Pope Condemns Same Sex Union as Attack on Society

Yahoo News ^ | December 18, 2004

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul (news - web sites) on Saturday condemned same sex marriage as an attack on the fabric of society and called on Catholics to combat what he said was aggressive attempt to legally undermine the family.

"Attacks on marriage and the family, from an ideological and legal aspect, are becoming stronger and more radical every day," the 84-year old pontiff said in the unusually strong statement.

"Who destroys this fundamental fabric causes a profound injury to society and provokes often irreparable damage."

The Catholic Church teaches that marriage between a man and a women is sacred and that homosexuality is a sin.

That stance has been under pressure in some of its core constituencies, including the United States and Catholic Spain where the socialist government in October approved a controversial draft law to legalize gay unions.

But a counterattack has begun. In the United States, President Bush (news - web sites) was swept back to power in the November elections with help from U.S. evangelicals and Catholics who agree with the Pope.

Votes for Bush included solid support from the religious right and his win was interpreted by some as a victory for conservative Christians on issues like gay rights and abortion.

The Polish Pope on Saturday also condemned abortion, artificial procreation and equal status for cohabiting couples as undermining the marital state.

"These things that are presented as civilized progress or scientific conquests, in many cases are in fact a defeat for the dignity of human life and for society," his statement read.

[fooman]

Nah, more than the evening news. The pope was quite vocal about his whining about iraq.

But I am not anit-Catholic. I want to see the church get back to its position before vatican II.

[acapesket]

Now!! We have a bingo!
When the Blessed Pope gives Bernard "Cardinal" Law a position in Rome and the VOTF's (Voices of the faithful) are completely ignored..... and the fags are getting married here in MA... Rome.. we have a problem..

[fooman]

The vatican resisted the nazis. Many priests were killed freeing jews.

My critism of the Pope is meant to be constructive. Opus Dei wants to flush the homos and we should before the church completely implodes.

[murphE]

Restrict Muslims today, Christians may be restricted tomorrow

I think you meant to say, convert Muslims today, or more Christians will be eliminated. : )

[broadsword]

Not offended at all. Just going, "Hmmm..." about some poster's personal claims.

[broadsword]

Restrict Muslims today, Christians may be restricted tomorrow

Let me paraphrase this cowardly idiocy: Gosh! But ALL Muslims aren't slaughtering Christians and acting like seventh-century savages. Until 100% of Muslims do this you can't criticize or be suspicious of Islam. Please be reasonable and wait until every infidel is slaughtered until you say such mean things. (gag!)

[Cronos]

The Polish Pope on Saturday also condemned abortion, artificial procreation and equal status for cohabiting couples as undermining the marital state. "These things that are presented as civilized progress or scientific conquests, in many cases are in fact a defeat for the dignity of human life and for society," his statement read.

Viva il Papa!

[Cronos]

apologize, he's my Pope too, but contrary to propaganda, he's NOT perfect, because he is human !!!!

No, he's not. and many people misinterpret the teachign about papal infallibility -- it states that the Pope is infallible ON MATTERS of DOGMA, Church teachings, WHEN speaking EX CATHEDRA (i.e. on the seat of Peter). Very clear delineations -- the Pope is NOT perfect, he IS human, but we believe that when divinely inspired, he becomes a mouthpiece for God, just like the prophets of Old. Note: when divinely inspired, when speaking ex cathedra on matters of the faith. The Pope is just an ordinary man, and that's what makes his faith so extraordinary -- I look at that old 80 year old man, suffering with Parkinsons, bullet wounds (remember '81?) and worn down with the troubles of old age and I can practically see God's hands lifting him up and moving him -- every movement the Pope makes seems to cause him incredible pain, but isn't it inspiring to see God lifting him up and keeping him going?? It's God's work, not mans, when the Pope speaks, he speaks as a mouthpiece for God, not for himself.

[Cronos]

This is absolutely disgusting -- the Pope comdemns acts that could destroy the family, destroy society and what happens? The thread becomes a Catholic-bashing thread, with people completely ignoring the condemnation -- should I take it to mean that all of those gleefully bashing the Church, actually support same sex unions, cohabitations given the same right as marriage and they also support free abortions for all? Do you?

[Mark17]

John Paul II reached out to the Bulgarian who tried to kill him,

I thought he was a Turk, though Bulgaria had much to do with it.

[saradippity]

Thankyou for saying what I have been thinking. It is unbelievable that so many who call themselves Christiian and many others who call themselves Catholic,are so oblivious of Truth. No wonder Jesus wept.

[Cronos]

Exactly -- this is for conservative Christians -- no matter which denomination. In fact, I'd say it was something for all civilised peoples everywhere -- once the family dinstegrates we have nothing and I do think society would collapse.

[VOYAGER]

The Vatican could also have been more firm about kerry not getting communion. It wimped out there too.

Suppose they had been firm about Kerry not getting communion all he had to do was ignore the ban or even just flip this church's rulers off and he wouldn't have been the worse for wear plus he would have been honest with his constituents, gained their "respect" and gone his merry way knowing full well this church has no power(ability)to punish or reward him over his dos or don'ts here or in the hereafter.

Kerry missed gaining some much needed political capital on this one.

[investigateworld]

Dollars to donuts, Kerry had a focus group study this issue, and he would do as they advised.

[Aquinasfan]

The Polish Pope on Saturday also condemned abortion, artificial procreation and equal status for cohabiting couples as undermining the marital state.

Truth bump.

[NYer]

Thankyou for saying what I have been thinking.

Ditto. The Catholic Church is the only one that maintains a pro-life position. Why the catholic bashing?

[alkaloid2]

Being a practicing Catholic, I wish the pope would ORDER his bishops to endorse pro-life, anti-homosexual political candidates, such as George W. Bush.

In my ultraconservative West Texas town, our bishop told his priests that neither candidate could be recommended because, as we all know, Republicans hate the poor, and Democrats love the poor, right?

Somehow Catholics have managed to equate what they think Republicans stand for - rich, capitalist pigs that hate the poor, with murdering our unborn and granting extended, special rights to people simply because they like putting their equipment into another's' butt.

Until the Catholic church flat out informs, from the pulpit, all their followers that they are risking their eternal salvation by voting for a pro-abort, pro-homo, I will criticize, thank you. Until then, these friggen Catholic apologists are just exacerbating the situation.

tSG

[Chemist_Geek]

I do not understand why people are upset at the Pope for urging peace, rather than war...it is his job... No world leader today understands living under tyrrany better than John Paul II; he stands for good and freedom. War is an answer to that; it ought not be the first answer but the last.

God bless you and your husband as he serves...

[fooman]

Kerry lost the Catholic vote and he would lost even more had the pope acted.

[Lukasz]

The pope whined and whined about Iraq during the election. What a hypocrit, since we helped him with poland.

Don’t you think that it is megalomaniac statement? Why you think that Pope owe you something? Poland and Pope helped you with Soviet Union if I remember correctly. Without us nothing would be happened and you would must wait no one knows how long for crash of the Soviet Empire.