Pope abolishes honorary title of monsignor for diocesan priests under the age of 65

Vatican Insider ^ | January 4, 2014 | GERARD O'CONNELL

[annalex]

I cannot find the unambiguous statement above

Good. He gave the precise answer: that concupiscence, including homosexual tendency is not yet sin; it becomes actual sin when the tendency becomes practice. Note, too, that it was a quick off-the-cuff remark to a reporter, not an encyclical.

[tomsbartoo]

You are stating Church doctrine, of course, but I was unaware that this pope had made such a statement in the context of his earlier remarks. I was looking for some sort of a clarification like that following his statement but never saw it. I obviously missed it. Would you kindly provide us with a link.

[dsc]

“He gave the precise answer: that concupiscence, including homosexual tendency is not yet sin; it becomes actual sin when the tendency becomes practice.”

Well, see, that bit about the practice being sin was left out. Some people think that means Pope Francis doesn’t believe it to be a sin. I myself am far from certain that he believes it to be sin.

“Note, too, that it was a quick off-the-cuff remark to a reporter, not an encyclical.”

True, but if I were to make such a remark, the sinfulness of homosexual conduct would have been the first thing out of my mouth. I think that’s true of many people.

[annalex]

Here is a good article from a Catholic source that places His Holiness' remarks in the context of Catholic teaching on homosexuality:

'Who am I to judge?' Pope's remarks do not change church teaching

[annalex]

You are correct, the pavlovian response from most Catholics would be like you indicate. But I think, our pope has a rule: always put charity first. I think that is a good rule in general and it was good that he applied it to the question about the “gay lobby”.

[dsc]

“I think that is a good rule in general”

So, we are to put charity first, even if, say, it was more appropriate to put rebuking sinners first?

“and it was good that he applied it to the question about the “gay lobby”.

I disagree. His failure to specifically note the sinful nature of homosexual conduct has inevitably led to widespread assertions that “the pope says homosexual behavior is not sinful.”

Why open that door?

[annalex]

we are to put charity first, even if, say, it was more appropriate to put rebuking sinners first?

Apparently that is what the Holy Father is doing, so I am deferring to what he thinks is more appropriate.

led to widespread assertions that “the pope says homosexual behavior is not sinful.”

But it also made people realize that our God is God of love. In the end, accuracy in theology wins over theological slogans.