of showing solidarity to a marginalized group and that symbols help us to reflect. In fact, the flag has helped spark debate not only in this neighborhood, but in others throughout Spain.

We kind of want to hug Father Bello and bake him a cupcake. SMOOSH YOUR LITTLE FACE!

And then maybe even attend mass. Maybe. While some could say that Father Bello’s actions were, for all intents and purposes, technically sacreligious where Catholic teachings are concerned, we can’t help but feel it’s in line with Christianity all the same.

Paco Bello, el cura que izó la bandera gay: “Jesucristo enarboló muchas banderas” [20 minutos]