Posted on 04/08/2016 6:53:23 AM PDT by Lera
In a major shift of Catholic tenets of faith, pope releases paper instructing Catholics on how to live, tells them to accept homosexuals
Pope Francis, who has long revealed his liberal positions through interviews, came out on Friday in an official statement calling on Catholics to be more accepting of homosexuals as well as divorced Catholics.
While he didn't change official church doctrines in his paper, which is an "apostolic exhortation" instructing Catholics on how to live, the pope paved the way for a serious shift in the Catholic church away from central tenets of the faith.
"A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws...as if they were stones to throw at people's lives," he wrote in the paper, cited by CNN. "By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth."
"I understand those who prefer a more rigorous pastoral care which leaves no room for confusion. But I sincerely believe that Jesus wants a Church attentive to the goodness which the Holy Spirit sows in the midst of human weakness," he added.
"Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration."
Pope Francis' statements appear in his paper "On Love in the Family," entitled "Amoris Laetitia" in Latin. It spans over 260 pages, and is based on two conferences of the world's Catholic bishops known as synods, which were called by the pope.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
For over 1500 years, until the first Protestant church was created by a man, the Bible somehow survived having the Catholic Church as its sole protector.
I’m sorry you don’t have time to follow up on my suggestion to read direct quotes instead of reading what others have to say. Otherwise, you would not have responded as you did.
Pointing out abuses of the poor in a capitalistic society doesn’t make one a socialist. The poor, indeed all of us, are abused by bank bailouts etc. which debase our currency rob our savings. Pointing out that we have an obligation to help the poor does not make one a socialist either - it is simple Christian charity.
Thank you for the link to ncr.com - I will look at it later. In return, please read this article: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/is-the-pope-a-socialist-95558/
In a rational free society people who wish to live in a "virtuous society," surrounded by others who share their ideas of virtue, would be free to set up their own communities and to contract with each other so as to prevent the "sinful" from buying or renting within them. Those who wish to live communally could set up their own communes. But nobody would have a right to force his way of life upon his neighbor.
This has been for many years current doctrine. That is, homosexuals are called to chastity. These people are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
Homosexual acts are acts of grave depravity, and are contrary to natural law.
Unjust discrimination must be avoided, that is, every person, regardless of sexual orientation, already are being respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration.
Simply being homosexual of having homosexual tendencies and being accepted as such is a no brainer. But accepting homosexual acts is another issue. So, what is new here? Why repeat what already is in practice?
That is a supreme example of the moral relativism this Pope is desperately trying to shackle to the ankles of the Catholic church.
Here in lies the crux of this issue - most people in a church aren’t against homosexuals being in “their church.” Name me ONE church, when humans are within, that is empty of sin; you can’t, because as you know, we are ALL with sin!
If you drink too much, society, the world, and even scripture tells you that you need to change. So, therefore it is easier for you to see the error of your ways, and therefore easier to find the path to Jesus.
However, if the entire world and most of society is screaming that what you are doing is perfectly okay, and NOT sinful, then you will more easily lay and even wallow in that sin! And all the while, you will forever be blaming the “church” for your failure to come to the Lord. Oh sure, they point their hatred towards those within the church, but what is really the problem?
The first step to salvation is acknowledging that we are a sinful human being, that NEEDS cleansing. The homosexual hostility towards the church isn’t JUST against the “better than you on Sunday” crowd; their issue is REALLY with the Scripture itself!
My daughter has become a lesbian. I still love her. I love her partner, because she loves my daughter. But, I have told them, in no uncertain terms, that I believe what they are doing is WRONG and a SIN! So, until SHE realizes that she is making a spiritual mistake, she will continue to wallow in her earthly pleasures - as most of us Christians did, before we found our salvation.
Someone stated it PERFECTLY, earlier on this thread: as the sheep of the Christian church are getting devoured by the wolves, this Pope is blaming the sheep! Until the WOLVES decide to live violence-free among the sheep, no amount of “love” is going to change the wolves!
Does anyone besides me think the Catholic church has been compromised, and that governments are using leverage to get the church to promote their fraudulent schemes like global warming?
Thank you for your thoughtful post. I am touched by your mature wisdom.
Personally, it hasn’t happened yet, but when it does, I will not have left the Church. The Church will have left me. It is truly amazing how, what is it, 5% of the world’s population, can have so much power over the majority. This pope needs a refresher course in the Bible. No where in it does it condone this abnormal behavior. There are, however, many verses condemning it.
saying .. Yep ... I'm gay. It's only a matter of time before THIS will occur.
“Pope Francis calls to accept gays”
He must like that the priests running the Archdiocese of NY meet his criteria!
or they might have to recruit some new priests, deacons and bishops?
Torah teaches they must atone for their acts and they will be forgiven.
Does he agree that scripturally, homosexuality is a sin?
Churches should welcome all persons, be they liars, thiefs, adulterers, murderers, homosexuals, etc. But church is also a place where repentance is advocated and expected. Sinners choice, not the church.
Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. After he saved her life told her to “go and sin no more.”
Thanks for the Word!
“...nor drunkards, nor revilers...”
I’m seeing a lot of people here overlooking these.
well said ExTxMarine!!
Devil’s Advocate: OK, lets say the bible is right and homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God. So what? Are you homosexual? If not, what are you worried about. The homosexuals will get theirs.
How does it impact you?
Maybe the question is: What would Jesus do?
You are 100% wrong about that.
Correct.
I’ve said this many times here: My nephew is gay. Lives a productive life, gainfully employed, law abiding, you name it. The fact that we should have to say things like I just did is wrong. He’s a good kid, period.
Nothing he does in his life impacts me or my marriage. I’m well past all the drama surrounding the “issue”. If he’s a sinner, so be it. He’ll make his own piece with God. But the Bible has so many contradictions in it, what inferences are we to draw with absolute certainty?
You live your life the best you can. Always. You treat people like you would want to be treated. You leave your world better because you were in it. Not worse.
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