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.
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?
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This present day equivocal two-stepping by the Vatican makes one wonder if Lutherans and Anglicans didn’t have it right about Rome.
“Who am I to judge” gay people?”
Taken out of context. What he said was “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” He means homosexuals who are living a chaste lifestyle. The act of sodomy is a sin.
But dimwitted liberals took the “who am I to judge” words and ran with it, purposely misquoting what he said for their own personal agenda to legalize homosexual activity and the homosexual lifestyle. The only thing that bothered me about the statement was him using the PC word “gay” to describe a homosexual. First pope in history to not refer to them as homosexuals, which they certainly are. The word means “happy” and most homosexuals I have met in my life are anything but happy. Most are mean-spirited, vindictive, miserable people who stay mad because most people deplore their immoral, perverted lifestyle. They want acceptance for this degeneracy and the only people that will give it to them are liberals, which is a mental disorder itself.
Although I may not be seeing through the confusion created by the Catholic-hating media, I don’t see the Holy Spirit working through the Catholic Church.
I am not a Roman Catholic and even I agree with that statement.
Of course not, since the Pope decided to add 6 liberals to the committee to write the document because those who were elected were too conservative.
One thing will come from this. We know it was the Pope himself who watered this document down when he saw who the members elected to write it and added 6 liberals.
With all due respect to Pope Frances, he is evidently unaware of Paul's words of 1 Corinthians 5:12-13. In that passage Paul indicates that, yes, Christians have the responsibility to judge church members who show by their actions that they have probably rejected Jesus.
No!
It’s the liberals who are backtracking after their hopes for endorsement of their agenda were dashed.
I disagree. We don’t really know much of anything. We can imagine, speculate, fictionalize, believe this or that story, but of facts we have very few, and even fewer from reliable and/or verifiable sources.
If they are living a chaste lifestyle and not engaging in sodomy what actions are to be judged?
Statement of intent produced by the Pope's handpicked drafting committee.
But probably only if they agree with it.
“When the dust settles, I’m afraid very little will have come of all this.”
Wait. Isn’t that what we want? :)
“Then what ARE you trying to say?”
Technically they haven’t said anything yet. Calm down. The Church moves in centuries not days.
Matthew 5:28 tells us that Jesus taught that if you even think of doing something sinful then you are guilty of the sin.
Then go ahead and condemn everyone. Because no one is perfect. That’s why Catholics have confession.
Aren't you glad that God wants everybody to repent, even though some will not do so?
Sounds like "love the sinner, hate the sin".
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