New Pope condemns Spain gay bill

BBC ^ | April 22 | Robert Piggott

[metalmanx2j]

Pope Benedict XVI has responded firmly to the first challenge of his papacy by condemning a Spanish government bill allowing marriage between homosexuals.

The bill, passed by parliament's Socialist-dominated lower house, also allows gay couples to adopt.

A senior Vatican official described the bill - which is likely to become law within a few months - as iniquitous.

He said Roman Catholic officials should be prepared to lose their jobs rather than co-operate with the law.

The bill would make Spain the first European country to allow homosexual people to marry and adopt children.

Belgium and the Netherlands only allow same-sex marriages. It is also a dramatic step in the rapid secularisation of what was once one of the most devoutly Roman Catholic countries in Europe.

The head of the Vatican's Pontifical Council on the Family, Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo, denounced the legislation as profoundly iniquitous.

Secular state

Interviewed in the Italian newspaper, Corriere de la Serra, Cardinal Lopez Trujillo said the Church was making an urgent call for freedom of conscience for Roman Catholics and appealing to them to resist the law.

He said every profession linked with implementing homosexual marriages should oppose it, even if it meant losing their jobs.

The cardinal insisted that just because something was made law it did not make it right.

Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero took office a year ago making it clear he intended to remove what he called the church's undeniable advantages and make Spain a secular state.

There are likely to be further tensions with Pope Benedict XVI. Mr Zapatero has made it clear that he intends to streamline divorce law and even to relax the conditions placed on abortion.

[Rutles4Ever]

I don't doubt Pope Benedict's sentiments, but the title is very misleading. This came from the cardinal, not the Pope.

But still - "Hear hear!"

[Rutles4Ever]

Well... now that I read it again, since he was Head of the Pontificate Council, I guess that implies he is speaking on behalf of the Pope on this matter.

I stand corrected.

[MikefromOhio]

When is the next election in Spain?

[Pyro7480]

Thanks to pookie18 for pointing out these cartoons.

[MisterRepublican]

You beat me to posting this by 2 minutes. Good to see the new Pope is hitting the ground running.

[July 4th]

A good start for the Pope.

[b4its2late]

Sweet. That ought to get the libs panties all tied up in knots... LOL!

Though I gag to think picturing it....

[gidget7]

I saw on one of the news stations the other night, that the Vatican had issued an email address for the new Pope. Did anyone else see it, and by chance, right it down?

[TheDon]

...a Spanish government bill allowing marriage between homosexuals. The bill, passed by parliament's Socialist-dominated lower house, also allows gay couples to adopt.

Unfortunate news from Spain.

[pookie18]

Thanks to pookie18 for pointing out these cartoons.

There'll be more on Monday!

[wideawake]

I think it was wise for the Pope to use the most prestigious Spanish prelate as his spokesman on this one.

[MisterRepublican]

The DUmmies are in high dudgeon over this, of course.
A typical response:

"Who the hell is he to tell others what they can do?
I dont like him already with this call."

[SweetCaroline]

Benedictxvi@vatican.va

[X. OTerica]

This posting is a bit more complex than it first appears.

- The Apostle Paul condemned the sin of homosexuality.
- Paul (and Jesus also) admonished Christians to submit to civil authority.

Thus, condemnation of the Spanish legislation as “iniquitous” by the Roman Catholic Church is totally understandable; encouraging officials and employees not to obey the law is more problematic. While it can be argued that just because something is made law does not make it right, the fact remains that it is still the law.

Perhaps, as Paul writes in the book of Romans, this truly is a matter of conscience, and is best left at that.

It is fit and proper for religious authorities to speak out on sin; however, religious advocacy of civil disobedience is not Biblical.

[gidget7]

Thanks SC!!!

[Antoninus]

Belgium and the Netherlands only allow same-sex marriages. It is also a dramatic step in the rapid secularisation of what was once one of the most devoutly Roman Catholic countries in Europe.

Ah, so accepting sodomite marriages is a hallmark of the "secular" state, eh? Sounds like a good reason to oppose such states at all costs.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

also allows gay couples to adopt.

Spain has such a low birthrate, this won't even be an issue.

[Antoninus]

- Paul (and Jesus also) admonished Christians to submit to civil authority. Thus, condemnation of the Spanish legislation as “iniquitous” by the Roman Catholic Church is totally understandable; encouraging officials and employees not to obey the law is more problematic. While it can be argued that just because something is made law does not make it right, the fact remains that it is still the law.

Uh, you need to do a little more study on Christian teaching and civil law. It was civil law during the Roman Empire to sacrifice to the Cult of the Emperor. You could be forced to do it. Christians resisted and were executed for not adhering to this "law." No one would argue that these martyrs were disobeying the teachings of Christ or St. Paul. Many of them are saints.

The Church has always taught that when civil law and Divine Law are at odds, civil law may not only be set aside, but it must be vigorously resisted. This case in Spain is a perfect example.

[Rutles4Ever]

It is NEVER okay to facilitate or submit to immoral laws. Period.

If the law says "kill your neighbor's firstborn son", you are REQUIRED to disobey that law.