Italian lesbian author gets papal blessing

Yahoo News India ^ | August 28, 2015 | AFP

[Jan_Sobieski]

Pope Francis has sent his blessing to a lesbian author of children's books dealing with same-sex families, wishing her and her wife well in their work, it emerged on Friday. As Vatican officials scrambled to clarify that the message was simply a standard courtesy which did not signal any change in Church teaching on the subject, the author told AFP she had been pleasantly surprised to have received such a positive response.

Francesca Pardi, who writes and publishes books such as "Why you have two mummies", wrote to Francis in June after the publishing company she runs with her wife came under fire from Christian groups. She included examples of her works, some of which have recently been controversially withdrawn from nurseries and primary schools by a new mayor in Venice.

"My books present different types of families without setting any of them up as a model," Pardi told AFP, praising the pope for having responded in a manner that showed "respect and dignity" towards her, her wife and their four children.

"It was not important for me that it was the pope who said it, I am not a Catholic. But it is important to see that we are not up against a wall. A dialogue is possible," she added. "Books are to be opened, to be read and to be criticised. What you don't do is ban them."

In his message, the pope wished the two women "ever more fruitful work in the service of young generations and in spreading authentic human and Christian values." Francis has signalled that he wants the Church to adopt a more pragmatic and understanding approach to the situation of believers living in gay relationships, an attitude reflected in his famous "who am I to judge" remark on the subject...

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Both Protestantism and Catholicism started letting “people “ down 4-5 decades ago.
As the bible states, “you reap what you sow”, and the churches have let the masses down. Now the the “masses” are entering the western world in droves, and it makes one ponder whether it was made to order.
However, the churches miscalculated, It wasn’t Christians entering the “Pearly Gates”, but “The Mongol Hordes.”

[Obadiah]

By biblical standards, this man, the Pope, is an anti-Christ.

[MplsSteve]

Sorry, I should have inserted a saracasm tag in my previous post.

Gosh yes, I almost think that he is a Communist. At the bar minimum, he’s a Socialist.

But we should have expected nothing less when the House of Cardinals picked a Jesuit to lead the Church. Jesuits are more or less religious Communists.

[BunnySlippers]

The Pope does not withhold blessings even though the person may be a sinner.

Standard Papal stuff as long as I can remember from two decades in Catholic school.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

Yup.

Pope Che is out there.

As a Catholic, I’m disgusted.

[stephenjohnbanker]

No joke.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I do think it's pretty much an automatic process nowadays that if you write a children's book, put out a music CD, make tie-dyed T-shirts, carve cute little olivewood figurines or whatever and send one to the Pope, you get back a papal blessing. Until fairly recently i wasn't a thing that had to be closely vetted.

However this has to stop.

It's seriously wrong, and sends a highly corrupting message. Blessings aren't tchotchkes or souvenirs and this lady and her book definitely didn't need to be "haloed" with a papal blessing.

[Arthur McGowan]

This Pope has a fascination with male and female homosexuals, and trannies. He pursues them to the ends of the earth, to snuggle with them—in some cases physically.

His favorites in the American hierarchy happen to be the most notorious homosexuals.

[tbpiper]

Since when has homosexuality been an “authentic Christian value”?

[Arthur McGowan]

This is the worst Pope in 300 years.

But the decision to leave the Catholic Church is never correct. The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ. All others are schismatic.

[Trailerpark Badass]

The Pope didn’t even sign the letter; a staffer did. It highly unlikely the books were even read. People here are acting like retards.

[grania]

The things this pope is doing frighten me

He does not seem to be the person to be in that position now. The world needs an uncompromising warrior who will fight for traditional Christian principles. Without that, how does the Church spread an inspiring message to counter the evil and decadence that are destroying civilization?

JMHO

[sportutegrl]

When I first read this I say Paypal Blessing.

How does the Paypal Blessing go again?

[mkjessup]

By biblical standards, this man, the Pope, is an anti-Christ.

He certainly seems influenced by the spirit of antichrist, although I do not believe he is 'the' antichrist, he is however (in my view) a very strong candidate for the Biblical 'false prophet' who directs the world to worship the Beast (Final Antichrist).

There are some very disturbing things going on in the Vatican (which is nothing new to most of us), the most shocking thing I've seen lately is the revelation (no pun intended) that there is a bizarre sculpture of Lucifer/Satan 'taking his throne' in the very depths of the Vatican, which leads to more questions than it provides answers:

[Jolla]

I stopped attending mass about a year ago due to this pope, every time I think about going back, I see another press release like this one.

[AU72]

Benedict is probably regretting his abdication.

[Lera]

He blesses perversion

Bible verses about Sexual Perversion
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/278/Sexual-Perversion.htm

This should not surprise us though as perversion and idolatry go hand in hand .

Sad to see that this marxist is coming to speak to our congress .

[Twinkie]

Primitive Catholic Groups? I don’t know. Seems I remember Mel Gibson was in some sort of “other” Catholic group; but don’t know specifics.

My ancestors were French Huguenots (Maupin); so I’m afraid I’m not much up on Catholic stuff. Those folks were too busy FLEEING the Catholic priests for Holland, then to England, then to America to Williamsburg to fight in the Revolution. - Got land grants. I think by the time all their many kids inherited land; there wasn’t much left to hand down.

[Mr Rogers]

“I remember when “Is the Pope Catholic?” was a sarcastic comment, not a serious question.”

It is still a sarcastic question. But now, the assumed answer is “No!”

[mkjessup]

This is the worst Pope in 300 years.
But the decision to leave the Catholic Church is never correct. The Catholic Church is the Church founded by Jesus Christ. All others are schismatic.

Arthur my FRiend, it isn't what church you belong to that determines your eternal fate, it is whether or not you are saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ shed upon the Cross for you, I'm sure we can agree on that. No number of Hail Marys will do a thing for your salvation, "there is but one intercessor between God and man, which is Christ Jesus" (paraphrased from John Wesley).

There are no doubt many many committed Christians in the Catholic Church, however the hierarchy of that organization has become corrupt and filled with every sort of foul spirit, and we see that manifested (as you have observed) in the current Pope.

I read a very profound book as a young man, a very scholarly work which I recommend to anyone wishing to understand the hidden reality of the Catholic Church, and after reading it, I believe the reader will understand more fully the passage of Scripture found in Revelation 18:4 "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."