Pope Says He Won't Judge Gay Priests

philly.com ^ | 7/29/13 | Nicole Winfield

[SoFloFreeper]

Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn't judge priests for their sexual orientation in a remarkably open and wide-ranging news conference as he returned from his first foreign trip...

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked.

His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, signed a document in 2005 that said men with deep-rooted homosexual tendencies should not be priests. Francis was much more conciliatory, saying gay clergymen should be forgiven and their sins forgotten.

Francis' remarks came Monday during a plane journey back to the Vatican from his first foreign trip in Brazil.

He was funny and candid during a news conference that lasted almost an hour and a half. He didn't dodge a single question, even thanking the journalist who raised allegations reported by an Italian newsmagazine that one of his trusted monsignors was involved in a scandalous gay tryst.

[DrewsMum]

Looks like age simply QUOTED scripture. So maybe the pope (and many us) should take the Lords advice on scripture, eh?

[noinfringers2]

The homosexual society has made huge inroads into defining the vocabulary for people. One can argue such would not be the case unless God was supportive. However, how does a person reconcile such a position/argument if one believes in God and takes as gospel the biblical account of Sodom and Gamora?

[stanne]

I dont understand your last few posts. You are involving yourself inappropriately in an hours old argument

[Elsie]

Remember what Jesus said to the folks who wanted to throw stones at a woman taken in adultery, “he who is without sin, be the first one to cast a stone.”

And yet the OT required that death by stoning be done.

Crazy stuff; this religion thing; ain't it!

[DrewsMum]

Stupid off subject question here. What is the NAACAC?

[Scotswife]

true...I didn’t see the Pope say anything that contradicts catholic teaching.

Does the Church teach us that the Pope is the ultimate judge of a person’s soul? No.
So when he says - “who am I to judge?” ...he is correct.

Does the Church teach that homosexuals - like all other human beings - can turn to God for mercy and forgiveness of sins? Yes.

Nothing to see here.

[Elsie]

All I know about what Jesus would say to a homosexual is found in John 8:1-11.

And yet the FATHER said...

Genesis 13:13...

[Elsie]

Sorry, off topic, but how do you put a poster on ignore?

You don't reply to them.

[stanne]

Here is what the catechism states.

For the purpose of this argument the catechism suffices

It doesnt take a canon law expert to know that the pope was taken out of context and off guard on the plane ride home from wyd and that he has not changed Church teaching whether its dogma or not

It is a sin to act on sexual temptations that are disordered and out of the context of marriage

That’s all

The pope cant change that like a mayor changing a city ordinance as the article hopes

[Elsie]

You don't reply to them.

For the record; I'm on MANY folk's Ignore List.

[Slambat]

Say Goodby to the Catholic church. The pope is a homo
sympathizer if not a homo himself.

“gay clergymen should be forgiven and their sins forgotten.”
In other words, they can continue to practice their
predatory pedophile homosexuality with his blessing.

Pope Francis, a child’s worst enemy. Time to pull the kids
out of Catholic schools, they are definitely not safe there
anymore now that Francis the fondler is in charge.

[Yaelle]

Peoples. He is saying that humans have sexual orientations. Probably every human. S he is saying that once they have devoted themselves to priestly service, and give up all sex, what difference does it make if they have straight or gay orientations? It’s like owning a computer with no electricity or batteries.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I'd like to see the database of priests unjustly, untruthfully accused of abuse. Since I personally know two, myself, in my very small circle of acquaintances, I'm thinking the number must be considerable.

One can err in either direction: either ignoring very disturbing warning signs (e.g. with the despicable Fr. Marcial Maciel), or by indicting an innocent person on the basis of a malicious allegation (as with the excellent Fr. Mark Gruber.)

And even a wise and well-intentioned cleric in a supervisory position can be deceived by a convincing sociopath --- which is what most of these predators are. Abusers are --- very often --- popular and charming. Notice the immediate outcry when one of these rattlesnakes comes to light: "Oh, that can't be true of Father Kevin! He's so warm and loving! So good with the kids!"

I saw that in a visiting priest who had heard my Confession! When I found out, I felt sick all over.

But he's out. As soon as the Bishop had a credible allegation, he called him and asked if it had a factual basis. He admitted it did, and he was removed from priestly ministry on the spot --- and is now in jail. Which is exactly the way it's supposed to go.

[Elsie]

Not going to waste precious time on those posters who cannot be reasoned with.

I agree; basically; but there are times that you just KNOW lurkers would need to read a response that even a doofus makes me reply to.

[stanne]

Nowher does it state that the only way is through the Church

Cite the sentence

You cannot

[metmom]

Oh LOOK! Over there!!!!!

(Don’t notice what the Catholic church teaches.)

[Mrs. Don-o]

You need to give rummychick a courtesy ping, since you mentioned her name.

[Slambat]

“he still opposes homosexual(and all other non-marital) sexual relations.”

Nice try but Francis the fondler just outed himself.

[metmom]

It’s clear you didn’t even read the post. Your CCC states it and it is the very first one in the post.

[Elsie]

Thanks for posting this.

It clarifies a lot!