The Pope's Christmas Gift: A Tough Line on Church Doctrine (Time Mag gets testy)

Time ^ | December 3, 2008 | Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008

[NYer]

Those nicknames from the past — God's Rottweiler, the Panzercardinal — don't seem to stick anymore. After acquiring a reputation as an aggressive, doctrine-enforcing Cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI has surprised many with his gentle manner and his writings on Christian love. But with the Christmas season upon us, there is growing proof that the 82-year-old Pope is also quite willing to play the part of Scrooge to defend his often rigid view of Church doctrine.

Benedict's envoy to the United Nations, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, has announced that the Vatican will oppose a proposed U.N. declaration calling for an end to discrimination against homosexuals. At first blush, no one should be surprised to find the Catholic Church hierarchy butting heads with gay rights activists. But this particular French-sponsored proposal, which has the backing of all 27 European Union countries, calls for an end to the practice of criminalizing and punishing people for their sexual orientation. Most dramatically, in some countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, homosexuality can be punished by death.

Papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi was forced to clarify that the Vatican continues to condemn the use of the death penalty for any crime, including those associated with homosexuality. Instead, Migliore said the Vatican's opposition to the U.N. proposal was driven by concern that countries that prohibit gay marriage would somehow be targeted. Said Migliore: "Countries that don't recognize the union between people of the same sex as marriage will be punished and pressured."

[NYer]

The U.N. declaration does not in fact mention gay marriage, and most of the nations that support it themselves don't allow people of the same sex to wed. Archbishop Migliore confirmed on Tuesday that the Vatican had also refused to sign a U.N. document last May in support of the rights of the disabled because it did not include condemnation of abortion, and the rights the fetus with birth defects. Vatican officials nevertheless voiced support for the central principles of the disabled rights document, which Migliore helped craft before the final decision to withhold the Holy See’s signature.

Catholic Ping
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[OpusatFR]

Playing the semantics game isn’t working too well for the homosexual lobby.

[steve-b]

Being on the same side as Iranian and Saudi barbarians is bad business.

[koraz]

Good for him. If the Pope doesn’t speak out on the teaching of the Church who will??

[EyeGuy]

“But with the Christmas season upon us, there is growing proof that the 82-year-old Pope is also quite willing to play the part of Scrooge to defend his often rigid view of Church doctrine.”

####

After I get over my shock of Time PROPERLY referring to this as CHRISTmas season, I will just comment that the beauty and value of Church doctrine is that it IS rigid.

[Corin Stormhands]

Most dramatically, in some countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, homosexuality can be punished by death.

Okay, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it's the Catholics doing this...

[RC2]

When will they learn that the Vatican answers to no one....especially the media. Church doctrine is to help lead their people, not let the people lead the church.

[Welcome2thejungle]

Pope Benedict XVI is the best pope of my life time. It’s time we get back to discipline and standards as well as moral absolutes. Hopefully now he will be able to train his sights on the Catholic Church in the UK for introducing Islamic practices in Catholic Schools.

[Aquinasfan]

the 82-year-old Pope is also quite willing to play the part of Scrooge to defend his often rigid view of Church doctrine.

Earth to Time: He's the pope!

That's funny. With regard to this issue, I see the pope more as Santa Claus. I only wish there were more such presents under the tree.

[headstamp 2]

“Most dramatically, in some countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia, homosexuality can be punished by death.”

Leave it to the pimps in the UN and Europe to jump all over the Pope and give a free pass to some of the most oppressive countries on earth.

[B Knotts]

That’s silly. If the Saudis point out that 2+2=4, we should disagree with them, just for the sake of disagreeing?

[SamuraiScot]

Being on the same side as Iranian and Saudi barbarians is bad business.

If the Iranians and Saudis, plus Venezuela and Hamas, came out with a statement denouncing "global warming" as a hoax, I would cheerfully endorse it. Likewise if they reaffirmed the law of gravity. I'm for truth, which means agreeing with God and the way he built his universe. If fruitcakes sometimes join us, that's okay.

[Cronos]

Hey, if TIME is criticizing BXVI, then he must be doing something really good!

But with the Christmas season upon us, there is growing proof that the 82-year-old Pope is also quite willing to play the part of Scrooge to defend his often rigid view of Church doctrine.

Ah, that's what they mean by playing scrooge -- defending Church doctrine.

[ladtx]

...this particular French-sponsored proposal, which has the backing of all 27 European Union countries...

All 27??! Why I'm shocked. No, I'm shocked and amazed. No, no that's not right either, I'm shocked, amazed and discombobulated.

[IbJensen]

Homosexuals and their filthy practices used to achieve perverted orgasms is as bad for society as islamic terrorism.

They've made a mess of San Francisco with the help of their sycophants, now they try to destroy other cities and states.Hide your kids. They're in the playgrounds and in the schools on a recruitment drive.

[Genoa]

The perfect gift from Catholic subscribers to TIME might be a cancellation.

[IbJensen]

The big problem the pope has is the American Catholic Church.

In every other country the use of lay distributors, girl altar boys, guitar music, communion in the hand, etc. etc. has been ruled out. The American bishops continue to do things their way. Even a McDonald's franchise has more strings.

[SamuraiScot]

God's Rottweiler, the Panzercardinal

They forgot one that's a little newer: the German Shepherd, Benedictus Magnus!

[joe fonebone]

"Likewise if they reaffirmed the law of gravity."
gravity does not exist....