Card. Kasper Should Apologise For Racist Remarks About African Bishops

[KnightofChrist]

Cardinal Kasper should apologise for dismissive remarks about African bishops, says pro-family coalition

Source: http://voiceofthefamily.info/wordpress/?p=390

ROME, 15 October 2014: Cardinal Walter Kasper should apologise for dismissive remarks, made in an interview published today, about African bishops and their place in the Synod on the Family.
The cardinal said that the African bishops “should not tell us too much what we have to do”. (See Notes for Editors below). Cardinal Kasper was speaking about the opposition by African bishops to the homosexual agenda. This agenda was inserted into the Synod mid-way report, released on Monday to widespread alarm. (See “Pro-family Catholics reject Synod mid-way report, calling it ‘a betrayal’“)
 
Maria Madise, Voice of the Family’s coordinator, said: “Cardinal Kasper should apologise for his dismissive remarks about African bishops. His remarks are patronising and discriminatory. Cardinal Kasper’s remarks are similar to remarks he made in 2010, when he said that “when you land at Heathrow [airport] you think at times you have landed in a Third World country”. (See “Pope aide pulls out of trip after Third World jibe“, BBC, 15 September 2010)
 
Miss Madise added: “African bishops have equal status in the Synod and have every right to say that the universal Church should maintain its opposition to the homosexual agenda.”
 
In June, John Smeaton, Voice of the Family’ co-founder, was given a standing ovation by Nigeria’s bishops for an address praising them and their country for its pro-family culture. Mr Smeaton said: “Bishops around the world should follow the Nigerian bishops’ lead and speak out for strong policies against the subversion of the truth and meaning of human sexuality.”
Notes for Editors:
From the interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper by Edward Pentin, Zenit, 15 October 2014:
 
[Kasper]: The problem, as well, is that there are different problems of different continents and different cultures. Africa is totally different from the West. Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo. For us, we say we ought not to discriminate, we don’t want to discriminate in certain respects.
 
[Pentin]: But are African participants listened to in this regard?
 
[Kasper]: No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them].
 
[Pentin]: They’re not listened to?
 
[Kasper]: In Africa of course [their views are listened to], where it’s a taboo.
 
[Pentin]: What has changed for you, regarding the methodology of this synod?
 
[Kasper]: I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve. There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.

[CrossCuT]

Ive seen soooo many of this "Oh-em-gee Kasper is totes a racist! REPENT! REPENT!!!" All over my news feed from friends. 

If only the same people and the larger pop of Catholics in general were this vigilant about the molestation cases and bringing justice to those victims instead of sweeping it all under the rug. 

 

Or does racism take precedence? It makes me sad. 

[KnightofChrist]

It is my opinion that priests who betray their vows and commit the vile act of raping a child should be laicized and be subject to capital punishment. Bishops and Cardinals who coverup their vile sin and crime should also be laicized and serve the rest of their lives in prison.

 

I can find both sick and vile, the molestation cases are simply and clearly much more sick and vile.

 

[Ice_nine]

Ive seen soooo many of this "Oh-em-gee Kasper is totes a racist! REPENT! REPENT!!!" All over my news feed from friends. 

If only the same people and the larger pop of Catholics in general were this vigilant about the molestation cases and bringing justice to those victims instead of sweeping it all under the rug. 

 

Is it really constructive when, someone brings up an issue, you bring up some other issue and say "why don't you do something about THAT instead."

 

I could also ask you why you're wasting time berating Catholic believers on an internet message board instead of going out into the real world and actually addressing the problems in that world that grieve you so.

 

Why are you on the internet? There's people out there starving. Stop being so selfish and go feed them.

[CrossCuT]

It is my opinion that priests who betray their vows and commit the vile act of raping a child should be laicized and be subject to capital punishment. Bishops and Cardinals who coverup their vile sin and crime should also be laicized and serve the rest of their lives in prison.

 

I can find both sick and vile, the molestation cases are simply and clearly much more sick and vile.

 

I wouldnt go so far as to say they should die, but definitely agree something more should be done. 

[Gabriela]

Is it really constructive when, someone brings up an issue, you bring up some other issue and say "why don't you do something about THAT instead."

 

Nope, and it's officially fallacious: It's called the red herring fallacy, often used to draw attention away from an issue that the user doesn't wish to have criticized.

[Benedictus]

Cardinal Kasper does seem over keen to speak to the media to make his thoughts known. Given the nature of his standing and the process being conducted I think he should sometimes stand back a bit more in public. The church has its own media and PR people and they are better set to deal with these issues. Kasper has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth, so I think he should think twice before giving interviews and so on. I personally question why Kasper is on the synod in the first place, as he is retired. I suspect that is why he has grown more vocal in recent years.

