Pope Francis' Comments On Gay Priests

[Era Might]

The media is a hoot, the Pope makes a simple comment on a trip, and it's a moment of world revolution...I laughed out loud at a New York Times article calling his comments "breathtaking." Get a grip lol. And please, I can't bear another article quote from a "scholar of religion" or "professor of the intersection of religion, society, and Sesame Street" or a "thinker about things big and small."

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[penguin31]

The picture of The Church that the majority of the media has is generally that it's staunchly anti-gay.  The church's official position is and was that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered" (CCC 2357)...but just a couple of sentences later it's noted that "They [men and women with homosexual tendencies] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition." (CCC 2358)

Most non-Catholics know the first part, but most don't know - or don't care to know - the second part.  Heck, even some staunch but well-meaning Catholics occasionally seem to forget 2358.  What Pope Francis said is absolutely nothing new under the sun for those actually familiar with the Church's teachings - most people in the secular world just weren't that aware, either due to ignorance or malice or both.

Quoting the late Fulton Sheen: “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”


 

[Era Might]

Eh, the media is just stupid.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[Lil Red]

what did Pope Francis say? 

 

[Amppax]

what did Pope Francis say? 

 

Here http://bit.ly/1c6u0Sp

 

:like: 

[CrossCuT]

Seems like he said something along the lines of

 

 

"If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem … they’re our brothers."

And honestly...I agree.

Why does a priests sexuality matter when he takes the vows of celibacy anyways? Does being homosexual automatically mean you suddenly lose ALL propriety and have uncontrollable urges to sleep with people?

Everyone makes mistakes even the straight priests.

And arent we called to be saints despite the difficulties we are faced in life? 

[Amppax]

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccatheduc/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_20051104_istruzione_en.html

 

Some of the articles that I have read are putting it at odds with this 2005 document signed by Benedict. So... it seems like the media is spinning this as a Francis vs. Benedict, or Francis vs. Tradition thing. I'm confident it's not, considering all the articles only quote about 1 line of what he said, but at least currently that's the issue.  

[Era Might]

What he said is common sense...what is he going to do, go on a witchhunt for priests who have homosexual attractions? Pope Benedict would not have done that either. They're priests, help them be good priests, like any other priest.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[Apotheoun]

What he said is common sense...what is he going to do, go on a witchhunt for priests who have homosexual attractions? Pope Benedict would not have done that either. They're priests, help them be good priests, like any other priest.

It is common sense if you ignore the Church's teaching that the homosexual condition is an objective disorder. By the way it is not a witch-hunt to say that men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies should not be ordained to the priesthood, which is what the Vatican document referenced above is focused upon.

 

That said, Pope Francis needs to learn that making off the cuff remarks when you are in a position of authority is not wise. Should men afflicted with the homosexual condition be ordained? No. Frankly, if I have to choose between the Church's moral Tradition and what Pope Francis says on the spur of the moment in an interview while flying back to Rome . . . I'm going to go with Tradition every time.

[Era Might]

It is common sense if you ignore the Church's teaching that the homosexual condition is an objective disorder. By the way it is not a witch-hunt to say that men with deep-seated homosexual tendencies should not be ordained to the priesthood, which is what the Vatican document referenced above is focused upon.

 

That said, Pope Francis needs to learn that making off the cuff remarks when you are in a position of authority is not wise. Should men afflicted with the homosexual condition be ordained? No. Frankly, if I have to choose between the Church's moral Tradition and what Pope Francis says on the spur of the moment in an interview while flying back to Rome . . . I'm going to go with Tradition every time.

 

The church does not require people to seek out priests with homosexual tendencies and throw them out of the priesthood. That would be a witchhunt.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[Apotheoun]

The church does not require people to seek out priests with homosexual tendencies and throw them out of the priesthood.

And where exactly did I say that? I said that the Vatican document linked above pointed out the disordered nature of the homosexual condition and that men who are identified with that position should not be allowed to be ordained. That is not the same as saying that a person who suffers from that disorder who is already ordained needs to be "sought out" and removed. Although if a priest where to come forward and self-identify as "gay" I think that his bishop should seriously consider laicizing him. It is one think to struggle with a disorder and quite another thing to make the disorder into a personally identifying characteristic.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Apotheoun

[Era Might]

And where exactly did I say that?

 

You didn't say that, I said that. That's the context of the Pope's comments, priests who are gay. They are priests and brothers with the Pope.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[Apotheoun]

You didn't say that, I said that. That's the context of the Pope's comments, priests who are gay.

I'm sorry, I saw your post as a response to my own post. I guess I cannot read your mind. Of course the fact that you quoted my post made me think you were responding to me. God bless.

[Era Might]

I'm sorry, I saw your post as a response to my own post. I guess I cannot read your mind. Of course the fact that you quoted my post made me think you were responding to me. God bless.

 

Yes, I was responding to your post which was responding to my post with nothing that had to do with my post. You don't have to read my mind, just my post.

Edited July 29, 2013 by Era Might

[Apotheoun]

They are priests and brothers with the Pope.

Well, if a man who suffers from the homosexual condition is ordained it follows logically that he is a priest. You cannot be "ordained" and not be a priest after the laying on of hands and prayer. And all men are brothers. So I do not see a man afflicted with the homosexual condition as my brother because he is afflicted with that disorder; instead, I see him as my brother because we share a common human nature, and by the incarnation we are both called to union with God by living our lives according to the natural and supernatural virtues.