Posted on 07/07/2016 10:31:28 AM PDT by ebb tide
San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy celebrated Pope Francis’ call for Christians to apologize to gays and suggested the Catholic Church consider changing how it refers to same-sex attraction and homosexual acts.
McElroy’s comments were published June 30 in an interview with the Jesuit magazine America.
“I think [the Pope’s call for an apology] opens up a very helpful pathway to dialogue and hopefully healing,” McElroy said. “What we need to project in the life of the church is ‘You are part of us and we are part of you.’ [LGBT Catholics] are part of our families.”
After the Orlando terrorist attack on a gay nightclub, McElroy called on Catholics to “combat” the “anti-gay prejudice that exists in our Catholic community and in our country.”
In the America interview, McElroy reiterated his assertion that such an animus exists among Catholics and blamed it on a lack of understanding of Church doctrine.
“My own view is that much of the destructive attitude of many Catholics to the gay and lesbian community is motivated by a failure to comprehend the totality of the church’s teaching on homosexuality,” he said.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that those with same-sex attraction “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity” and “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2358).
The Catechism also teaches: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that ‘homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.’ They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved” (CCC 2357).
In a poignant and heart-wrenching piece responding to the claim that the Church should apologize to homosexuals, actively gay man turned devout Catholic Joseph Sciambra wrote that the Church should apologize — to all of the people who have been deceived by unfaithful priests into believing the homosexual lifestyle is acceptable or healthy and for an ambiguous 1997 document from the U.S. bishops that failed to address the issue in a truly pastoral way.
“Dear Pope Francis: apologize for bad catechesis, for bad pastoral programs, for bad priests, and for the apathetic Bishops who do nothing to correct them,” Sciambra wrote. “As for the long dead who passed from this life, far too young, because no one ever bothered to tell them the Truth – no amount of apologizing will ever bring them back.”
McElroy told America that the Church should use “inclusive, embracing,” and “pastoral” language when referring to the same-sex attracted and sexual acts between people of the same sex.
Labeling homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered,” as the Catechism does, is “very destructive language that I think we should not use pastorally,” McElroy said.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church never labels individuals “disordered.” It makes clear distinctions between a person (who is never “disordered”), his or her sexual attractions (which may be “intrinsically disordered” if they are contrary to natural law, but are not considered sinful in and of themselves), and his or her sexual acts (which may be “intrinsically disordered”).
The Catechism also labels lust a “disordered desire,” masturbation “an intrinsically and gravely disordered action,” and rape an “intrinsically evil act” (CCC 2351
Which organization will self destruct first, the GOP or the Catholic Church?
I guess, then, the Word of God (i.e., Holy Bible) also uses very destructive language regarding sin, in general, and homosexuality, specifically.
Sort of like the destruction leveled by Him on Sodom? On Gomorrah?
I don't see a problem with that.
“Dear Pope Francis: apologize for bad catechesis, for bad pastoral programs, for bad priests, and for the apathetic Bishops who do nothing to correct them,” Sciambra wrote. “As for the long dead who passed from this life, far too young, because no one ever bothered to tell them the Truth – no amount of apologizing will ever bring them back.”
If he were a catechumen, I would not --- as a member of the RCIA teaching team --- consider him eligible to enter the Catholic Church.
It was Pope Francis who appointed McElroy to be the sixth bishop of San Diego in 2015.
Sounds like an oxymoron. What does "actively gay" mean? I take it to mean actively buggering. Am I wrong? How can you be a devout Catholic who is actively buggering?
That sounds like describing a man as a "devout husband" when he is actively getting laid by other women.
So, a man inserting his penis up another man’s rectum is *not* intrinsically disordered? Homosexual sodomy without use of condom, the resulting HIV/AIDS diagnosis, and death at the median age of 47 is *not* intrinsically disordered? Flagrant displays of nudity, sex acts, and anti-Christian tableaux at “pride” parades are *not* intrinsically disordered?
San Diego has a vocal homosexual population. About what this RC bishop is concerned is that his diocese isn’t getting the gays’ cash; it’s being snapped up by the Episcopalians, Unitarians, and the rest of the faux Christian religions.
“Follow the money...”
Agreed, there is not one once of devotion from the man regardless of how many times he crosses himself or says the Rosary.
Jesuit. There lies the problem.
“Which organization will self destruct first, the GOP or the Catholic Church?”
_______________________________________
They both did years ago. I’ve left both.
The GOP
the Church will never self destruct. People in it will attempt to destroy it. But they’re people. Read the Gospel. Guy named Judas I.
Forget it
Here is some news on what the Pope is doing.
Go and sin no more.
The Pope will tell us what to think. Then it’ll all be fine.
Post #6 ~ McElroy should be deposed.
If he were a catechumen, I would not -— as a member of the RCIA teaching team -— consider him eligible to enter the Catholic Church. ~
Good post! I (formerRCIA instructor/sponsor) whole-heartedly agree with your assessment. The Magisterium can not; MUST NOT,change their teachings under any circumstances - least of all because a queer from San Diego objects!
Homosexuality is inherently a disorded behavior; and as such, can NEVER be allowed into Holy Mother Church...
‘Love the sinner, but hate the sin’. Is a doctrine that fully explains the Church’s’ position on homosexuality. End of discussion.
What if the Church was threatened with being unable to do that anymore?
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