Posted on 04/20/2005 8:41:17 AM PDT by SkyPilot
(CNSNews.com) - American Catholics who want major changes in the church are not happy with the election of a "hard-line" pope who backs longstanding Catholic doctine.
The Women's Ordination Conference, a Catholic feminist organization working for the ordination of women priests, said the church desperately needs a healer, but the cardinals have elected a divider: "This is another example of how the hierarchy is out of touch with Catholics in the pews," said Joy Barnes, executive director of the Women's Ordination Conference.
According to the WOC, recent polls show that over two-thirds of U.S. Catholics support women's ordination, yet Ratzinger has repeatedly stated his firm opposition to women priests.
"Cardinal Ratzinger's election as pope will galvanize faithful Catholics to work even more passionately for a renewed priesthood that includes women," said Aisha Taylor, WOC's program director.
"We pray for Pope Benedict XVI to lead the Roman Catholic Church toward reconciliation for the church's sins of abuse, sexism, racism, heterosexism and all oppression. We trust the Holy Spirit will continue to work in our church to fulfill Jesus' radical message of justice."
"Rigid''
The National Coalition of American Nuns noted that the new pope has the reputation of being "rigid in his position as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, silencing and expelling theologians, priests and nuns whom he perceived as not being orthodox.
"He certainly is not known for his sensitivity to the exclusion of women in the Church's leadership," the nuns said in a statement.
The group said it would pray for a miracle - that Pope Benedict XVI "will, like the Benedictines, be hospitable and welcome all persons.
"We pray that he will be open to the full partnership and full participation of women in a church that suffers because of the lack of women's creativity and lived experience. We do believe in miracles," the National Coalition of American Nuns concluded.
"Distressing''
A number of homosexual advocacy groups expressed the Catholic Church''s future treatment of homosexual and transgender people.
DignityUSA, which bills itself as the "voice for gay, lesbian, and transgender Catholics," reacted with "dismay" to the elevation of Cardinal Ratzinger.
"The new Pope is seen as the principal author of the most virulently anti-gay, anti-GLBT rhetoric in the last papacy," said DignityUSA President Sam Sinnett.
"The elevation of Cardinal Ratzinger is being seen by many GLBT Catholics as a profound betrayal by the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and betrayal of one of the most fundamental teachings of Jesus Christ as the loving Good Shepherd who reached out to the ones separated from the flock."
Sinnett called the election of the new pope a test of faith: "We express deep sadness for all those who will find themselves further alienated from the church because of Cardinal Ratzinger's assumption of the papacy. With their support and that of all our members and allies, we will re-double our efforts to speak the truth of our lives as faithful GLBT Catholics."
DignityUSA called on its members to enter into a "period of prayer for the church and the world" from now until Pentecost, which will be celebrated on May 15th. "Pentecost is the feast of the birth of the church," said Sinnett. "We pray that this Pentecost may be a time of rebirth."
"We hope that Pope Benedict XVI will follow the biblical tradition of expressing love and compassion for all," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese in a statement.
"In the past, he has made deeply disturbing comments regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people so his selection as the 265th pope is distressing. It's imperative that there be a positive conversation with the Catholic Church about GLBT people of faith and we welcome that discourse."
The Human Rights Campaign noted that in 1986, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger delivered a Letter to the bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons. He wrote, "Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil."
"Disappointment''
The Triangle Foundation, which serves Michigan''s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) and allied communities, said the new pope has been among "the most virulent, hard-line doctrinaire conservatives, especially on the issue of choice, gay and lesbian inclusion and acceptance and most of the other "social'' issues faced by the Catholic Church.
"This elevation can only be a disappointment to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics and others of us who observe and monitor the Church''s activism," said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation.
"Based on his history and his demagoguery it is nearly impossible to imagine that this new Pope will usher in an era of reconciliation and welcome. Ratzinger has been the author and voice of oppression and attack on GLBT people."
