Vatican Prelate: Catholics will “do everything possible” to prevent Homosexual Civil Unions

LifeSiteNews ^ | 3/12/07 | Gudrun Schultz

[wagglebee]

VATICAN CITY, March 12, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Legislation permitting de facto and same-sex unions would be so damaging to family life and society that Catholics will do “everything possible” to ensure the laws do not pass, the head of the Pontifical Academy for Life said last week.

“Catholics will do everything to shed light on the debate, and will do everything possible so that these proposals will not pass," said Bishop Elio Sgreccia, during a press conference at Vatican Radio. ”Everything based on untruths is destined to damage someone, if not many people.”

Zenit News Agency reported March 7 on Bishop Sgreccia comments at the Rome launch of a book on the issue by Carlo Casini, a European Parliamentary member representing Italy. Casini’s book was titled “Unioni di fatto, matrimonio, figli: tra ideologia e realtà” (De Facto Unions, Marriage, Children: Between Ideology and Facts), published in Italian by Società Editrice Fiorentina.

Bishop Sgreccia said the Church’s objections to de facto unions simply upheld laws established by international and national legislation, recognizing the family as the foundation of human society. The bishop referred to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights where it states that “the family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state.”

“If family stability is weakened, the fundamental group unit of society is also weakened,” Bishop Sgreccia said.

Homosexual unions would go “against a law of nature,” he said, since “in the corporality of man and woman there is written natural and structural complementarity pertaining to emotional life, sexual life and the procreation of children.”

“Natural law expresses the good sense” of that union between a man and a woman, Bishop Sgreccia said.

Further, the family is essential for economic health and social progress.

"If we wish to see an economy that has as its main unit family health, then we must take into account that the de facto families, constitutionally precarious, are the source, as well as divorce and separations, of social and economic instability."

Far from encouraging the establishment of de facto unions, "the state would do well in helping youth by teaching them the formation of a true family, with a civic or religious marriage, but stable, and with an eased access to house and work."

"This is where the money should be spent,” said the bishop, “and not creating marital precariousness."

Permitting legal unions apart from marriage injures young people by "placing them in a situation that does not give security, that does not give stability or serenity."

At the same time, legalizing homosexual unions does not address the real needs of people dealing with same-sex attraction, the bishop said.

"[G]ay pride certainly does not help them in overcoming their suffering, which instead must be faced with human understanding, with medical and psychological sciences, and with promotional attitudes of all the good qualities that exist in these persons."

See related LifeSiteNews coverage:

Vatican Bishop: Humanity Heading for “Self-Genocide”
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/jan/07012607.html

Bishop Sgreccia Named President of Pontifical Academy For Life
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jan/05010308.html

[wagglebee]

Denouncing quasi-Catholic candidates for the US presidency who are fully supportive of the homosexual agenda would be a great start.

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[oceanview]

no matter which republican was elected president, this issue will remain with the states. you could elect James Dobson president, and he couldn't do anything about gay civil unions in the states.

[Lewite]

These quasi types like Kennedy and Kerry make me sick. But they never are called down for some reason.

[fedupjohn]

Even calling on the Electorate to not vote for a Kennedy or a John Kerry...

From a Roman Catholic...LOL

[fedupjohn]

Even calling on the Electorate to not vote for a Kennedy or a John Kerry...

From a Roman Catholic...LOL

[narses]

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[citizencon]

like a miracle? turning people into stone?

[sgtbono2002]

We are still waiting for the excommuniction of Faux Catholics such as Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry and others who are pro-abortion, now we will have to wait longer for the excommunication of these same peoploe who are pro-gay marriage./

I dont expect to see any of them excommunicated in my life time.

[stevio]

Well they better make sure they tell this to the lay ministry of our Church.

[FlyVet]

I don't so much have a problem with their civil unions and power of attorney, if that's what they want. But "marriage", and the benefits associated with it, no way in H###. They don't deserve it. They are not man and woman, and that's what marriage is. Just as they want to infiltrate the Boy Scouts, IMO to destroy the institution, they want to infiltrate marriage to destroy the institution. It is evil and wrong.

If they were so worried about being Boy Scouts, they would form up the Homosexual Boy Scouts, but they don't. They would rather undermine the Morally Straight institution. Liars.

