Posted on 10/14/2014 1:26:28 PM PDT by NKP_Vet
ROME (CNN) -
Under furious assault from conservative Catholics, the Vatican backtracked Tuesday on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships.
In a report Monday, the Vatican had said that gays and lesbians have "gifts to offer" the Christian community and acknowledged that same-sex couples can give "precious support" to one other.
The statement, an interim report from a closely watched meeting of Catholic clergy here, was widely praised by liberals. It is believed be the first time the Vatican has said anything positive about gay relationships.
One longtime Vatican journalist called the statement a "pastoral earthquake."
But many conservatives complained that the statement watered down church teaching and did not accurately reflect their discussions here, where nearly 200 Catholic leaders are meeting to debate doctrine and modern family life.
One South African cardinal called Monday's statement, which also included positive language about unmarried couples who cohabitate, "irredeemable."
"The message has gone out that this is what the synod is saying, this is what the Catholic Church is saying," said Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, referring to the special meeting of Catholic clergy gathered here through Saturday.
"It's not what we're saying at all."
In response to such reactions, the Vatican backtracked a bit Tuesday. In a statement, it said the report on gays and lesbians was a "working document," not the final word from Rome.
The Vatican also said that it wanted to welcome gays and lesbians in the church, but not create "the impression of a positive evaluation" of same-sex relationships, or, for that matter, of unmarried couples who live together.
But gay rights groups say that's precisely the impression the Vatican gave Monday when it said:
"Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community. Are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?"
Such statements seem to be in line with the more merciful approach the church has taken toward gays and lesbians under Pope Francis. In 2013, Francis famously said, "Who am I to judge" gay people?
On Monday morning, just before the Vatican released its positive report on gays, Francis preached that laws that do not lead people to Jesus are "dead," and that Christ did "strange things" such as hanging out with sinners and tax collectors.
The goal of the meeting here, officially called the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family, is to present proposals for a larger meeting to be held in October 2015.
Which means there's a long road ahead before any doctrinal or pastoral changes happen in the church.
In the meantime, conservative and liberal bishops have been fiercely jousting in the court of public opinion.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American and head of the Vatican's supreme court, said the report "lacks a solid foundation in the sacred Scriptures." Other conservatives called it a "betrayal."
Liberal Catholics and gay activists, on the other hand, heralded Monday's statement and said that some conservative pushback was probably inevitable, given how hostile some corners of the church are to change.
"I actually don't think this is as much of a backtrack as we usually see!" said Marianne Duddy-Burke, head of the gay rights group Dignity USA.
"I think that response to this report was swift and intense, and I'm sure many bishops want to be sure people aren't reading more into it than is there," she continued. "However, it is undeniable that there has never been any Vatican document that made positive, respectful statements about same-sex relationships, so that is an undeniable breakthrough."
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, echoed that sentiment.
"Regardless of the fact that this is a working document, it is still significant in that it reveals a strong current of affirmative attitudes at high levels in the church towards lesbians and gay people," he said.
When the dust settles, I’m afraid very little will have come of all this.
Abortions have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community.
For the “deniers” the beatings will begin shortly.
Seems to me the press told a story that wasn’t there....
Saying that a group of sinners are still human being deserving of respect is not a change in church doctrine...
Its folks reading what they want to read....
Enough is enough!
Then what ARE you trying to say?
For Pete’s sake, you guys are the worst communicators on earth.
In a report Monday, the Vatican had said that gays and lesbians have "gifts to offer" the Christian community and acknowledged that same-sex couples can give "precious support" to one other. The statement, an interim report from a closely watched meeting of Catholic clergy here, was widely praised by liberals. It is believed be the first time the Vatican has said anything positive about gay relationships. One longtime Vatican journalist called the statement a "pastoral earthquake"....
....In response to such reactions, the Vatican backtracked a bit Tuesday. In a statement, it said the report on gays and lesbians was a "working document," not the final word from Rome. The Vatican also said that it wanted to welcome gays and lesbians in the church, but not create "the impression of a positive evaluation" of same-sex relationships, or, for that matter, of unmarried couples who live together.
When is an interim report not an interim report? When CNN reports on it!
Ha. That's rich. The only one "backtracking" is the NYT from their completely misinformed reporting on the Synod. From George Weigel ...
I do not believe churches should welcome homosexuals at all. Why welcome the enemy into your midst? Too many people get too uptight about forbidding people entry into their churches, as if they think just getting them into the doors they will magically become Christian. Churches are places where like-minded people come to worship the God they all believe in. If people (like gays) don't agree with the tenets of a given church, they should go elsewhere. This incident with the Synod just shows that gays are nothing but a fifth column.
And no, I am not saying that sinners are not welcome, as all mankind are sinners. If I'm sitting on a pew next to some sinner who is silently struggling with the sin of homosexuality, I have no problem with it. After all, I'm sitting there struggling with my own sins. But if he prances in and lispingly demands to be accepted as an open homosexual he should be thrown out.
I hate to say it, but the best thing to come of this is NOTHING! Followed quickly by Francis receiving his just rewards in the here after. This Pope has been a disaster.
Trial balloons, my friends, trial balloons.
Abbott: Goofe’ Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third...
Costello: That’s what I want to find out.
