Pope reaffirms Church’s stance against homosexual marriage

CNA ^ | May 16, 2008

[NYer]

Vatican City, May 16, 2008 / 02:12 pm (CNA).- One day after California overturned a ban on same-sex marriage, the Holy Father has firmly stated that only marriage between a man and a woman is moral.

Yesterday, California’s Supreme Court came to a 4-3 decision overturning the state’s law preventing homosexuals from being recognized as married.

While the Pope did not directly mention the ruling in California in his address to the Forum of Family Associations and the European Federation of Catholic Family Associations, Benedict XVI stressed the importance of the traditional family for the good of society.

"The union of love, based on matrimony between a man and a woman, which makes up the family, represents a good for all society that can not be substituted by, confused with, or compared to other types of unions," he said.

He continued by speaking of the rights of the traditional family, "founded on matrimony between a man and a woman, the natural cradle of human life." Mention of the need to defend the family is not uncharacteristic for Pope Benedict, but his statement takes on particular relevance following the California ruling.

In the same address, the Pope emphasized the family’s importance by citing John Paul II, "the Pope of the family," who said that "the future of humanity passes by way of the family.”

[NYer]

Vatican Document on Homosexual Unions

Homosexual unions are totally lacking in the biological and anthropological elements of marriage and family which would be the basis, on the level of reason, for granting them legal recognition. Such unions are not able to contribute in a proper way to the procreation and survival of the human race. The possibility of using recently discovered methods of artificial reproduction, beyond involving a grave lack of respect for human dignity,(15) does nothing to alter this inadequacy.

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

Catholic Ping
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[BlueStateBlues]

Unfortunetly he’s not Pope of California (that would be Nicholsen I). Ellen will marry her foxy actress friend, people will fight it, but Sodom has another run in the world.

[Eurale]

They don’t care in the Proplrs Republic of Kalifornia where being queer is fashionable - if not preferred.

[ohioman]

How long until folks call for his arrest? Who would have thought that stating something that is just common sense, for all religions, would ever become controversial

[Eurale]

Proplrs = People’s. LOL. I swear I haven’t had a thing to drink - yet.

[Jaded]

The Pope’s response to the Left Coast.

[livius]

I don’t know if Villaraigosa (the mayor of LA who said he’s eager to “marry” gays) even goes to Mass, but if he does, I assume this means that he’s been warned. It will be interesting to see if Cdl Roger Dodger does anything about this or not.

[livius]

The gays in Rome have already been calling for his arrest. Oh, that or his death.

[kjo]

In a very few years Catholics churches will be picketed, Catholics’ with businesses boycotted, and churches denied buidling permits because of their “hate”.

It’s coming, get ready.

[PanzerKardinal]

We started in the catacombs.

We can go back to the catacombs.

[kellynla]

Like others have said, it'll be interesting to see if Mahony has any response to L.A.’s CINO mayor who said he would officiate homosexual marriages.
I've already emailed the mayor & reminded him of Romans 1:24-32...of course I'm assuming he actually has a Bible; although who knows how long its been since he actually sat down and read it.

[aposiopetic]

Roger Dodger

I hadn't heard that moniker before but it makes me think of Tommy Lasorda's (now Joe Torre's) blue headgear with a bill in place of the scarlet skullcap.

[Wonder Warthog]

"The Pope’s response to the Left Coast."

Thanks for the ping to this article/thread. I think this answers "ElPatriota" sufficiently. And it's a quicker turn-around than I expected from the Vatican bureaucracy.

[jobim]

Imagine the future scenarios for those of us teaching in Catholic schools:

*no more mentioning that acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Greece caused its proliferation
*no more encouraging teens to remain chaste, off the pill, and saving themselves for husband/wife/children
*an extremely careful wording of the Catechism, and Bible references, as attorneys dictate that we avoid discussions of homosexuality
*"parents" of these "unions" demanding full acceptance, etc. for their "children" now enrolled

[kellynla]

In a very few years Catholics churches will be picketed, Catholics’ with businesses boycotted, and churches denied building permits because of their “hate”.

The Catholic Church has survived and multiplied for 2000 years; I seriously doubt Our Lord Jesus Christ will allow a few thousand homosexuals much less the entire U.S.A. or the entire world for that matter prevent His Church and/or His children from continuing to grow until the end of the world.

[monkapotamus]

ping

[bpjam]

gosh, the brilliant legal origami from the CA Supremes didn’t convince him to overthrow 5800 years of civilization and endorse a gender-free society where we are all just homo sapiens who are interchangable and free of identity beyond the tattoos we choose to undergo?

I guess I should be surprised considering what a rational argument that sounds like on MSNBC......

[agere_contra]

Absolutely. The lights of perverted science may improve on Diocletian’s gridiron, but Christ will be with us. Amen +

[Morgana]

You know.....when the Holy Father was in America I wish he had visited San Fransisco and done a “Saint Patrick” (ie drive all the snakes into the water) on all the filthy disease ridden queers there!

[DaveyB]

As a member of one the most conservative protestant denomination in America, I urge the pope to EXCOMMUNICATE all that would call themselves Roman Catholic that applaud, assist or otherwise give their approval of homosexuality or homo-marriage. If the archbishop or cardinal is unwilling haul his pointy hat back to Rome and give him a job cleaning urinals.