[NYer]

Vatican Document On Homosexual Unions

“Homosexual unions are totally lacking in the biological and anthropological elements of marriage and family which would be the basis, on the level of reason, for granting them legal recognition. Such unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of respect for human dignity,(15) does nothing to alter this inadequacy.”
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

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[NYer]

Vatican Document On Homosexual Unions

“Homosexual unions are totally lacking in the biological and anthropological elements of marriage and family which would be the basis, on the level of reason, for granting them legal recognition. Such unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of respect for human dignity,(15) does nothing to alter this inadequacy.”
CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

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Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[Miss Marple]

Exactly my opinion about the gay clergy. If they don't agree with the rules, why not form their OWN church instead of trying to corrupt and destroy from within?

[BooBoo1000]

Why doesn't the Pope get off of his fat A** and start preaching against Homosexual marriages. The High Archy in Rome is more interested in the Wine Harvest than it is in real preaching. Get all of these sickos Priests,up in the church preaching against it instead of worrying how much Bingo brought in. I doubt this post will last much over two minutes.

[Frank Sheed]

For your info.... They are excommunicated. It is simply not by "ferendae sententiae" — used in reference to a form of penalty that is imposed by the judgement of a court or by the decree of a Superior, when a person has been found guilty of an offence. It is instead latae sententiae — used in reference to a form of penalty that is automatically incurred on committing an offence, without the intervention of a judge or Superior.

http://www.catholicplanet.com/articles/article78.htm

Abortion and Excommunication
May 20, 2004

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral, commits the sin of heresy and incurs an automatic sentence of excommunication.

Canon Law and Church Teaching

Canon 1398: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

Canon 751: “Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.”

Canon 1364 §1: “an apostate from the faith, a heretic, or a schismatic incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.”

The phrase “latae sententiae” literally means a ‘broad sentence’ or ‘wide judgment,’ in other words, a sentence or judgment which is applied widely. In this context, it refers to a type of excommunication which is automatic. Such a sentence of excommunication is incurred “by the very commission of the offense,” (CCC 2272) and does not require the particular judgment of a case by competent authority.

Apostasy, heresy, and schism are all offences which incur a sentence of excommunication automatically. Heresy is the obstinate denial of any truth of the Catholic faith, on a matter of faith or morals, which has been definitively taught by the Magisterium. The Magisterium has repeatedly and definitively taught that abortion is always gravely immoral. (CCC 2270 to 2275)

Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, n. 57: “Therefore, by the authority which Christ conferred upon Peter and his Successors, and in communion with the Bishops of the Catholic Church, I confirm that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always gravely immoral. This doctrine, based upon that unwritten law which man, in the light of reason, finds in his own heart (cf. Rom 2:14-15), is reaffirmed by Sacred Scripture, transmitted by the Tradition of the Church and taught by the ordinary and universal Magisterium.”

Obtaining an Abortion

Any Catholic who deliberately and knowingly obtains a procured abortion commits a mortal sin and is also automatically excommunicated, under canon 1398.

Under the laws of secular society, if one person commits a crime, then anyone who deliberately and knowingly provides essential or substantial means for that person to commit that crime is called an accessory to that crime and is also subject to the penalties of law. Similarly, any Catholic who deliberately and knowingly provides essential or substantial means for any woman to procure an abortion also commits a mortal sin and also incurs the same sentence of excommunication.

Any Catholic who substantially assists another in the deliberate sin of abortion is also guilty of serious sin and also incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

Believing in Abortion

Any Catholic who obstinately denies that abortion is always gravely immoral commits the sin of heresy. The sin of heresy also incurs a latae sententiae excommunication.

Unfortunately, some Catholics obstinately deny that abortion is always immoral, and some Catholics claim that abortion can, at times, be a morally-acceptable choice, and some Catholics claim that a person can, in good conscience, choose abortion. Under the Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church, canons 751 and 1364, all such Catholics are automatically excommunicated for the sin of heresy.

This sentence of latae sententiae excommunication applies to any Catholic who denies that abortion is gravely immoral, regardless of whether they keep this denial hidden or publicly reveal it.

Promoting Abortion

Those Catholics who publicly announce their denial that abortion is always gravely immoral, or who publicly promote abortion, or who publicly argue in favor of legalized abortion, also commit a mortal sin and also incur a sentence of automatic excommunication.

