Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

LGBT ‘Catholic’ groups:If Pope can reverse ...teaching on death penalty, why not homosex?
LifeSite News ^ | August 3, 2018 | Dorothy Cummings McLean

Posted on 08/03/2018 9:55:47 PM PDT by unlearner

LEXINGTON, Kentucky, Pro-homosexual dissident 'Catholic' groups see in Pope Francis' ‘changing’ of the Church’s teaching on the death penalty the hope that the Church will one day also change its teaching against homosexuality.

New Ways Ministry called the change in the Catechism proof that "Church teaching can change."

"It's important for Catholic advocates for LGBT equality to take note of this change because for decades Catholic opponents of LGBT equality argued that it is impossible to change church teaching. They often pointed to the fact that condemnations of same-sex relationships were inscribed in the Catechism, and so were not open for discussion or change. Yet, the teaching on the death penalty is in the Catechism, too, and, in fact, to make this change in teaching, it was the text of the Catechism that Francis changed," the group stated on its website.

New Ways Ministry, which works to "promote the acceptance of LGBT people," said that Pope Francis' move will help advance "LGBT equality" in a number of ways.

"First, we now have a clear, explicit contemporary example of church teaching changing, and also a look into how it can be done: with a papal change to the Catechism," it stated.

"Second, we can see that the process that brought about this change has been decades of theological debate and discussion, and not just a papal whim. That means the theological and even ecclesial discussions and debates right now about LGBT people have great potential to shape future changes in church teaching in regard to those topics," it added.

The pro-gay group was not the only one to see the significance of Pope Francis' rewrite of the Catechism.

In a post that appeared yesterday on Twitter, Lexington-based “Fortunate Families” wrote:

The church cannot change its teaching. That is what so many others say about other topics, for example regarding LGBTQ persons. But doctrine develops. Today’s news is a sterling example.

"The idea first floated by [the] Pope on Catechism’s 25th anniversary last fall to signify development of doctrine,” the tweet continued, “rescript issued today sees Francis issue edit of the 1994 official text, now deeming capital punishment ‘inadmissible’-- the new formulation.”

“Development of doctrine”, legitimately used to describe how the Catholic Church refines and expands, but never undermines or rejects, what was taught earlier, has now been interpreted by some to mean the erasure of settled Church teaching.

Critics say Pope Francis attempted to do that yesterday when he promulgated a new teaching concerning the death penalty in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, saying that it was “inadmissible.” The perennial teaching of the Church, based on Scripture and unanimously accepted by the Church Fathers and every pope until Francis, is that legitimate civil authority may impose the death penalty on a malefactor. Although both Saint John Paul II and Benedict XVI were strongly opposed to capital punishment--and John Paul’s Catechism strongly circumscribed it--neither pope denied this principle.

Pope Francis’ innovation has already become a club for American liberals to beat conservatives with. Jane Fleming Kleeb, Chair of the Democratic Party in Nebraska, has tweeted “Let's be clear Nebraskans, @GovRicketts is going against the teachings of the church. We can change leaders by voting different on Nov. 6--Democrats are against the death penalty.”

Fortunate Families, founded in 1992 by Mary Ellen and Casey Lopata, the Catholic parents of a same-sex attracted man, is a group of Catholic religious and laypeople who dissent on authentic Church teaching regarding sexuality and marriage. From 2010 until this July Fortunate Families was part of a coalition with Call to Action, the banned Dignity, and the censured New Ways ministry.

Astonishingly, since November 2017 Bishop John Stowe, OFM of Lexington has served as the dissident group’s “ecclesial advisor”. Stowe is one of the five bishops who have endorsed Fr. James Martin’s pro-LGBT book Building a Bridge. The bishop was appointed to the Lexington diocese by Pope Francis in 2015.

Fortunate Families was last in the news when a Lexington Catholic church stretched an LGBT flag across its front lawn. The first executive director of the group, Stan “JR” Zerkowski, is a parishioner at St. Paul’s parish, and told media that he hoped the banner got wide publicity.

“This is a church that is open to all people and I hope this sign gets that across,” he said in the TV report. “I don’t think a Catholic Church has ever had a sign like this before in front of it during Pride Week or any other time. However, in other parts of the country we see this regularly.”

The banner read “LBGTQ+ Catholic /Family, Friends & Allies/all are welcome”, insinuating that at other Catholic churches Catholics who experience same-sex desires or suffer from gender dysphoria are barred from the worship of God.

Former homosexual Joseph Sciambra retweeted the group’s Twitter message, saying “Bishop Stowe’s ‘Fortunate Families’ believe that the [Catechism of the Catholic Church] will also ‘change’ in terms of homosexuality. FF operatives are embedded within several dioceses around the US.”

Sciambra, a survivor of the San Francisco 1990s “gay scene”, is dedicated to helping people with same-sex attractions avoid being trapped in what he says is a dangerous way of life.


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Mainline Protestant; Moral Issues
KEYWORDS: abortion; catholic; homosexual; homosexualagenda; religiousleft
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 401-416 next last
To: aMorePerfectUnion
Yes, every day is a different sport. Weekly activity is posted in the clubhouse each Friday for the following week.