Abbott: I say Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know’s on third.
Costello: Are you the manager?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: You gonna be the coach too?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: And you don’t know the fellows’ names.
Abbott: Well I should.
Costello: Well then who’s on first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow’s name.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The first baseman.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing...
Abbott: Who is on first!
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/10/1-6000-word-document-in-1-day.html
A 6,000-word document, made available in the original Italian, and excellent English, French, German, Spanish translations immediately on early Monday Morning “summarizing” the views of the first week of the Synod that had ended on Friday evening, with details published on Saturday morning? So in one full day, Sunday (or in 2 days, 48 hours, if all hours of Saturday are included, with no time for meals or sleep), the rapporteur and his secretaries gathered the views of all the Fathers, identified and separated those portions that had more widespread support and thus represented a truly Synodical opinion, wrote, and translated this 6,000-word report? Has the Vatican suddenly become the most efficient bureaucracy in the history of the universe?
Or was it all simply prepared and translated beforehand, to create “facts on the ground” that could not be reversed and created pressure on the Synod Fathers during this second week?
Of course it was the second option: and it was all part of the manipulation plan by The Cardinal Pianist (who could also be called The 2013 Conclave Kingmaker), that he had unwittingly revealed at a fancy dinner some weeks ago.
The intent was to put all Synod participants against the wall and facing a fait accompli. The document of deception was a coup (a politico-religious coup astonishing in its audacity):
“We’re now working from a position that’s virtually irredeemable,” said Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier of South Africa. “The message has gone out that this is what synod is saying, that this is what the Catholic Church is saying,” he said. “Whatever we say hereafter will seem like we’re doing damage control.”
They are so bold a Synod secretary sneaked in the text his own views on homosexuality and homosexual couples, and now the entire population of the world has been informed by the mainstream media that that is the new Catholic position, after 2,000 years of unchanged Apostolic doctrine,,,
The conservative and Wojtylian majority that all Synod Fathers can clearly see at work, and whose number was not at all represented in the manipulated document prepared beforehand, must be extremely careful in protecting the Catholic Faith in the upcoming votes, especially in the ballots leading to the final October 18 vote on the end report.
***
Speaking of which, since the censored secret Synod is only available according to what the Masters and the Pianist-Kingmaker allow to be published, we only hear of curious facts through leaks. And Marco Tosatti has just such a leak: how, by way of tiny paper notes, Francis guides the Synod Secretary. The Synod Fathers just see it, without understanding anything that is going on behind the scenes.
It is a mostly unaccomplishable wish, but I would pay not a small amount to know what was written in the little notes that pope Francis, in the Synod Hall, would write and then send to the general secretary of the Synod, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri.
Cardinal Baldisseri would read [the papal notes], would take notes, and then send the message back to the pope, who put it in his pocket. It was an event that took place repeatedly in the days of the General Assembly of the Synod, and that was noticed by several participants. And it gave the impression that the Pope was giving instructions to the General Secretary. [Source]
***
Plus, Cardinal Müller makes clear why “homosexual couples” can never be recognized by the Church, and how censorship is contributing to distortions of the Synod message. From La Stampa:
“The homosexual couple as such cannot be recognized by the Church,” Müller underlined, speaking outside of the Synod Hall....
But Müller returned to the issue of censorship: “I find that the fact that outside the Synod Hall the bishops may grant free interviews, while their interventions in the hall are not public, a clear contradiction,” - he maintained. “There was the will, additionally, to break this way with a tradition that is proper to the Church... it doesn’t matter if some are not in agreement with this opinion of mine,” Muller added. “I say what I want, but above all I say what I must say as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Furthermore, I haven’t done anything else than to give voice to the protests of many faithful who have written me regarding this from many nations, and who have the right to know the thinking of their bishops. Why - the cardinal asked - was it necessary to change it?”
On the final relatio of the works of the Synod, Müller said: “I think it will be sent directly to the Pope, but I’m not a member of the direction anymore.” Details said directly to some journalists with the clear intent to criticize once more the Synodal “censorship”.
“there has never been any Vatican document that made positive, respectful statements about same-sex relationships”
Gee.
And there there has never been any Vatican document that made positive, respectful statements about adultery, or thievery, or bearing false witness.
Vatican II was never necessary in the first place. I say get rid of 100% of it.
Amen. Totally unnecessary, should have never been called.
What? You mean CNN would slant a news story to slime the Catholic Church?
Unheard of!
/s
(But in all seriousness, The Catholic Church is way, WAY off base here.)
Continue the outcry.
Contact (FReep) your Bishop! Voice your opinion!
http://usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses.cfm
**Cardinal Raymond Burke, an American and head of the Vatican’s supreme court, said the report “lacks a solid foundation in the sacred Scriptures.” Other conservatives called it a “betrayal.” **
I’m with Cardinal Burke on this.
It’s not as if there is a way of interpreting God’s Word to say that sodomy is A-OK with God...
It’s not a matter of interpretation or opinion.
Looks to me like the bishops that want to spread lies about sodomy need to convert to the Anglican Church. They are not authentic Catholics. Their job is to safeguard and preach the truth, not worldly lies to make someone feel better because they are opening sinning against God.
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