This sentence of excommunication applies to Catholics who are politicians, as well as to those Catholics who are political commentators, or public speakers, or who write or otherwise publicly communicate their erroneous view that abortion can be morally-acceptable or that abortion should be legal. This sentence of excommunication also certainly applies to those Catholics who claim to be theologians or Biblical scholars, but who believe or teach that abortion is not always gravely immoral.

Those Catholics who promote abortion are automatically excommunicated for two reasons. First, they have fallen into the sin of heresy by believing that abortion is not always gravely immoral (canons 751 and 1364). Second, these Catholics are providing substantial assistance for women to obtain abortions by influencing public policy to make abortions legal, and to keep abortions legal, and to broaden access to abortion. Those who provide such substantial assistance commit a mortal sin and incur a sentence of automatic excommunication (canon 1398).

Voting for Abortion

Any Catholic politician who casts a vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion, commits a mortal sin.

When such a vote indicates that the Catholic politician believes that abortion is not always gravely immoral, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canons 751 and 1364, because of heresy.

When such a vote is intended to have the effect of making abortion legal, or more easily obtainable, or more widely available, such a politician incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication, under canon 1398, as someone who is attempting to provide substantial or essential means for women to obtain abortions. Catholic politicians who pass laws which legalize, protect, or widen access to abortion, are providing essential assistance to women who want to obtain abortions.

It is not sufficient for Catholic politicians to claim that they are “personally opposed” to abortion. If any Catholic politician favors legalized abortion, despite a claim of personal opposition, such a politician commits a mortal sin by promoting abortion and by voting in favor of abortion.

The same is true for any Catholic who casts any vote with the intention of legalizing abortion, or of protecting laws allowing abortion, or of widening access to abortion. Such a voter commits a mortal sin and incurs a sentence of automatic excommunication for two reasons. First, they are committing the sin of heresy by believing that abortion should be legal and available. Second, they are committing the grievous sin of providing women with substantial or essential assistance in obtaining abortions, by attempting to legalize or broaden access to abortion.

However, if, for a period of time, Catholic politicians and voters are unable to enact a law prohibiting all abortion, then Catholic politicians and voters may in good conscience vote for whichever law offers the greatest restrictions and limits on abortion. Subsequently, Catholic politicians and voters are required by the moral law to continue to enact further restrictions and limits on abortion, to the greatest extent possible, and, at every possible opportunity, to vote for laws which completely outlaw abortion.

Voting for Politicians

In general, the moral law requires Catholic voters to vote for those candidates who oppose abortion over those who favor abortion. However, there are exceptions to this general principle. For example, if a political candidate favors abortion, but is a member of a party which generally opposes abortion, a Catholic voter may, in good conscience, vote for that candidate, with the intention of giving more political power to the party which opposes abortion.

In another case, a Catholic voter might, in good conscience, vote for a pro-abortion candidate, if the political office would offer no opportunity for the elected candidate to vote for or against abortion. Even so, every Catholic voter should consider that anyone who supports abortion, as if it were a woman’s right, or as if it could ever be a moral choice, must necessarily be someone who has a seriously limited understanding of morality and justice. Such a person would not often be the better candidate for any office in place of one who understands that abortion is gravely immoral.

In every case, a Catholic should vote in such a way as to obtain as many restrictions on abortion as possible, and so as to obtain the end to legalized abortion as soon as possible.

[FlyVet]

Lucifer the bright morning star works in not-so-mysterious ways, to those who are paying attention.

My favorite description of him is that he gets us to believe in our own goodness. Self righteousness, a very subtle and effective tactic. The blatant evil that we see works against him, because it is too obvoious.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Same reason that they are taking over the Anglicans now. They want the prestige of a world famous religious body. They don't care that if they get their goal, said prestige will go down the toilet quickly. "If the salt loses its flavor, how will it be made salty again?"

[hardworking]

These quasi types like Kennedy and Kerry make me sick. But they never are called down for some reason.

...for some reason....... = $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
As a friend of mine who was a nun for years told me: "You think a man is chosen to be Bishop because he is holy. He's chosen based on how well he's demonstrated his ability to raise money". End of story. (Ever wonder why Jackie O wasn't condemned by her dear friend the Cardinal when she married the divorced Onassis?)