Posted on 12/28/2014 1:45:11 PM PST by ebb tide
The Bishop of Antwerp, Johan Bonny advocates an ecclesiastical recognition of homosexual relationships. The dogma that the Catholic Church can only accept male-female relationships, he put in question in an interview with this newspaper. "There should be a diversity of recognition forms."
With his plea Bonny, is one of the first church leaders who attacks the absolute monopoly of the male-female marriage. "We have to look inside the church for a formal recognition of the relationality which is also present in many gay couples. As a variety of legal frameworks in society exist for partners, he wants to instate a diversity of recognition forms in the church."
Bonny, the designated (in fact, for the time being, most likely) successor of Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard, who will retire in 2015, believes that gay couples should be able to get a church blessing. Moreover, he argues that a homosexual relationship can also satify the criteria of a religious marriage. "The intrinsic values are more important to me than the institutional demand. The Christian ethic is based on lasting relationships where exclusivity, loyalty and care are central to each other.
Bringing up children With a subtle formulation Bonny also puts the male-female Catholic monopoly for bringing up children in question. "Then there is the openness to new life, or at least the responsibility taken up by partners to be generous in what they provide to children."
In September, the Antwerp bishop wrote a letter to the Vatican on this matter. Among others, he include the idea that the church urgently needs to find a connection in modern society, explains why Bonny emphasises the matter. "Everyone gets to make his or her life with relationships, friendship, family and children's upbringing. We should not deny that this existed within the church injuries and traumas. Too many people were excluded for a long time."
Canon lawyer and the Rector of the (Cathcon-once) Catholic University of Leuven, Rik Torfs considers Bonny's message as a turning point: "Do not underestimate the significance of this. Bonny advocates a change in long-held unshakable principles, something that the dogmatic pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI no bishop could afford to do. "
Ping
Does he have someone special in mind? Inquiring minds want to know.
Ugh. Why doesn’t he just quit and join the Anglican Church?
Defrock this fool.
Is this canonist implying that Francis is leading a non-dogmatic pontificate?
That’s totally how I took it.
Should it be Bishop “Bonnie”?
Oh, although I know I don’t have to tell you, that wouldn’t be a “Catholic” bishop at all.
Exactly how many in the hierarchy actually are?
Send him to the episcopals !
Right after he’s retired he wants to tie the knot with his boyfriend. The truth is the matter is this idiot is a heretic and needs to be shot down by Francis immediately, but the chances of that happening are slim to next to none. He’s a liberal, Francis’ favorite cardinals.
>>Send him to the episcopals !<<
What, no Methodists are available? ;)
If this man is not deposed within days, Francis shares fully in his heresy and his sin.
Of course, Francis doesn’t care that 95% of American and European bishops are in the state of mortal sin—i.e., they insist on giving Communion to pro-abortion public figures.
Far from being censured for this, it appears as if his star is on the rise and he's now being mentioned as the next Ordinary of the See of Brussels, which would mean a red hat and a vote in the next conclave.
It's hard to keep up with the insanity presently emanating from Germany, Austria, Holland and Belgium. These countries are leading the push towards schism.
not a chance that homosexual marriage could ever be authorized by the Catholic church.....ain’t going to happen....ever.
If they want him, they can have him
Its great to be a sinner these day because you can go to church and have bishops embrace your sin.
Got link to his website?
Also, got a source to the backstory you tell here?
Thanks!
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.