Pope Francis on Homosexuality

[Anonymous]

Quote from his trip to Brazil:

If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?

It's a step forward. I hope he turns this into more formal direction to the clergy.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a link? I'd love to share this.

[Anonymous]

I hope this is the direction the Catholic Church will be taking. I really think this pope is focusing on the right things.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a link? I'd love to share this.

It's from an AP report:

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-says-gays-must-not-judged-marginalized-110838664.html

[Anonymous]

It's one of the best quotes out of anyone from the Papacy or the Vatican I have heard in ages. I can only hope that this opens the dialogue for future discussions.

[Anonymous]

Question: Are you homosexual or heterosexual if you are chaste? Does it really make a difference what your attractions are?

[Anonymous]

I'm not Catholic, so I'm the first to admit that I don't understand the intricacies of catechism, but this article confuses me.

First, this is what I've always been told. Homosexuality is not a sin. Acting on homosexuality is the sin. Isn't that what the Pope is saying?

As a side, I have never understood how gays are not supposed to act on their natural inclinations. Do they just live celibate and alone for their entire lives? My mom, in her infinite wisdom (eyes rolling), says yes, it's their cross to carry. I myself cannot reconcile how God would give someone an inclination, but tell them not to act on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not Catholic, so I'm the first to admit that I don't understand the intricacies of catechism, but this article confuses me.

First, this is what I've always been told. Homosexuality is not a sin. Acting on homosexuality is the sin. Isn't that what the Pope is saying?

As a side, I have never understood how gays are not supposed to act on their natural inclinations. Do they just live celibate and alone for their entire lives? My mom, in her infinite wisdom (eyes rolling), says yes, it's their cross to carry. I myself cannot reconcile how God would give someone an inclination, but tell them not to act on it.

I think you are parsing his statement too finely. The Pope knows that very few people, gay or straight, are celibate. I sincerely doubt that he is speaking to the Elderly gay man who lived alone his whole life.

[Anonymous]

The NYT article suggesting he was specifically referring to gay priests.

[Anonymous]

He is speaking of being gay and celibate. If you weren't a major sinner then why did Christ have to be sacrificed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quote from his trip to Brazil:

If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?

It's a step forward. I hope he turns this into more formal direction to the clergy.

no - not really


from Slate - http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/07/29/pope_francis_on_gay_prists_who_am_i_to_judge.html

Here's a longer version (and slightly different translation) of that quote, via NCR:

"When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem … they’re our brothers.”

. . .

It's also worth remembering that, before he was pope, Francis waged an ultimately unsuccessful push to prevent Argentina from becoming the first Latin American country to legalize gay marriage, and declared that allowing gay couples to adopt was discrimination against children.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I read a news report that didn't give the context. I am disappointed that this merely applies to the priesthood.

Oh well, maybe the next pope.

[Anonymous]

I am not concerned with what two consenting adults do behind closed doors. I am in favor of gay marriage.

But you have to realize that Catholicism, like many faiths, is rooted in scripture. The Bible says it's a sin for a man to lie with another man. It's not going to get re-written. It just isn't.

Gay persons cannot expect a whole religion to change it's doctrine on this. Individuals can think for themselves, but the church body is not going to change in regards to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not concerned with what two consenting adults do behind closed doors. I am in favor of gay marriage.

But you have to realize that Catholicism, like many faiths, is rooted in scripture. The Bible says it's a sin for a man to lie with another man. It's not going to get re-written. It just isn't.

Gay persons cannot expect a whole religion to change it's doctrine on this. Individuals can think for themselves, but the church body is not going to change in regards to this.

Are we really going to rehash all the things the Bible prohibits, then quickly dismiss the ones you want to do (eat shellfish, get a tattoo) while still insisting that God hates gays?

[Anonymous]

And why is this in the politics forum???