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 Churchs 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. Todays news is a sterling example.
"The idea first floated by [the] Pope on Catechisms 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 Pauls 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 groups ecclesial advisor. Stowe is one of the five bishops who have endorsed Fr. James Martins 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. Pauls 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 dont 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 groups Twitter message, saying Bishop Stowes 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.
And after that: dyeing.
I've found that posting Scripture, Catholicism's own teachings and even Catholic FReepers own words will have the effect of what is described above.
Tune in later...
And I was gettin ready to make a donation!
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.
...........
I for one, welcome our former overlords, who need to hear the saving message of salvation by faith.
I hope to see many in heaven, who are here so hostile to Christ and salvation, who are focused on their earthly church, and not on Him.
Who glory in their perceived superiority, and not in His truth.
Who have outsourced their minds to men in costumes, instead of seeking His truth as He commanded when He said to love God with ALL your mind and learning to show yourself approved, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
Who are more comfortable calling out to demigods, rather than knowing Him personally and coming boldly into His presence.
And such were some of us, but for the amazing grace of God.
If I here is any Catholic reading this that longs to know Him, to know they have salvation, to know He accepts them and loves them entirely and that they can be secure in that relationship, please pm me.
Had no one shared the good news with me, Id be lost. If I can share the good news with anyone else, I am available.
Cue Yellowstone Supervolcano...
Have you read the Bible?
Oh and your MSNBC polls...I don't follow them, you do? I never see them unless they are referenced in the news.
My post to you was based on facts, non-Catholic caucus threads have had Catholics post on them more (percentage wise) than non-Catholics have posted on Catholic caucus threads.
Those are just the facts, ma'am
Oh, care to comment on this reply to you?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/3676406/posts?page=151#151
I will warn you, it has a quote that the Holy Spirit dictated to an Apostle/disciple many years ago.
If it is blather to you then don't reply to it.
Oh I welcome all.
I have invited many Catholics to discuss Biblically salvation with me in order for them to have the salvation so generously offered in God’s word.
Great analysis and offer to “our former overlords”
Seeing that in your post made me LOL.
Why are non-Catholics even posting on Catholic caucused threads?
... we tell the truth in love - and for no other reason than to see men and women come to saving faith in Christ.
This person is going by either MSNBC or CNN polling on caucus interruptions. Fake news.
Why are Catholics even posting on non-Catholic caucus threads?
Some times OTH (Other Than Catholic) posters post on Catholic caucused threads because many of them don’t qualify for the Catholic caucus designation.
I don’t know if it is just carelessness or an attempt keep Christians from posting on a particular article.
I’ve seen more than one of your Catholic caucused threads have the designation pulled because the articles themselves or one of the Catholic posters reference/s other belief systems.
Amen brother!
Spreading the Gospel, not try to grow a denomination.
Which is the irony.
I don't care where anyone chooses to worship, after they come to faith in Christ.
God will let them know as they grow in grace.
I can't keep an eye on each and every post, ready to "Report Abuse". I try my best and when I see them, I do report them. That's no excuse for non-Catholics posting on Catholic caucused while they are still caucused.
Once a caucus designation is removed, it's an open forum.
“This person” LOL.
What’s the matter, can’t you misspell Synchro?
So you get your news from MSNBC or CNN huh?
Did you know that internet etiquette calls for pinging someone when you are talking about them?
Is talking behind someone’s back with false snark something that you do often?
Also your post skirts the RF guidelines by making a mindreading personal attack on another poster.
Have some respect for the guidelines.
Barbra Streisand would be appalled.
Yet you defend non-Catholics breaking caucus guidelines.
Even when you’re with me, you’re just a distant memory. So sorry.
So when you post a thread, you do not read every reply? That's pretty rude.
I try my best and when I see them, I do report them.
Trying your best includes not keeping an eye on every post? Seems a bit slothful (that's a Biblical reference) to me.
That's no excuse for non-Catholics posting on Catholic caucused while they are still caucused.
Correct. (And there is no excuse for you to post caucus threads without checking to see if they qualify. Many times that has been done.)
The RM wants them reported by FR mail so as not to disrupt the thread.
There is also no excuse for more than one Catholic to post to non-Catholic caucus threads multiple times either.
Which has happened.
I do when I'm on the computer, but I have a life outside FR.
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