Posted on 07/29/2013 11:56:41 AM PDT by NYer
Jesus said ‘Sin no more’. Why couldn’t the Pope have said-plainly-” If you are homosexual and PRACTICE homosexuality you CANNOT be a priest. If you break the vow of celibacy you willingly took- you are NO LONGER a priest.”? Straight talk-no ambiguity.
All that I'm doing is applying basic reading skills and God-given common sense to what both the Pope said and what the Holy Scriptures say.
On the other hand, I think that it is appropriate to give the Pope the opportunity clarify what he said concerning this issue.
Except for the fact that in Biblical Chrsitianity no one seeks God, he has a point. < /sarc>
I am not an expert but believe that Pope Benedict XVI said just about that.
You have assigned your assessment as though it is the Pope’s intended meaning.
I suggest he is addressing it as “real”, rather than “normal”.
Are you pretending it doesn’t exist and therefore deserves to be ignored?
Priestly vows also commit straight Priests not to act on their opposite sex attraction.
Celibacy applies across the board.
This pope is a Jesuit and he’s living up to their liberal reputation.
I thought the reason Benedict resigned was to put in someone younger with the strength to fight off the liberal tendencies that were besetting the church. They blew it by a mile.
He’s a socialist
He likes Muslims
And now the gay lifestyle
They might as well have installed Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury)!
And what’s this about not judging - that’s what we do a thousand times a day!
I'm not judging you or even criticizing. Your post was simply the one I responded to. When I first read the Pope's comments, I had an opinion and expected he was referring to the judgement of one's soul and less about their behavior.
But as I have read the comments on this thread. They are all over the board (figuratively). It occurs to me that very few have taken a seemingly simple text in such dramatically different ways. In this regard, I am compelled to notice; It must be a truly spiritually inspired comment that would reach so many in so many different ways. FReepers are a pretty smart and mostly rational bunch.
The observation gives me pause and makes me ponder.
God does.
The pope can’t save anyone, but God can, if they’ll repent. Each and every life is precious to Him.
We can judge behaviors. We are not to "judge" the souls. That is God's place. I believe a serial killer and/or rapist should be put to death for his crimes (judging his behavior). But I am still supposed to avoid wishing his soul go to hell, for I know not what is his heart at the hour of his death (judging his soul).
In this way, we are to hope the killer truly repents and his soul is forever cleansed....right before they inject the lethal serum that will end is treacherous, earthly life. We can forgive him and let the laws of man do what they must.
One cannot be honestly seeking the Lord if he is proudly bathed in sin. Not possible. He must renounce the evil he has done, and approach the throne of God with humbleness.
I agree. Good question. Hold on.... I'll go ask.
I’m commenting on his quoted statement.
I also think that homosexuality has proven to be a problem for the Catholic church in ways and on an international scale in recent decades, that haven’t come from the normal Priests.
As someone opposing the power and gains of the homosexual movement, I don’t see this as helpful, I see it as not helpful to my side.
Thanks for clarification.
Somebody's got to keep an eye on me so post away!
Pope Francis on Gays: “Who Am I to Judge Them If They’re Seeking the Lord in Good Faith?
Perhaps the Pope can share with us how a person that is deliberately living a life of sin and demands that everyone else accepts that lifestyle, is seeking the Lord in good faith?
Pope Francis reiterated the Church’s belief that having a homosexual orientation is not sinful but engaging in homosexual acts is.
Folks, by now most of you should recognize how the mainstream media works: ask a question, grab a response, ignore any context to doctrine, and run with it. Since earlier today, the thread "Pope Says He Won't Judge Gay Priests" has held the #1 position under Breaking News. There is nothing new, much less "breaking" in what the pope said, nor is there anything different in how the media is spinning it. You are intelligent individuals .. you must be or you would not be on FR. Use your common sense, recognize what is going on here and then laugh. You have all been taken in by the mainstream media.
So priests can have sex with men but not with women? Or can they have sex with both, just not be married? Pope Francis doesn’t want to judge... sounds good on the surface.
How about serial killer priest? Or priests who steal from the Catholic Church? Does the ‘don’t want to judge’ thing still apply? I might not be understanding something here...
Can't have too much of that mercy stuff going on, you know. People might actually come to know God.
James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Not to nit pick, but exactly how does one attain a “homosexual orientation” without engaging in the very act that defines it?
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