Image courtesy of HarperOne
Posted on 06/06/2017 3:53:36 PM PDT by ebb tide
In 1992, the Vatican under Pope John Paul II published the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which stated, among many other things, that “homosexual tendencies” are “objectively disordered.” One of the principal theologians who shaped the document was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who would succeed John Paul II as Pope Benedict XVI. He too would take a hard-line stance against homosexuality.
Two decades later, Pope Francis has signaled what many believe to be a softening on the matter.
In 2013, when asked about gay priests, he famously replied, “Who am I to judge?” He has continued to call for the Catholic Church to treat LGBT people with dignity and respect, and to fight discrimination against sexual minorities.
But the church may be on the cusp of another baby step in this ongoing discussion with the publication of a new book by a popular Jesuit priest, James Martin: “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter Into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity.”
Martin argues the church must move from a position of tolerance to inclusion when it comes to LGBT people. He criticizes the language of disorder from the catechism, calls on Catholics to stop firing LGBT people from church positions and frequently uses terms like “gay” and “lesbian” that many Catholic officials avoid.
RELATED: Top Vatican and US church officials back new gay-friendly book
The book carries with it a sense of authority. It was approved by Martin’s Jesuit superiors and is endorsed by two Catholic cardinals and a bishop. And Martin was recently appointed by Francis as consultant to the Vatican’s Secretariat for Communication, which manages Vatican TV and radio as well as the pope’s social media presence.
I sat down with Martin to discuss his message, and he told me he isn’t the only person connected to the Vatican who wishes to see the church move toward LGBT inclusion. Here we discuss what that looks like, how likely it is to happen and why he is putting his reputation on the line to fight for it.
Image courtesy of HarperOne
Simply being LGBT is not sinful, according to Catholic teaching. That’s a common misconception. Even the catechism talks about welcoming them with “respect, compassion and sensitivity,” which is the genesis of the book’s subtitle. More basically, LGBT Catholics are baptized, and so they’re as much a part of the church as the pope. Sometimes when LGBT people tell me they feel like they’re being pushed out of the church, I’ll say, “Don’t let anyone push you out. It’s your church too.”
Yes, and many parishes show what this means in practice. Of course, some parishes are more forward-thinking and have LGBT support groups, like the successful “Out at St. Paul” group at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York. But there are quieter ways of welcoming LGBT people — mentioning them in homilies; encouraging them to participate as lectors, ministers of hospitality and in other parish ministries, and getting to know them personally. And, above all, listening to them.
Because those are the terms that LGBT people use. People have a right to name themselves. It’s similar to the reason we no longer use terms like “Negro.” Why not? Because the African-American community opted for terms like “African-American” and “black” over time. Catholics are supposed to treat LGBT people with “respect,” and it’s disrespectful in the extreme to continue to use names that they not only don’t use, but reject.
I’m no theologian, but I would say that some of the language used in the catechism on that topic needs to be updated, given what we know now about homosexuality. Earlier, for example, the catechism says that the homosexual orientation is itself “objectively disordered.” But, as I say in the book, saying that one of the deepest parts of a person — the part that gives and receives love — is disordered is needlessly hurtful. A few weeks ago, I met an Italian theologian who suggested the phrase “differently ordered” might convey that idea more pastorally.
Absolutely. Over the past 20 years, I’ve done what you might call an “informal ministry” with LGBT Catholics. They’ve come to me for spiritual counseling, confession and conversation. And they’ve told me the most appalling stories of being ignored, excluded and insulted — by priests and lay workers in their parishes. There is simply no group as marginalized in the Catholic Church as LGBT people. Sometimes they’re treated like lepers. So yes, I understand their pain.
I hope that the church would more fully embrace Jesus’ call to reach out to those on the margins, those who feel excluded. In the past, when it came to the LGBT community, we led with condemnations. Which is not what Jesus does. For Jesus it is, more often than not, a welcome first. Think of the story of Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, who would have been considered the chief sinner in the city. As he’s passing through Jericho, Jesus sees him and says, “Tonight, I must dine at your house!” It’s a public sign of welcome. That came first for Jesus, and that’s what should come first for the church.
