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Vatican Cardinal says Active Homosexuals Can't Go to Heaven
LifeSiteNews ^ | 12/3/09 | Hilary White

Posted on 12/03/2009 3:56:20 PM PST by wagglebee

ROME, December 3, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - A leading Vatican cardinal caused a flutter in the secular press yesterday by stating that homosexuals who act on their sexual impulses cannot go to heaven. 

"Transsexuals and homosexuals will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven and it is not me who says this, but Saint Paul," said Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, a Mexican and the former head of the Vatican's Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers. The cardinal was reiterating the Catholic teaching that states that any sexual activity outside of marriage that is not repented of before death is a mortal sin, and therefore precludes entrance into heaven.

In his comments published on the Italian online news site, Pontifex, the cardinal also pointed out that Catholic Church does not condemn the condition of being a homosexual as such. Instead, it is homosexual acts themselves that are mortally sinful.

"People are not born homosexual," Cardinal Barragan was quoted as saying. "They become homosexual, for different reasons: education issues or because they did not develop their own identity during adolescence. It may not be their fault, but acting against nature and the dignity of the human body is an insult to God."

While the cardinal's statement of Christian sexual ethics was expressed with theological precision, the world's media and homosexualist groups have reacted with shock and outrage. The Italian homosexualist activist organisation, Arcigay, issued a statement saying, "Yes, it's true, we won't ever get into your heaven, which is a murky and unjust place."

Cardinal Barragan's reference to St. Paul was mostly likely from the saint's letter to the Romans, in which he rebuked those who indulge in a variety of sins, one of which is homosexuality. St. Paul wrote, "The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth." The result of this denial is for these people to be given over to "degrading passions."

The letter continues: "Their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural. And in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." Also condemned in the passage are greed, envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossip, slander and disobedience to parents.

Barragan's reference to the disorder of homosexuality is reflected in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, published during the pontificate of John Paul II, that says that while the "psychological genesis" of the homosexual inclination "remains largely unexplained," the acts themselves are "acts of grave depravity," and 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." The Catechism goes on to say that homosexuals, like all persons who want to live ordered lives, are called to "chastity" and "the virtues of self-mastery."

Cardinal Barragan also reiterated the section of the Catechism which urges against discriminating against homosexuals, saying that, "This does not justify any form of discrimination."

"We on earth cannot condemn, and as human beings we all have the same rights."


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: cardinalbarragan; catholic; homosexualagenda; moralabsolutes
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To: Ronaldus Magnus; SnakeDoctor
this sin, among other related sexual sins, will lead the practitioner to Hell.-RM

I think SD is right in that we cannot judge who God will and will not forgive, but Paul is clear.

I wonder though if his message is such that this kind of narcissism will lead you away from God because you choose the sin over godliness?

This makes more sense to me as so many sins have as their companion ingratitude.

41 posted on 12/03/2009 7:10:34 PM PST by 1010RD (First Do No Harm)
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To: 1010RD; SnakeDoctor
I think SD is right in that we cannot judge who God will and will not forgive, but Paul is clear.

I never intended to imply that there is anyone alive who cannot be forgiven. God's infinite mercy is available to every living person for every sin if only it is sought. Sadly, the more people engage in the types of behaviors Paul described, as well as in any other mortal sins, the less disposed they will be to seek that forgiveness.

I wonder though if his message is such that this kind of narcissism will lead you away from God because you choose the sin over godliness?

Yes. All sin is insidious, but the mortal sins delineated in the commandments sever our relationship to God. "Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him." (1).

This makes more sense to me as so many sins have as their companion ingratitude.

The sexual sins the Paul lists are particularly harmful because they simultaneously destroy the practitioner's religious identity while also having a component of physical addition, both in direct opposition to the humility and gratitude we owe God. These particular sins of the flesh are as destructive as any disease.

42 posted on 12/03/2009 9:01:36 PM PST by Ronaldus Magnus
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To: wagglebee

I prefer The Word:

Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Cor 6:9-11


43 posted on 12/03/2009 9:11:31 PM PST by ThisLittleLightofMine
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To: Iscool

There for certain are fornicators and covetous along with many other types of sinners in the Church. However, not everyone in church will see the Kingdom of God. For those who habitually continue on in in their sin there is no forgiveness as the Bible clearly points out. Forgiveness is based upon repentance which literally means to “think after” or “to perceive afterwards”. To change the mind, the seat of moral reflection. This results in a changed lifestyle and if that change does not occur salvation and the entire process of sanctification (separation to God and away from evil) is by definition missing.

I didn’t see anything the Cardinal said which conflicts with the Bible. He simply stated from what I can see that homosexuals who continue on in their sin and do not repent will not see the Kingdom of God which is Biblically correct.


44 posted on 12/03/2009 10:03:41 PM PST by bereanway (Sarah get your gun)
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To: flowerplough

Well, it looks like no one is going to Heaven if you are right. (See post #38)


45 posted on 12/04/2009 2:58:19 AM PST by ARepublicanForAllReasons (Give 'em hell, Sarah!)
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To: All
Everyone thought that by giving these DEGENERATES some leeway and letting him them live their dark lives, would be enough.

Now, it happens that they are not content with that... They want to transform our society. Well, in that case we must FIGHT them.

