“I was completely surprised,” says pastor Jan Veldt, who received a ribbon on Wednesday evening after his years of commitment to gay rights in the Roman Catholic Church. The unexpected tribute does him good: “It is a huge confirmation of how I view life.”
“It was a complete surprise for me,” 90-year-old Jan Veldt shares on the phone. Yesterday evening he was royally decorated in the Protestant church of Limmen. He was recognized for all the work he did during his life. Because despite his old age, the militant pastor has been particularly committed to homosexuals in the Roman Catholic Church in recent years.
This is how he previously distinguished himself within the Roman Catholic Church by blessing a gay couple. At the end of 2022, the diocese announced that he would no longer be allowed to lead public Eucharist celebrations. The sanctions have recently been withdrawn and fortunately he can lead church celebrations again. He also supports the fight for equal rights in the Roman Catholic Church through the Roman Catholic Gay Emancipation foundation.
Unexpected
At first Veldt thought it wasn’t about him. “I was prepared for the mayor’s arrival, but I thought: fortunately Limmen is coming into the picture a bit.” It wasn’t until she took off her coat and he saw her chain of office that the penny dropped that something was about to happen.
“The very first thing I thought was: yes, but I am not eligible for a royal award at all. Maybe I will get the honorary medal from the municipality of Castricum, well that’s fine with me,” he says, laughing.
The modest pastor was completely perplexed when it turned out to be about him. “I was hardly aware of the significance of that award,” says Veldt. But after a good night’s sleep he is completely recovered and has now been able to settle down.
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As a reward for his good work, the mayor pinned the decorations on Veldt. “The many expressions of support that I have read are special, moving and indicate that you are a unique person,” Mayor Karen Heerschop said about him.
Huge confirmation
“I have to be honest and tell you that I don’t think it’s a credit to myself at all. Because I think I just did what I had to do,” said Veldt. That’s why he doesn’t pat himself on the back. “Others do that,” he says, laughing. But for him it is a huge confirmation of how he views life.
The ribbon is a great encouragement to continue his work at the RK Homo-Emancipation foundation. “Because that’s what it’s all about,” he emphasizes. “What I also hope now is that the work continues as usual.”