Pope to church: Be more accepting of divorced Catholics, gays and lesbians

CNN ^ | 8 April 2016 | Richard Allen Greene

[SkyPilot]

Pope Francis put his shoulder to the doors of the Catholic Church and shoved them open a little wider Friday, calling for the church to be more tolerant in practice while not changing any official doctrines.

He urged priests around the world to be more accepting of gays and lesbians, divorced Catholics and other people living in what the church considers "irregular" situations.

"A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws ... as if they were stones to throw at people's lives," Francis writes in a sweeping paper outlining his stance on family matters.

He urges more common sense and less unthinking following of rules.

"By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth," he writes.

He emphasizes that "unjust discrimination" against gays and lesbians is unacceptable, downplays the idea of "living in sin" and suggests that priests should use their own discretion on whether divorced Catholics in new marriages can take Communion.

[SkyPilot]

He urges more common sense

How about urging people to follow God's Law?

"By thinking that everything is black and white..."

Good and Evil are black and white. There is no middle ground. Jesus and Satan are polar opposites. God's standards cannot be compromised.

He emphasizes that "unjust discrimination" against gays and lesbians is unacceptable

Jesus came not to destroy the Law, but to fulfill the Law. As part of the Trinity, Jesus was God's Word incarnate. Both Old and New Testament Scripture condemn homosexuality in the most clear and alarming terms.

I am not surprised by Francis - this is all par for the course with him. But his arrogance and hatred of God's holy Scripture is just breathtaking.

Did this pope ever read the Book of Romans?

[A_Former_Democrat]

Any concerns about the “orientations” of this “Pope”?

[boomop1]

The Popa Obama, the Catholic Church is a joke can He be impeached?

[Don Corleone]

Why doesn’t he just nail his thesis to the cathedral door? It worked for Martin Luther.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

False Prophet wannabe looking for his partner in crime among the liberal political elite to unite the world.

Not only has this Pope not read Romans, he hasn’t read an entire verse of the KJB period.

[Noumenon]

Uh, no.

[Tired of Taxes]

The article posted right below this one has a very different take on the Pope’s views.

[sparklite2]

KJV? I doubt it, too.

[Chainmail]

Got way too much “acceptance” of homosexuals in the Church as it is.

[cherry]

I just think these types want everything to be easy and non confrontational...that's why there is no such thing as sin anymore...murder, rape....all explained in psychological terms so we don't have to really someone is evil...

evil of course is reserved for old fashioned Catholics...

[Thibodeaux]

while maintaining doctrine, the Pope will allow it to be ignored

[Aliska]

My moral world is black and white. It doesn't mean that I see it all clearly. But an act or thought is either right or wrong. There are degrees or rightness or wrongness.

I was a convert and don't remember meeting any outed gays or lesbians which doesn't mean there weren't any. No one ever seemed to hold it against me that I was divorced but never remarried.

[bgill]

Anyone else suspecting he’s gay?

[Fungi]

Rock star pope strikes again. This is a fool on parade.

[miss marmelstein]

You can go to Mass each and every day as a divorced Catholic. You can go to Confession if you want or say the rosary or pray unmolested in church if it is open. What more do those who are not in alignment with Church teachings want? I doubt most of them even believe in the real presence which is why there’s an embarrassing rush to receive communion at Confirmation and Holy Communion time. Last time I was there, I and a Jewish in-law were the only ones to not rush up to the layman in flip-flops handing out the Host.

Sheesh!

[DuncanWaring]

Confirmed: Amoris Laetitia Means, “The Joy of Sodomy”.

[Reddy]

The current Pope is the manifestation of the current status of Christianity. ..lukewarm, so unfortunately destined to be spit out of God’s mouth.

[crusader71]

The headline is totally misleading — CNN garbage as usual.

The text of the document is absolutely crystal clear in restating the position again, emphatically. The Pope says explicitly that homosexual unions are “not even remotely” comparable to true marriage and God’s plan for the family.

In a 225 page document you can weave any story you want by accentuating certain things. More of the same from CNN.

[Gay State Conservative]

I recall John Paul II once making a visit to a Marxist Central American country (can't recall which one).In the reception line at the airport was a priest who was part of this filthy government.Right there,in front of the priest,you can see the Pope wagging his finger at him with an angry look on his face...like he was tearing into him.

How I miss John Paul II.

[laweeks]

That’s what you get when you elect a Jesuit. He’s a lot like our Obozo in our White House: the pope is the spiritual leader over a religion that he cannot understand. How pathetic!