Curling is up next!

141 posted on 08/04/2018 7:04:33 PM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 140 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein
Most of you people interpret the Bible any old way you see fit unlike the Church’s teachings. I don’t pay any attention to your blatherings on the subject. Good night.

Would you be so kind then as to provide us with a link to where Rome has dogmatically defined each verse in the New Testament?

If you can't, Rome has left its members adrift in this manner.

142 posted on 08/04/2018 7:07:40 PM PDT by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: ealgeone
Curling is up next!

I love curling on a hot day!!

143 posted on 08/04/2018 7:10:07 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: unlearner

A “reformation” is inconceivable. Catholicism is a closed circle. No one uses the word reformation except in reference to the events of the past. To Catholics, unity is more important than doctrine! (Except trads who the pope would like to see all drop dead due to their obsession with remaking the Church back to 1950).

Change has been ongoing for 200 years in sync with the same changes everywhere, theosophy, romanticism, modernism, postmod, post christian, post-truth, whatever, there are a ton of names applying to 18th century, rural religion-dominated society to today’s secular, violent society.

The new group in Church hierarchy has come to the forefront. It has all the characteristics of secular contemporary life. Its moral code is aligning with the reality of deconstructionism.

Bergoglio’s goal was to change the church or as Cardinal Wuerl said, “put it back on the map.”. So homosexuality was bad in past, and that was also the secular view. Church has now fully embraced and glorified it. Every gay is adorable, in culture and in Church.

These changes are made or haphazardly applied 100% TOP down. Your average Catholic has no idea what is happening with important stuff. Trads follow a bit more closely because they feel this is a crisis. The Church will probably be unrecognizable if present rulers carry on with plans to match Church to culture (agw, socialism, immigration, gay, etc). Catholics will pick bits and pieces as time passes.

Abortion and life issues (euthanasia, ivf, life support) are the Church’s strength. I thought they could never channge, they are all based to same tenets of human dignity and human immortal soul. But in recent baby killing in Britain, some (Paglia, etc) churchmen veered just slightly to a vague interpretation of life!


144 posted on 08/04/2018 9:28:11 PM PDT by Marchmain (Things are not what they seem.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 129 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein; metmom

I just wonder how many Catholics break into Protestant caucuses.

***

How many Protestant caucus threads ARE there?

I remember seeing exactly three in all my time here at FR, even those that probably could have used a caucus designation.

Whereas I can’t go a single day without seeing at least five Catholic caucus threads.

Seems to me that Protestants are quite willing to discuss what they believe with anyone who asks, and the Catholics can’t stand dissent.

It’s very tempting to post a whole bunch of Prot caucus threads that uphold the rules and at the same time will REALLY peeve off the Catholics, just to see what happens.


145 posted on 08/04/2018 10:17:20 PM PDT by Luircin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: unlearner

Of course Christianity is open to ALL people and churches should be welcoming to everyone who desires to know the true God, His revealed truth, the Good News of salvation by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and fellowship with loving and kind people as well helping each other to overcome sin through the strengthening and power of the Holy Spirit so that we may live lives that honor God. No one should be turned away. But this is NOT the same thing as ignoring or condoning what God has called an abomination. His word is very clear that homosexual acts are a grave evil and destructive to society.


146 posted on 08/04/2018 10:42:38 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein; unlearner
Is this the new trend in breaking the Catholic Caucus? Simply repost it by a non-Catholic and then allow it to go forward without the designation so the insults can begin? Just asking for clarification.

It's perfectly fine for someone else to repost a thread as non-caucus especially if said poster is wanting to discuss the topic and is prevented from doing so because he isn't a caucus member. And asking for clarification is exactly the reason he did it. If you cannot help clarify or respectfully dialogue, then skip it. Why presume dishonest motives?

147 posted on 08/04/2018 10:59:47 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: boatbums

“Why presume dishonest motives?”

I think that is called projection.


148 posted on 08/04/2018 11:07:28 PM PDT by Syncro (Facts is Facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 147 | View Replies]

To: ealgeone

I’m impressed that you even know what it is.


149 posted on 08/04/2018 11:15:33 PM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 141 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein
I just wonder how many Catholics break into Protestant caucuses. There are here now and I for one think it is a fine idea. I don’t lurk on them as some people lurk on the Catholic caucuses hoping and praying for an “in” so the insults can begin. More and more I see the Catholic caucus designation being ignored.

So now we're not even supposed to READ Catholic Caucus threads???!!! A little sensitive, are we?

150 posted on 08/04/2018 11:20:20 PM PDT by boatbums (Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy he saved us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 104 | View Replies]

To: miss marmelstein
Most of you people interpret the Bible any old way you see fit unlike the Church’s teachings. I don’t pay any attention to your blatherings on the subject. Good night.
Well lets go back and see what I was responding to when I posted "blathering"-Which was scripture from the Holy Spirt-and see what sorts out.

I saw your comment "I hang out with my Catholic family and friends and we love the world."

I thought I would help you a little by showing you what God thinks about that sentence and so I posted:

Is this in your Bible?

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

So it seems you don't accept the Truths of Scripture and denigrate God's word with snarky replies.

