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.
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.
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 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.
Anonymous wrote:Do you have a link? I'd love to share this.
If someone is gay, who searches for the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge?