"Gay and lesbian Catholics are going to be very hurt by this election because Cardinal Ratzinger was the lightning rod for so much of the anger they felt under the previous pope,"
They are going to be VERY,VERY HURT, but not by any of the Popes, but by God Himself. By the way, how can a lesbian or gay be a Catholic. Isn't that a contradiction in terms?
Aha! You see they could care less about the Church. They just figure if the Church approves of homosexuality, that will make it more normal in society as a whole. That's all they care about.
I don't know if I would agree with the fact a Gay can't be a Catholic... a sinner can certainly be a Catholic. Obviously if they are actively engaging in homosexual activity they are acting in violation of the church doctrine.. but so is every catholic woman on birth control and man using a Condom.
The question isn't whether someone is Gay, or Using Birth Control, or whatever.. the question is, do they desire and strive to change themselves to better serve the will of God and accept their sins, or are they hell bent on trying to change the church to accept their activity as normal and blessed?
25% of the admitted homosexuals voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004... does that make them any less republican?
I do not condone homosexuality, I do personally believe that in nearly all cases it is a self destructive hedonist behavior driven by a mental disorder. However, I do not those who engage in the activity are not part of the church.. If everyone who sins were disavowed from the church... there would be no church.
If they expect the church to accept their behavior as anything other than sinful, they probably should not be part of the church, because they obviously have a distortion about where doctrine comes from.... Same holds true for those who are promiscuous and/or engage in premarital sex.... etc etc etc.