"Homophobic''
The Rev. Troy D. Perry, a homosexual activist and moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches, expressed a "deep sadness that one of the world's most homophobic religious leaders has been elevated to the papacy, and regret that his policies will continue to devalue the rich spiritual gifts of LGBT people and women of faith.
"My faith teaches that all people can change, so my prayers today are that the eyes of Cardinal Ratzinger -- now Pope Benedict XVI -- will be opened to the unique giftedness and blessing that LGBT people can be to the church.
"And my prayers today are with my brothers and sisters in the Roman Catholic Church, and those whose lives will be harmed by church policies that treat LGBT people with less than unconditional acceptance and dignity.""
Yeah, really.
You would have thought they'd hire Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter.
"Organizations like this one also have hundreds of active priests that endorse them. Perhaps the new Pope should defrock every one of them. It won't happen, but it would be good start."
John Paul the Great smacked down Bishop Snyder in Jacksonville for supporting "dignity". Made him stop it. He also accepted his resignation at age 70.
Statistically, it can't even be that high. Most demographers put the entire Homosexual population at 10% of the total (although you'd think its everybody you see on the news because the media loves them), thats about 26M people. 6M would be a little more that 1/4 of that total as Catholics. I don't believe the number of Catholics that are Practicing Homosexuals is that high.
as I put in a followup post, he thinks he's too conservative and tied to orthodoxy.
I heard NAMBLA does not approve of the new Pope either? (Sarcasm)
Red6
here's what dictionary.com has to say about that word.
"No entry found for homosexism"
The Church will not change its teachings to please anybody. The teachings are what they are. The Church cannot change them.
IMHO, folks associated with the groups cited in this article should be excommunicated immediately as heretics because thats what they are.
read my followup post and you'll get right back on the trail.
for all we know, the Pope could very well be a democrat.
The left is upset that the Pope is not an atheist or a moslem.
Balderdash.
reconciliation for the church's sins of abuse, sexism, racism, heterosexism and all oppression
The Church cannot sin.
Jesus' radical message of justice."
Huh?
Hi, Knitting:
So, the Gays, Lesbians and TGed are all PO'ed at the election of Bendedict XVI.
If these sinful idiots think that a Papal Election in a sequestered conclave can be either "lobbied" or "influenced". I wonder in what Paralell Universe they reside? It's obvious to them that the fix was in. Since the wrong man won.
Just how many Cardinals from the United States were part of the Papal Conclave?
My guess... None.
Sin is still sin. Either hideen in the shadows, or under brief bright spotlights.
Jack.
Der Panzer Kardinal. Der Panzer Papa.
I saw that afterwards.
Doesn't really say much other than parroting the MSM.
Failing any specifics, all you're saying is that your wife's boss would prefer the church to be more liberal and less orthodox.
Therefore, for all I know, he/she agrees wholeheartedly with the groups that this article is speaking about and may in no way be representative of the broader viewpoint of which you are offering him/her as an example.
There were 11 US cardinals, I believe. I don't know how anyone voted, but I know that some cardinal said that Benedict had more than enough votes so out of the 115 guys who voted for him he had more than 77 votes. But some how or other, I have a sneaky suspicion that Mahoney's last vote wasn't for him....
But it's time the dark agenda ran up against some walls. There are those of us not willing to validate their wonderfulness for them. Particularly since we see it and deem it not very wonderful at all.
I am surprised there is not a political cartoon describing the perfect pope for the left.
I remember the political cartoon describing Dukakis's perfect running mate, she was a black, homosexual, woman, who was a single mother, homeless, union member, envirnmentalist, etc. etc. etc.
Not because they want a happier, healthier, stronger church, I'll guarantee you that!
They would be selling condoms in the temple and performing sex rites inside. They should be driven from the temple.
I think they meant "heteronormativism." The GLBT gang jumped on some entertainer who spoke at Harvard saying women could have it all -- a great guy, a great job, etc. because she was "insensitive" and "heteronormative."
That's why I don't take the ones who sneer at the Episcopalians and Presbyterians too seriously. They've got their own attendance problems. They were just a LOT bigger to start with.
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