IT'S GREAT that the RCC is beginning to SPEAK OUT. They had been too quiet for too long. It is their responsibility as well as ours to defend our values.

Here is a taste of what's happening...

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/30/BA701ARFS6.DTL

Oh... and they have VIDEOS too! /s FOLSOM STREET FAIR 2009

46 posted on 12/04/2009 5:26:01 AM PST by ElPatriota (The SILENCE of the Catholic Church (...Actually I'm hearing MORE from RCC now! ....) ** DEAFENING **)
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To: bereanway
For those who habitually continue on in in their sin there is no forgiveness as the Bible clearly points out.
Forgiveness is based upon repentance which literally means to “think after” or “to perceive afterwards”. To change the mind, the seat of moral reflection. This results in a changed lifestyle and if that change does not occur salvation and the entire process of sanctification (separation to God and away from evil) is by definition missing.

Jesus DID NOT SAY, 'Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give your rest, AFTER you dump your sins...AFTER you adhere to the 10 Commandments'...

You and the priest might say that but Jesus did not...

Jesus is the medicine...You don't get well til AFTER you take the medicine...And once you take the medicine, you are healed...It's not a time-lapse capsule...

I'm not a homo but I have other sins...I sin everyday...Sometimes the same sins...

Paul tells us how we are to deal with these people that you and the priest claim are unfit for heaven but notice that Jesus puts coveters and revilers in the same category as homos and fornicators...The Religion Forum is full of 'christian' revilers...

Homos can get saved and homos can go to heaven...We are to separate ourselves from them and others who live a life of sin but yet teach them the truth in the process...God will deal with their (and our) rewards or lack of...

47 posted on 12/04/2009 5:33:44 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: ARepublicanForAllReasons
Well, it looks like no one is going to Heaven if you are right.

Tell it to St. Paul, honey. His words, not mine. And like ol' Jesu Cristo himself done said, strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
48 posted on 12/04/2009 6:08:02 AM PST by flowerplough ( Pennsylvania today - New New Jersey meets North West Virginia.)
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To: SnakeDoctor
Saint Paul isn't ambiguous on the topic, just as the Cardinal stated.

"Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

49 posted on 12/04/2009 6:08:02 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: Iscool

Thanks for confirming, yet again, that you are a mental eunuch.


50 posted on 12/04/2009 6:09:22 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: ROCKLOBSTER
Boy raping protestants too.
51 posted on 12/04/2009 6:11:25 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: Iscool
...I sin everyday...

Particularly here at Free Republic where you attempt to pass yourself off as a Scripture scholar.

52 posted on 12/04/2009 6:24:00 AM PST by A.A. Cunningham (Barry Soetoro is a Kenyan communist)
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To: A.A. Cunningham
Boy raping protestants too.

Of course, but that's kind of beyond his jurisdiction isn't it.

53 posted on 12/04/2009 6:25:16 AM PST by ROCKLOBSTER (RATs, nothing more than bald haired hippies.)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

You still hanging around??? I figured by now you’d have gotten caught in the rain and melted...


54 posted on 12/04/2009 6:51:16 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: A.A. Cunningham
Particularly here at Free Republic where you attempt to pass yourself off as a Scripture scholar.

Nope...Just a born again Christian who believes what God said...

I am more than happy to learn and be corrected where I may err in the scriptures...But obviously you are not qualified to do that...Hence, the insults...

But keep it up...You're good for comic relief, if nothing else...

55 posted on 12/04/2009 7:08:18 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: A.A. Cunningham

2 TImothy 3:7 - “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” It is amazing isn’t it?


56 posted on 12/04/2009 7:12:57 AM PST by paulist ("For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21)
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To: Iscool; A.A. Cunningham
Do not make this thread "about" individual Freepers. That is also "making it personal."

Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.

57 posted on 12/04/2009 7:16:17 AM PST by Religion Moderator
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To: Iscool

Jesus DID NOT SAY, ‘Come unto me all that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give your rest, AFTER you dump your sins...”

****

Of course not. If we could personally dump our sin debt then Christ’s atonement was not necessary. Apart from Christ we are dead in our sins. However, personal salvation is predicated upon repentance which in itself is predicated upon God’s grace. And the result of God’s grace, leading to repentance and salvation is a changed life. Homosexuals along with others who continue on in unrepentant sin will be judged accordingly.

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Heb 10:27-28

The Cardinals statement was very simple, that unrepentant homosexuals will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The Bible is crystal clear on this issue, apart from repentance there is no salvation and thus we remain dead in our sins. Why you would contest such a simple Biblical truth is beyond me.


58 posted on 12/04/2009 7:37:35 AM PST by bereanway (Sarah get your gun)
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To: bereanway
Homosexuals along with others who continue on in unrepentant sin will be judged accordingly.

They/we have been judged already, if they/we have truly turned to Jesus...

The Bible is crystal clear on this issue, apart from repentance there is no salvation and thus we remain dead in our sins.

I agree with that but I guess your idea of repentance and mine are not the same...

Does a new Christian become righteous when he is first saved or after he has stopped sinning??? Does a new Christian have to stop sinning before he can become saved???

59 posted on 12/04/2009 8:02:33 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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To: Religion Moderator

ok...


60 posted on 12/04/2009 8:03:24 AM PST by Iscool (I don't understand all that I know...)
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