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. 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."
"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."
Perfectly stated.
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For later.
It’s sad, but the Cardinal is correct.
.- Italian Vatican analyst Andrea Tornielli said this week that the statement, “Homosexuals and transsexuals will never enter the Kingdom of God,” attributed to Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Health Care, is “very likely” an “improper synthesis on the part of the interviewer,” Italian journalist Bruno Volpe.
Tornielli explained that “the Church is right to condemn a certain homosexual ideology, but she cannot close the gates of paradise to homosexuals and transsexuals because judgment, thanks be to God, waits for God, and Catholic theology has always taught that the possibility of repentance of one’s sins imploring divine mercy exists until the end.”
For this reason, and considering the fact that Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan “is a theologian,” Tornielli continued, “I cannot believe that he made these statements, which in all likelihood are an improper synthesis on the part of the interviewer,” Italian journalist Bruno Volpe.
Volpe published the statements on his website Pontifex News.
Tornielli remarked that Volpe was, “perhaps ignorant of the fact that the Church has always distinguished between the sin and the sinner.”
Regarding this issue, Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See’s Press Office, said Pontifex News “should not be considered an authority on Catholic thinking,” especially “on complex and delicate issues such as homosexuality.”
Father Lombardi pointed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2358, which says that “the number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. They do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.”
Pontifex News has previously been involved in controversies regarding the accuracy of their quotes. Last year, Cardinal Juan Sandoval of Guadalajara, Mexico, strongly denied a quote attributed by Pontifex to him, in which he allegedly said that a former Mexican president was responsible for the murder of his predecessor, Cardinal Juan Posadas.
CNA attempted to contact Cardinal Lozano Barragan to verify the claims by Pontifex but he was unavailable due to a minor medical procedure.
well said but should have been saying this much earlier.
Still better late then never and I just hope those Catholics up in the north east start to wake up and vote the bums out up there.
Active Homosexuals Can’t Go to Heaven, and, moreover, Heaven’s Gate is definitely not the anus of a smooth-skinned, receptive young man like the kind that has been ever so popular in Afghanistan for millenia. (http://afghanprofile.net/index.php?Itemid=42&id=21&option=com_content&task=blogcategory)
I have a bit of problem with his phrasing. We are called to judge actions, not determine who can and cannot be admitted to Heaven.
Whether a homosexual is Hellbound is not for me to say. Their behavior is clearly wrong, contrary to scripture and the will of God, and I have no problem declaring as much. But, their admissibility to Heaven is not for me to judge.
“Judge not, lest ye be judged” is a widely over-quoted verse (particularly by immoral hacks that cannot tolerate condemnation) — but I have always believed that it was intended to refer to judging the Salvation of another.
Judge actions, not Salvation. Active homosexuality is wrong ... whether homosexuals are denied admittance to Heaven based on that wrongdoing is between them and the Almighty.
SnakeDoc
Folks who die with unforgiven mortal sins on their soul are doomed to hell. Is this supposed to be a surprise to anybody?
Soooo....does this also apply to the boy-raping priests?
No, it's sad because it's untrue...It's a lie...Your cardinal doesn't have a clue what God says about it...
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Yes, they are homosexual pedophiles hiding in the church. What's so hard to understand?
That's understandable...Your Cardinal doesn't either...
If they have not confessed their sins and been absolved, obviously yes.
Your tag line is perfect....
Actually they are not. They are by definition pederasts.
What's so hard to understand?
Nothing at all, I just thought I'd pose the question.
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