Cardinal Burke: ‘Very Grave Problem of Homosexual Culture in the Church

Breitbart ^ | Nolte

[wardaddy]

Cardinal Raymond Burke has called for “open recognition” of the Catholic church’s homosexual culture in light of recent revelations of sexual abuse. “I believe that there needs to be an open recognition that we have a very grave problem of a homosexual culture in the Church,” Burke said in an interview Thursday, “especially among the clergy and the hierarchy, that needs to be addressed honestly and efficaciously.”

he former head of the church’s equivalent of the Supreme Court said it was already “clear after the studies following the 2002 sexual abuse crisis that most of the acts of abuse were in fact homosexual acts committed with adolescent young men.”

“There was a studied attempt to either overlook or to deny this,” he said, referring to the mainstream media cover-up of the homosexual nature of the abuse as well as such denial within the church itself.

[annalex]

if I live in faith and obedience to God in a way that brings glory to Him and I rejoice in my salvation that is not dependent on my good works, how is that different than if I did depend upon my faith and works to save me?

It is good that your faith approximates the Catholic faith. The difference for you coming back to the Church would be that you would detest the error of presuming your salvation and that, by grace alone, would lead you to salvation.

[metmom]

All Holy Orders are sacraments of God indeed.

No such thing as Sacrament. It's never mentioned anywhere in Scripture nor is there any prescribed method for attaining God's grace.

God's grace is poured out in our lives by virtue of the fact that that's what God does and who He is.

The very fact that we aren't in hell at this moment is by the grace of God. Even unbelievers are living in His grace.

If we have to do something to get it, it's no longer grace.

*Grace* in Catholicism is actually wages due for deeds performed.

It's not what Scripture reveals grace to be. Catholic grace is its own creation.

[metmom]

Except that Jesus does.

Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

[aMorePerfectUnion]

John 6 teaches that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is necessary for salvation.

No it does not.

I understand you were taught this and can point to something in the scripture that "sounds" like what you were taught.

But the passage does not teach that the "eucharist" is necessary for salvation.

You make assertions. You never prove anything.

Ephesians 2:10 shows that good works are necessary to be saved by grace.

annalex, do you even read the passage to see what it says??

It says, "10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

It does not say these works are necessary to be saved by grace!

Assertions on your part

[metmom]

This is an open forum and an open thread.

I don’t need your permission or personal engraved invitation to comment on any post I choose.

[metmom]

Cont5rol freaks all.

The desire and attempt to control is part of Catholicism.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

good works is our way to ask for grace.

Never in Scripture anywhere.

Absolutely made up out of Roman cloth.

It is a path to hell friend.

[annalex]

Vatican II brought changes in the liturgy and gave some pastoral advice. There was no doctrinal change.

The liturgical change was to make the Catholic Mass more accessible to the Protestants. Big mistake, if you ask me.

You may be thinking of Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification of 1999. That did not change any theology either.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

The difference for you coming back to the Church would be that you would detest the error of presuming your salvation and that, by grace alone, would lead you to salvation.

Faith in the word of God is never a sin.

If you claim it is a sin, SHOW IN GOD'S WORD where it says so.

But of course, it isn't in Scripture and you reveal that you do not know the means to salvation.

Christ came to save the souls of me. Salvation does not come through a church. It comes by faith in Christ alone.

After reading your specious claims, I am extra grateful I know Him, am saved today, and know I will spend eternity in His presence.

[ealgeone]

Vatican II brought changes in the liturgy and gave some pastoral advice. There was no doctrinal change.

Dude....you might want to review V2....there are a substantial number of doctrinal changes.

[MHGinTN]

And He will say to you, Depart from Me, I never knew you or your pride-filled works.

[Luircin]

Paul says that we are justified by faith and NOT by works

Except he doesn't

***

Romans 3:

21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

And to support that and to prove that Paul is talking about ALL works, Romans 4:

"1What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."

Paul then speaks that Abraham was circumcised but was justified by faith. But as you can see from his introduction to this example, Abraham's justification came from believing God, not from works.

So yes, Paul DOES say that we are justified by faith and not by works. Which means that you'd better explain how this doesn't contradict James.

[Luircin]

Can you adopt a serious tone?

***

I’d LOVE to adopt a serious tone. But I can’t promise that it will stay if I don’t get a serious tone in return.

[boatbums]

So yes, Paul DOES say that we are justified by faith and not by works. Which means that you'd better explain how this doesn't contradict James.

It's obvious that the false and accursed gospel preached by heretics insists - in opposition to Scripture - that we are justified by faith AND works but, examined closely, we see that they are really preaching a works-based salvation. This is why they are seen as heretical and their false gospel is rejected by those who love the truth.

[boatbums]

why are you saying that our good works merit grace?

I didn't say "merit", I said "invite". While grace is not of works, and cannot be demanded in exchange for works, it arrives to those who ask; good works is our way to ask for grace.

More examples of weasel words and semantical games. I'm surprised you don't seem to see that.

[boatbums]

Can't you see I don't WANT to come back?! Roman Catholicism can only offer a maybe, might, if we keep doing the work, hope that in some eon we could merit salvation. That's the main reason I left - that is contrary to what God has said repeatedly. When the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to write in his epistle, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (I John 5:13), was he lying? Playing semantical games? No. The false and accursed gospel of Roman Catholicism has nothing I want or need. My prayer for you and others trapped within it is that you open your hearts to the truth and find comfort in knowing your sins are forgiven and you have an eternal home in the Father's house.

[boatbums]

why are you saying that our good works merit grace?

I didn't say "merit", I said "invite". While grace is not of works, and cannot be demanded in exchange for works, it arrives to those who ask; good works is our way to ask for grace.

Another thing, though you "didn't say 'merit'", your religion certainly does:

CANON XXXII.-If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, as that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose living member he is, does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life,-if so be, however, that he depart in grace,-and also an increase of glory; let him be anathema. (http://www.thecounciloftrent.com/ch6.htm)

[boatbums]

if I live in faith and obedience to God in a way that brings glory to Him and I rejoice in my salvation that is not dependent on my good works, how is that different than if I did depend upon my faith and works to save me?

It is good that your faith approximates the Catholic faith. The difference for you coming back to the Church would be that you would detest the error of presuming your salvation and that, by grace alone, would lead you to salvation.

That didn't answer my question. It's not about "coming back" to the RCC. Assurance of salvation isn't based on presumption but PROMISE.

[Luircin]

I’ve never gotten any kind of response from Roman Catholics about what’s so bad about believing what God has promised.

[boatbums]

I think that to believe in the promises of God and to express that belief out loud, is somehow seen as a "sin" by them - though I cannot imagine how basically calling God a liar isn't a WORSE sin!