Posted on 12/19/2004 11:12:34 AM PST by 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.
I would guess that so few people know about the Pope kissing the Koran that its effect was, and is, negigible. In fact, I'd bet that not one single person left the Church at the time over it.
But, the Catholic haters (and I include the integrists in that group) continue to regurgitate a 20 year old act like a mother kangaroo puking up for her young.
It's reached the point of silliness.
Some on here would scream over the Pope bending to kiss the tarmac when he visited Cuba.
Some people scream over everything.
For once we agree on something.
What propaganda are you talking about?
Self-correction.
How would you feel if Pope John Paul II had met with Anton LaVey before his death and offered the same token of respect?
Why has he condemned our efforts in Iraq? Why has he continually sided with the PLO over Israel?
Who is Anton LaVey? (I know who he is, but I had to look it up).
Could you try again, this time with an even more obscure reference?
No one has been more critical over the Pope's statements on Iraq as I have, but I get the distinct impression that you are now just piling on.
How would you feel if Pope John Paul II had met with Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan, before his death in 1997 and offered the same token of respect?
(Let's continue the absurdity):
Why would John Paul II have met with Anton LaVey?
Why is it 'piling on' when someone points to Pope John Paul II's errors? No one is asking you to bear the weight of the criticism. Either answer the charges or don't, but don't take it personally.
"I want you each to remember how much pope John Paul II has done for freedom in the world. Ask a Pole if he knows how to fight oppression. Let the Pope fight for the west in his own way. He has a proven track record. Some of what he does may be difficult to understand, but he had his critics at the peak of the cold war, as well.
Who is fighting the biggest threat to western civilization today, namely our institution of marriage and the traditional family? He is. I give him my full support."THANK YOU!!!!!
My point exactly. Why meet with religious leaders who condemn your God and deny the divinity of Jesus Christ? What is the point? On its own, reason is incapable of bringing anyone to Jesus Christ.
The Pope's visits sound more like the gestures made by politicians. Jesus Christ was no politician. There wasn't a political bone in His Body.
Please list some of Pope John Paul II's, or for that matter the Vatican's, accomplishments that have resulted in freedom for formerly oppressed peoples.
What did the Pope say about Iraq, and what is your specific problem with it? Has he sided with the PLO, or has he simply expressed concern for the Arab people? He's a Christian, so he does care about people of all races and beliefs.
In any case, America has to make its own decisions about its security. We don't ask the Pope for his permission to fight and kill in self-defense. But the Pope is free to express his concern over our actions.
The Cold War was a team effort, but the Pope was instrumental in communicating much of the revolutionary ideas against Soviet bloc regimes under the guise of religious business. Poland, Czchekosolvakia, Hungary, the Baltic states, and even much of the former Yugoslavia are free today in part because of Catholic interference within the Soviet empire. I would imagine that the Pope cooperated with Eastern Orthodox churches in this effort within Russia, as well.
Perhaps you need an extended history lesson about the fall of the Soviet empire from within. I suggest you do some of your own research.
Because it's done on this forum all day, every day of every year.
Perhaps you should visit the Religion Forum and watch "Catholics" do it.
Some "Catholics" make a living from criticizing the Pope.
Pope John Paul II is not a citizen of the United States of America and his opinons are no more welcome here than are those of the U.N.'s Secretary General.
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.