Most likely, some church leaders will think I’ve gone too far, and some LGBT people will think I haven’t gone far enough. A few church leaders might find the call to stop firing LGBT people in same-sex marriages a challenge, and some LGBT Catholics might find my call to treat the hierarchy with respect a challenge. On the other hand, the book has been endorsed by two cardinals, one of them an official in the Vatican. So I think there’s an opening here. And the LGBT people who have read it have thanked me for writing it. So something is changing in the church. Something new is happening. I think it’s the right time for a book like this.
The two cardinals are Kevin Farrell and Joseph Tobin, both new franciscardinals and both from the U.S.
NOT THIS CATHOLIC!!!
“One of the principal theologians who shaped the document was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.”
How did things work out for Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger?
I will bet dollars to donuts this pope will OK gay marriage.
I visited the Catholic chapel of my old college today — noticed a “safe person safe space, certified LGBTQA-XYZC3P0 etc ally” sign on the door.
You folks need to stop reading this stuff for you own good! It is only going to get worse as we get nearer to the Tribulation Period. These Apostates are going to be left behind, and most likely will end up in Perdition. What happens to them, doesn’t affect what happens to you! Be a victor!
The Episcopal Church is well down Perdition road, but you can still find a local parish that holds fast to what we were taught when we first believed!
Msgr. Charles Pope’s blogs tell me that there are still a few faithful Catholics left! Find one and hold fast!
The Church has provided refuge to child molesters.
With that, it is not a big leap that they would condone gay marriage.
NOR THIS CATHOLIC!!!!!
Condemn the sin, love the sinner. Now under Frankie the Great Pretender, it’s love the sinner and worship the sin. Vile and blasphemous.
Our Father in Our Parish has decided that this Pope is evil...he has repeatedly told us to hold on to the Traditional Version of the church...which I am doing...but I’m not about to let this poop franky get away with anything...
What!
Take a stand against perversion?
And alienate all that money?
Yeah,
1 Corinthians 5:11 shows that Paul instructed that congregation to not even eat with unrepentant sinners, including sexually immoral people.
Just like Obama proved that anybody can become president, Pope Francis has proved that anybody can become Pope.
I don’t think so.
The catechism states plainly that we follow God’s law. In accepting homosexuality that means accepting homosexuals as God’s children who have a particular suffering part of which is the call to be celibate
Period
The Catholic Church is not a democracy. It will. It waver on this
So the headline actually means ‘heretics are persuaded ...’
.but I’m not about to let this poop franky get away with anything...
- - - -
Lady, it is not your job! Poop Franky is just like Judas Iscariot. There had to be someone who would betray Jesus to the Jewish leaders, but it didn’t have to be Judas. He wanted the job, and Jesus let him have it. Similarly, there has to be a last Pope who is an evil Jesuit. Poop Franky didn’t have to be that Pope, but he wanted the job, so Jesus let him take it.
So if someone says something nice about Poop Franky, by all means set them straight, but after that just let Jesus take care of him with that wonderful double-edged sword of His Word! ;-)
Catechism ch 2359
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
It’s MY JOB to say WHAT I THINK...my Uncle, Brother in law, two Nephews and my Son in law gave me that RIGHT!!!
OK, I guess that settles it. I won’t worry about you any more, promise! ;-)
Schism is the only answer. True Catholics need to separate themselves from the heretics and perverts that have gained control over the Vatican and much of the Church in western countries. The true Church is still alive and vigorous in third world countries where just being a Christian will lead to persecution and too often death. Let anti-Pope Francis reside over the destruction of the dying carcass of the western dioceses and make common cause with the true Church in Africa and Asia. The remnants of the true Church will be a much poorer, much more humble, much more effective servant of God.
No it isn't. Not at all.
Honorius I played cute with the Monothelite heresy. He was anathematized by the Third Council of Constantinople and Pope Agatho for it. That became a test case for the Fathers of Vatican I on defining the limits of Papal Infallibility.
No schism was necessary.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.