Posted on 04/23/2015 9:13:41 AM PDT by marshmallow
Report says during ‘discreet’ 15-minute meeting with Laurent Stéfanini, pontiff told him Vatican could not accept his appointment
Pope Francis met France’s nominated ambassador to the Holy See, who is gay, and told him that the Vatican would not accept his appointment, a French newspaper has claimed.
In a meeting over the weekend, the pontiff allegedly cited his displeasure with a controversial 2013 gay marriage law in France as part of his reason for the decision, according to the report in satirical title Le Canard Enchâiné.
Pope Francis also allegedly said he did not appreciate the manner in which France had tried to put pressure on the Vatican by nominating a man – 55-year-old Laurent Stéfanini – who French officials knew would be controversial given the church’s views on homosexuality. The Vatican declined to comment to the Guardian about the veracity of the report or whether a meeting took place.
The church’s apparent objection to Stéfanini, a practising Catholic, has been known for weeks, ever since press reports first indicated that the Vatican was dragging its feet on the nomination because of his sexual orientation.
The refusal by the Holy See to formally accept Stéfanini’s credentials was seen as an indirect way of forcing France to pick another ambassador and avoid making a public statement on the issue.
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
This also applies to the Vatican Benedictine Bakery, the St. Peter`s Flower Shoppe and the Vatican Visitor Volvo Repair Garage.
My opinion of the Pope has increased.
What happened to, “who am I to judge”? There must be some misunderstanding, based on that remark. The pope rather laid that marker down as an invitation for trouble.
Now that it has arrived (trouble), our pope gets serious, demonstrating that he does have a clue?
Which is it?
I’m glad, of course, and sad. It is whiplash with our pope from one day to the next. It is also painful and so unnecessary for his words to be so confusing to so many, so much of the time.
We were all used to linear thinking, no matter the complexity any subject. Having to get used to rabbit trails passing for thought patterns is not easy.
Paper Claims Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See
Well DUH!.........
What was that all about?
I don’t judge whether a person deserves heaven or hell, that’s God’s responsibility, not mine. However, I find it wise to be honest about how morally right or morally wrong certain behaviors are, that is wise and caring judgement.
The Pope has every right to decide that an ambassador does or does not deserve to be there on behalf of a nation, especially when said person promotes certain behavior as okay that isn’t.
His “who am I to judge comment” was the end of his sentence. The pope was asked about what has been described as a “gay lobby” in the Vatican, allegedly a group of priests and bishops who work at the Vatican and protect each other. Pope Francis said it was important to “distinguish between a person who is gay and someone who makes a gay lobby.”
“A gay person who is seeking God, who is of good will — well, who am I to judge him?” the pope said. “The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well. It says one must not marginalize these persons, they must be integrated into society. The problem isn’t this (homosexual) orientation — we must be like brothers and sisters. The problem is something else, the problem is lobbying either for this orientation or a political lobby or a Masonic lobby.”
The church distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies or orientation, it said. The church, unlike much of the public, does not assume all those with a homosexual orientation are sexually active, just as it does not assume all heterosexuals are sexually active.
“A gay person who is seeking God, who is of good will — well, who am I to judge him?” the pope said.
I understand. I accept your account and I accept the Catechism. But a sophomoric statement invites confusion. Acting on a depraved inclination is not allowed. Seeking God is always allowed. Blowing up the intersection between the two with a remark such as, “who am I to judge”, is a ridiculous rabbit trail, and sure fodder for misuse, misunderstanding, and really, deservedly so.
Still “allegedly”. I find this interesting:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3279910/posts
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