I understand this is not my denomination and there is no love lost between Rome and the Reformation, but I simply cannot figure out how Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry etc. can be part of your church when they facilitate baby killing, and are cheerleaders for abominations. Isn't there an anathema for these devils as there was for Calvin, Luther, Tyndale and Wycliffe?

[kellynla]

“The lights of perverted science may improve on Diocletian’s gridiron, but Christ will be with us. Amen +”

I couldn’t have said it better...

[kellynla]

“Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry etc. can be part of your church”

quite the contrary...Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry et al are what we call; “CINO’s” or Catholics in Name Only.

and as others have noted, any Catholic who votes for abortion has self-excommunicated themselves from Holy Mother Church. And should not continue to receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion:

According to the Church’s command, “Anyone who is aware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church

[NYer]

*no more mentioning that acceptance of homosexuality in ancient Greece caused its proliferation

Same for Ancient Rome.

A good friend, an Italian immigrant who studied Ancient history, once made a very astute comment about the future direction of the US. This was back in the early 70's. He commented on the growth of feminism, pointed to the ancient civilizations and noted that in each instance, once women rose to positions of power, they were soon followed by a rise in the homosexual activists, demanding equal rights. He said that in al lthose ancient cultures, these events occured just before the collapse of those societies. At the time, I laughed. Now, I simply recall those words and remember those of Santayana:

"Those who do not learn from history are forced to repeat it".

[DaveyB]

Excommunication is an extension of the office of the keys, they can't excommunicate themselves (at least not officially), the church must do that. It is IMHO a wimp-out to say they are self excommunicated or they are CINO's when they are on your rolls.

Mt 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Catholics believe that was addressed to Peter and his successors, we protestants believe that it was to all the apostles as representatives of the church. In either case it it the church's authority not the individuals to excommunicate. From where I sit it looks like Rome is more interested in maintaining its power and tithes than performing the ecclesiastical duty given by Christ. Purge the leaven!!!

[ElPatriota]

Thank you!

[SevenofNine]

Monk DUH I kinda knew that going happen since my stupid state Supreme court rule Gay marriage is OKAY LOL!

[SevenofNine]

Actually Roger Mahoney want that money he is not going do jack to Tony Villars

[SevenofNine]

Actually Roger Mahoney want that money he is not going do jack to Tony Villars

[SevenofNine]

Actually Roger Mahoney want that money he is not going do jack to Tony Villars

[kellynla]

“they can’t excommunicate themselves (at least not officially)?”

I don’t believe anybody said they could...”officially”...at least I know I didn’t...

but it doesn’t matter to God whether it’s “official” or not; does it? LOL

[bradthebuilder]

..........In a very few years Catholics churches will be picketed, Catholics’ with businesses boycotted, and churches denied building permits because of their “hate”.

It’s coming, get ready.....

The sooner the better, IMO. It is time for every person in America to choose sides. I know where I stand. I have sometimes wondered which Sacraments my kids would be receiving in Latin in the underground Church. My oldest has Communion in four years.

[DaveyB]

but it doesn’t matter to God whether it’s “official” or not; does it?

It does according to RC doctrine. If being in the church (aka on the membership rolls) is equivalent to being in Christ then it must matter to Christ. If it didn't matter then why excommunicate Luther, Calvin, Jon Huss (oh and you burned him at the stake for far less than Pelosi). But besides that, it is unloving not to turn them over to Satan that they might repent and preserve their souls - just letting them turn back to perdition is antipathy for their soul. The inaction and impotent statements from Rome give abominations a tacit approval to the most heinous of sins.

Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

[A.A. Cunningham]

they can't excommunicate themselves (at least not officially), the church must do that.

From where I sit, someone, you, who doesn't understand latae and ferendae sententiae excommunications shouldn't be commenting authoritatively on a subject they know nothing about.

[DaveyB]

From where I sit, someone, you, who doesn't understand latae and ferendae sententiae excommunications shouldn't be commenting authoritatively on a subject they know nothing about.

The Latin is a nice a touch - clearly touchy though!

From the wiki -A latae sententiae penalty follows automatically, by force of the law itself, when the law is contravened. A latae sententiae penalty may be either one of excommunication, interdict, or suspension. Excommunication prohibits the exercise of certain baptismal rights, and may involve restrictions on participation in liturgical events and church governance, and the reception of church benefits. An interdict involves the same liturgical restrictions as excommunication, but does not affect participation in church governance. Suspension, which affects only members of the clergy, affects all or some acts of power of orders, governance, or functions attached to an office.

In the code of canon law currently in force, there are eight instances when a person may incur excommunication latae sententiae. Unless the excusing circumstances outlined in canons 1321-1330 are verified, the following persons incur excommunication latae sententiae:

The apropos items from the list:
• a priest who absolves an accomplice in a sin against the sixth commandment (adultery by the RC numbering) except in danger of death (canon 1378);
• a person who procures a completed abortion (canon 1398);

  If one commits an ecclesiastical offense for which a ferendae sententiae punishment is prescribed, the penalty will only take effect when imposed by the competent ecclesiastical authority.

---

Now that we got that out of the way, I was not talking about your cannon law, but a little thing we in the Reformation like to call Biblical law. But if your church doesn't want to excommunicate unrepentant powerful people in order to preserve it's status and income, please don't try and hide behind the Latin, and by all means take the cellophane of the Bible and read it.