New York Mets player and outspoken Christian Daniel Murphy said in an interview this week that he disagreed with the gay lifestyle "100 per cent" but that would not stop him investing in someone who is homosexual.
The second baseman's comments followed a spring training camp visit from Major League Baseball's ambassador for inclusion Billy Bean, who is gay.
Murphy told NJ.com : "I do disagree with the fact that Billy is a homosexual. That doesn't mean I can't still invest in him and get to know him. I don't think the fact that someone is a homosexual should completely shut the door on investing in them in a relational aspect. Getting to know him. That, I would say, you can still accept them but I do disagree with the lifestyle, 100 per cent."
He did say that he would be ok with a gay player joining the team.
He also said that Christians "Maybe... haven't been as articulate enough in describing what our actual stance is on homosexuality.
"We love the people. We disagree with the lifestyle," he said.
"It's the same way that there are aspects of my life that I'm trying to surrender to Christ in my own life," Murphy added. "There's a great deal of many things, like my pride. I just think that as a believer trying to articulate it in a way that says just because I disagree with the lifestyle doesn't mean I'm just never going to speak to Billy Bean every time he walks through the door. That's not love. That's not love at all."
Bean responded to the comments in a blog. He said he had great respect for Murphy "as a family man" but hoped that one day Murphy would be able to see things from his perspective.
"When I took this job at MLB, I knew it was going to take time for many to embrace my message of inclusion," he wrote. "Expecting everyone to be supportive right away is simply not realistic... This doesn't change the way I go about my business, or my belief in what I am doing, but it's reality.
"I appreciate that Daniel spoke his truth. I really do... He was brave to share his feelings, and it made me want to work harder and be a better example that someday might allow him to view things from my perspective, if only for just a moment," Bean added.
"I respect him, and I want everyone to know that he was respectful of me. We have baseball in common, and for now, that might be the only thing. But it's a start."
Bean said that the "silver lining" to Murphy's comments was that he was prepared to work invest in and work with someone who is gay.
Inclusion, he said, meant including everyone, even those who disagreed with his sexual orientation. "It took me 32 years to fully accept my sexual orientation, so it would be hypocritical of me to not be patient with others," he wrote.