Oh and BTW and FYI, your comment to me does not comply with the guidelines of the Religion Forum.

I don't hit abuse when that happens because I like to have posts like that left up to show how ignorant some people are of politeness and civility not to mention a complete disregard for the guidelines.

So thank you so much for the comment and I hope I have helped you better understand the Bible's position on loving the world.

And with that I will quote you: Good night

151 posted on 08/05/2018 12:27:47 AM PDT by Syncro (Facts is Facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 135 | View Replies]

To: boatbums; miss marmelstein

Percentage wise I believe it is a fact that Protestant caucus threads are invaded by Catholics more than Catholic caucus threads are invaded by non-Catholics.


152 posted on 08/05/2018 12:31:00 AM PDT by Syncro (Facts is Facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 150 | View Replies]

To: Syncro

Believing those MSNBC polls again?


153 posted on 08/05/2018 3:40:21 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 152 | View Replies]

To: unlearner
Both the Old and New Testaments affirm that this merits death.

And yet...


  

A BIBLICAL Message to LGBT folks EVERYWHERE!



 
Genesis 13:13
Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Genesis 18:20-21
20. Then the LORD said, "The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and
their sin so grievous
21. that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know."

Genesis 19:4-7
4. Before they had gone to bed, all the men
from every part of the city of Sodom--both young and old--surrounded the house.
5. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them
."
6. Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him
7. and said, "No, my friends. Don't do this wicked thing.


Leviticus niv

18:22 Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.

20:13 If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.

 
 


Psalms 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

Doonesbury Cartoon for Feb/08/2013

Isaiah 3:9 The look on their faces testifies against them; they parade their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! They have brought disaster upon themselves.

2 Peter 2:13b Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.


Ezekiel 16:49-50
49. "`Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
50. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.


Romans 1     New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
 
 18 The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. 20 Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse; 21 for although they knew God they did not accord him glory as God or give him thanks. Instead, they became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for the likeness of an image of mortal man or of birds or of four-legged animals or of snakes.
 

24 Therefore, God handed them over to impurity through the lusts of their hearts for the mutual degradation of their bodies. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 Therefore, God handed them over to degrading passions. Their females exchanged natural relations for unnatural, 27 and the males likewise gave up natural relations with females and burned with lust for one another. Males did shameful things with males and thus received in their own persons the due penalty for their perversity. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God handed them over to their undiscerning mind to do what is improper. 29 They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite. 


2 Peter 2

1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
3. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment;
5. if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
6. if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
7. and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men
8. (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)--
9. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
10. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings;
11. yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord.
12. But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.
Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.



But there IS hope!!!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

9. 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
10. nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
11. 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.


If you could NOT change, you would be in most pitiful shape...

 
 
 
 
 
 
 


The Health Risks of gay sex.

154 posted on 08/05/2018 3:44:05 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: unlearner
I’m not very familiar with the terminology used in Catholic teaching. I know that it tends to be very precise.

Ha ha HA!!


Call no man Father...

155 posted on 08/05/2018 3:45:13 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: unlearner
But I am wondering how faithful Catholics view a Pope who is also a heretic, assuming that this is a possibility from the perspective of Catholics.

Them's mighty big words from a one-eyed fat man!

Which Catholic has the RIGHT to JUDGE the POPE?


Unam Sanctum


Unam Sanctum
 
The Bull lays down dogmatic propositions on the unity of the Church,
the necessity of belonging to it for the attainment of eternal salvation,
the position of the pope as supreme head of the Church,
and the duty thence arising of submission to the pope in order to belong to the Church,
and thus to attain salvation.
 
https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/unam-sanctam 

156 posted on 08/05/2018 3:52:16 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: unlearner
I posted this article though because I’m trying to understand how Catholics view obvious apostasy and how they reconcile this with their system of belief.

Many things are OBVIOUS to a Catholic; but they can rationalize them away quite easily.

157 posted on 08/05/2018 3:53:31 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: metmom

Your sister lives in Buffalo! Now we know why you have all the anti-Catholic facts at your finger-tips; we had tried to keep Buffalo a Papist secret for close to 200 years and now you’ve found it out...


158 posted on 08/05/2018 3:56:05 AM PDT by miss marmelstein
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 136 | View Replies]

To: unlearner
But I may be misunderstanding the Catholic perspective on this—not trying to put words in their mouths.

That's ok; if you are an apparition that is assumed to be Mary.

It has placed BILLIONS of words into the collective mouth of Rome's followers.


 

For a low; LOW! price of ONLY $11.95...
 
 
 
 
 
http://www.catholiccompany.com/brown-scapular-brown-cord-18-inch-i104714/?sku=2026726&utm_source=google&utm_medium=products&aid=4280&product_id=2026726&creative=11070181829&device=c&matchtype=e
 
 

159 posted on 08/05/2018 3:57:18 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Marchmain
Both the lack of progress in the church, and the receptive beauty and peace, flow from an overall attitude of acceptance.

Not in the old days!

It was RAW POWER!!

160 posted on 08/05/2018 3:59:06 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 121-140141-160161-180 ... 401-416 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson