Posted on 10/13/2014 10:54:05 AM PDT by SkyPilot
In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer" and asked if Catholicism could accept gays and recognize positive aspects of same-sex couples.
Roman Catholic gay rights groups around the world hailed the paper as a breakthrough, but Church conservatives called it a betrayal of traditional family values.
The document, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops on the family, said the Church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for homosexuals without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.
While the text did not signal any change in the Church's condemnation of homosexual acts or gay marriage, it used less judgmental and more compassionate language than that seen in Vatican statements prior to the 2013 election of Pope Francis.
"Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a further space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home," said the document, known by its Latin name "relatio".
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I believe the Southern Baptists are still against the homo agenda, which is a good thing.
As I understand it, homosexuals were permitted if they weren’t “active”; Benedict ended that.
Before the dearth of vocations following Vatican II, all of them were probably rejected out of hand; when the shortage of priests became acute, they probably started reviewing old files looking for the least risky...
See # 82; they didn’t have to act straight, just chaste.
The states have already driven the religious institutions out of adoption over homosexuality. There isn’t much left.
It means someone in the discussion brought this point up, admittedly someone with a misguided agenda and/or understanding. Doctrine on morals and faith will NOT be changed. The discussion was open, allowing for all ideas to be brought up. Pray and wait for the Synod to run its long course. This is all still VERY preliminary. Trust in God. Do not automatically assume. Trust in God.
I think offering a welcoming home makes sense, & sounds like the Pope, but how did it acknowledge immoral mating has “an inherent goodness”?
Oops! Just read the part about valuing their sexual orientation. I would assume the Pope would turn that down, or replace the Catholic Church with ... something horrible.
Where did it say “celebrating” homosexuals?
And here we go. Man, I have such mixed feelings these days. Much of the time I’m angry, disillusioned, or mildly depressed but now and then I have a giddy with joy moment when I see just how everything is lining up. My Spirit has always wanted to be reunited with Jesus and I love how prophecy keeps being fulfilled step by step.
It’s hard for me to seperate the two. How can you love someone if you hate what they do? Okay so what about truly evil people like serial killers and psychopaths? They have no conscience and there’s nothing lovable about them...What if you find out your spouse has been cheating on you, lying to you, how can you love them anymore? Certain things kill love and that’s also only human. Just like when Jesus instructs to offer the other cheek if struck and give out coat to one who steals shirt or something like that...most humans could not do that.
Bible also says in there to not hang around with sinners. To not be a part of the world. Be in it but not part of it.
If she’s got sexual feelings towards other women that doesn’t mean she has to act on them. We all get thoughts or feelings that if acted upon would be sin in deed but that’s human. I don’t understand why you think that anyone would tell her she can’t attend any church she wants. So what, I felt like punching this lady at work who swears and puts people down all the time, these thoughts or feelings aren’t usually shared with a whole church congregation but even if they were, nobody is going to ostracize someone for it!
If they widely accept homosexuals, would you leave the Catholic church?
Yes, but none of these can be considered major denominations with any measurable degree of political or social influence.
> The states have already driven the religious institutions
> out of adoption over homosexuality. There isn’t much left.
The Church (Catholic and other) also is being, or already has been, driven out of the hospitals, assistance to the poor, care for the elderly, schools and universities. About the only ministries left to the Church are the echo chambers of “Christian Entertainment”.
I don’t know.
If the Vatican accepts homosexuality openly. It is no longer a Holy institution. I would, if I were Catholic. Drop of the dime.
No, just trying to put focus where it belongs. Whether one prefers one Mass over the other is inconsequential to how we conform our lives to the Gospel.
Dogma will not change. Infallibility is a gift to the faithful from the Holy Spirit. And let’s not forget, the gates of hell will not prevail against the church instituted by Jesus Christ himself.
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