| This thread has been locked, it will not receive new replies. |
|
Locked on 04/19/2005 3:12:01 PM PDT by Admin Moderator, reason:
Troll bait |
Posted on 04/19/2005 12:17:59 PM PDT by rface
"I am very disappointed at the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger as pope," said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which serves U.S. gay and lesbian Catholics. "He has been a lightning rod for the anger that many lesbian and gay people and other progressive Catholics have felt during the papacy of John Paul II."
White smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel and bells heralded the election of a new pope on Tuesday, but the symbolism lacked joy for many LGBT Catholics once they learned the new pope is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany.
The 78-year-old ultraconservative cardinal has been the doctrinal guardian for the church as prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith since 1981. Liberals often refer to him as "God's rottweiler" because of his reputation for cracking down on dissenters, including those who have challenged the church's teachings on homosexuality.
Ratzinger, who takes the name Benedict XVI as pope, has been one of the most powerful men in the Vatican and was Pope John Paul's chief theological adviser for the past 20 years.
After the traditional white smoke signal and bell-ringing in St. Peter's Square, the new pope greeted a cheering crowd on Tuesday and offered his first papal blessing.
Cheering was not offered, however, from many liberals and gay Catholics.
"I am very disappointed at the selection of Cardinal Ratzinger as pope," said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, which serves U.S. gay and lesbian Catholics. "He has been a lightning rod for the anger that many lesbian and gay people and other progressive Catholics have felt during the papacy of John Paul II."
"He has been notorious in his resolve to silence discussion," DeBernardo told the PlanetOut Network. "He authored the 1986 'Letter to the Bishops on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons,' which attempted to end welcoming pastoral approaches to lesbian and gay people, and tried to end the discussion on homosexuality."
Matt Foreman, a gay Catholic who is also head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, called the new pope's record "one of unrelenting, venomous hatred for gay people."
"Someday, the church will apologize to gay people as it has to others it has oppressed in the past," Foreman said in a statement. "I very much doubt that this day will come during this pope's reign. In fact, it seems inevitable that this pope will cause even more pain and give his successors even more for which to seek atonement."
Laura Montgomery Rutt, a spokeswoman for the U.S. group Soulforce that fights "spiritual violence" against LGBT people, recalled trying to meet for a dialogue with Ratzinger in Rome in 2001. His administrators refused and threatened to call the police.
"His refusal to meet with us indicates his unwillingness to even acknowledge the Spirit evident in the lives of LGBT people," Rutt said. "The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the office from which he was promoted, was the old office of the Inquisition, and now he brings the Inquisition to his appointment as pope."
as if a Catholic Cardinal gives a flip about what a bunch of Catholic hating gay people thinks.....
Why don't they just get it over with and join a church friendlier to their lifestyle. The Catholic Church obviously isn't for them.
Andrew Sullivan is pitching a hysterical hissy fit over at his site. What's the over/under on days till he renounces his catholic faith?
More ringing endorsements that this was an excellent selection.
Please, no references to gay men and over/under.
Why is this guy surprised? Geezy, peezy. Whine, whine, whine.
I'm liking this guy more and more. If anyone will clean out the seminaries, it's him.
His panties seem to be especially wadded today.
Much like the liberals moving into the Republican Party under the auspices of "Mainstream" (LCR), their objective is to undermine from within.
Its easier to place the explosives in the engine room from INSIDE the ship than to attack it from the outside.
I'm glad the Catholic church demonstrated some wisdom.
This reaction just tells me that a good choice was made. hehehee
Why do the fags have to think it is all about them? They are just freeks of nature, any nobody cares what they think ot want.
Get your lives in order, Ms. Rutt, and see what happens with the SPIRIT.
Proof that we have the right Pope at the right time!
My thoughts exactly.
I'm sure the Vicky Gene Robinson brand Episcopalians would welcome them.
Those with same sex attration are called to chastity. In a society with religious freedom, one does not have to follow this call, but you don't have a right to insist that the Church change her teachings to bless your preferred lifestyle.
The Holy Spirit was with the conclave, if they don't like what the Holy Spirit had to say, that's their problem.
Regards, Ivan
What is really entertaining about this whole deal, is that the LEFT WAS TOTALLY PREDICTED even before the new Pope was announced. The left, I feel, is so stupid, they think what they are saying, trying to demonize this man because he is not a permissive leftist, and has values, is not calculatable. They are TOTALLY PREDICTABLE, especially now that the frothing leftist MSM, has blown its self (and its credibility) out of the water.
This is fun in a way to watch the forces of good easily trump of the evil, ethicless, Godless being of the left.
Run YOU LEFTIST COCKROACHES, FROM THE LIGHT OF GOOD!!!
If God Himself explicitly condemns homosexuality, how can gays or lesbians be surprised that the Pope would condemn it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.