I think it's clear some Bishops and Cardinals see this synod as a power struggle, and I guess the media sees that as well. I think it was clear Kasper was going to be criticised at some point and he didn't mitigate the risks. Everyone knows that once you make claims that upset people it's likely they will attempt to assassinate your character publicly in some way. The trouble is Kasper has things he can be called out on, under his leadership he didn't exactly leave the Catholic community in his country in a better place.

 

I think if the Bishops become overly entrenched in factions it will undermine the spirit of the process. In that way I don't think Kasper, and others besides, are being very constructive in a way that will open up dialogue. It may even be counterproductive.

In terms of his comments regarding Africa - I agree with the criticisms about the nature of how he expressed what he had to say. Whilst I don't believe any faction of Bishops, regardless of where they are from, should attempt to dominate the process. There are cultural variations and challenges in various places, which I think Kasper was trying to say. However, i think he did it in a poor way and it seemed to be dismissive and prejudicial.

I think some Cardinals and Bishops, from Europe and North America, sometimes believe the power rests with them. They have been slow and stubborn to redistribute the power they currently hold, despite the fact their own continents have declining Catholic populations and influence. There should be more representation, and a shift in recognition, towards areas that have large number of Catholics and or growing momentum. I think the Cardinals had to recognise this, to some extent, when appointing Pope Francis. But it is clear more needs to be done. It can't simply be a tokenistic measure.

[Nihil Obstat]

Apparently, in spite of decisive proof to the contrary, Kasper has denied giving the interview in question.

 

http://edwardpentin.co.uk/statement-on-cardinal-kasper-interview/

[veritasluxmea]

 

Edit: Apparently after he denied the interview the reporter published the audio. https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-cardinal-kasper-denies-making-comments-about-african-bishops-repor

Edited October 16, 2014 by veritasluxmea

[Nihil Obstat]

It bears mentioning that the Church in Africa is even older than the Church in Germany. :P

[John Ryan]

This just seems like partisan hackery, since if a conservative bishop had made a similar remark about liberal German bishops, I bet the tone would be the inverse. It appears clear that both the conservative-traditionalists and the so-called liberals do not value the opinions of the other side in good faith. It is a sad day when the governance of the One Holy and Catholic Apostolic Church becomes more and more like the partisan hackery of secular government. 

 

The process will lead to whatever end it will, and we have to trust in the Holy Ghost to guide us and the Church. The difference, it seems to me, is that the liberal faction is in no way contemplating heresy. It seems to me that if the liberal bishop ideology becomes adopted by the Church that many of those on the right will fall into heresy and abjure the Church.

Edited October 16, 2014 by John Ryan

[Nihil Obstat]

This just seems like partisan hackery, since if a conservative bishop had made a similar remark about liberal German bishops, I bet the tone would be the inverse. It appears clear that both the conservative-traditionalists and the so-called liberals do not value the opinions of the other side in good faith. It is a sad day when the governance of the One Holy and Catholic Apostolic Church becomes more and more like the partisan hackery of secular government.

The process will lead to whatever end it will, and we have to trust in the Holy Ghost to guide us and the Church. The difference, it seems to me, is that the liberal faction is in no way contemplating heresy. It seems to me that if the liberal bishop ideology becomes adopted by the Church that many of those on the right will fall into heresy and abjure the Church.

Yikes, what Synod are you watching? I cannot help but seriously doubt your credibility in this.

[John Ryan]

Yikes, what Synod are you watching? I cannot help but seriously doubt your credibility in this.

 

Eh, I am probably just trying to be inflammatory. Or maybe my view of this issue is through friends and family rather than the bishops themselves. Probably the latter. And, sorry, in the second paragraph, I meant the laity, not the conservative-traditionalist bishops. I know some people who are going to break from the Church if "gays are allowed to partake of the Eucharist."

[Basilisa Marie]

I wish they'd just shut their traps and get back to trying to figure out how to address our problems. 

It's a rather disgusting (and revealing) comment from Kasper. He's probably thinking along the lines of "oh em gee they're a bunch of nasty homophobes who would rather see gay people get the death penalty than pastoral care," which I'm sure is true of a minority of Catholics there, but that's also true of a minority of Catholics here. You can't just make sweeping comments about a group of people, that's Liberal 101 (unless you're knocking radtrads, of course ;) ).  

 

It also reeks of Western superiority, which is another big Liberal no-no. 

[truthfinder]

I know some people who are going to break from the Church if "gays are allowed to partake of the Eucharist."

Well, gays are allowed to receive communion; those who are unchaste are not.  Just as unchaste straight people.