Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons

Zenit ^ | 07/31/2003 | Vatican - CDF

[lrslattery]

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS

TO GIVE LEGAL RECOGNITION

TO UNIONS

BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS

INTRODUCTION

1. In recent years, various questions relating to homosexuality have been addressed with some frequency by Pope John Paul II and by the relevant Dicasteries of the Holy See.(1) Homosexuality is a troubling moral and social phenomenon, even in those countries where it does not present significant legal issues. It gives rise to greater concern in those countries that have granted or intend to grant – legal recognition to homosexual unions, which may include the possibility of adopting children. The present Considerations do not contain new doctrinal elements; they seek rather to reiterate the essential points on this question and provide arguments drawn from reason which could be used by Bishops in preparing more specific interventions, appropriate to the different situations throughout the world, aimed at protecting and promoting the dignity of marriage, the foundation of the family, and the stability of society, of which this institution is a constitutive element. The present Considerations are also intended to give direction to Catholic politicians by indicating the approaches to proposed legislation in this area which would be consistent with Christian conscience.(2) Since this question relates to the natural moral law, the arguments that follow are addressed not only to those who believe in Christ, but to all persons committed to promoting and defending the common good of society.

I. THE NATURE OF MARRIAGE

AND ITS INALIENABLE CHARACTERISTICS

2. The Church's teaching on marriage and on the complementarity of the sexes reiterates a truth that is evident to right reason and recognized as such by all the major cultures of the world. Marriage is not just any relationship between human beings. It was established by the Creator with its own nature, essential properties and purpose.(3) No ideology can erase from the human spirit the certainty that marriage exists solely between a man and a woman, who by mutual personal gift, proper and exclusive to themselves, tend toward the communion of their persons. In this way, they mutually perfect each other, in order to cooperate with God in the procreation and upbringing of new human lives.

3. The natural truth about marriage was confirmed by the Revelation contained in the biblical accounts of creation, an expression also of the original human wisdom, in which the voice of nature itself is heard. There are three fundamental elements of the Creator's plan for marriage, as narrated in the Book of Genesis.

Excerpted....See article at http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=39664

[Salvation]

Good discussion!!

And I agree with you here -- it is finally where I ended up!
**Love means praying for their souls at that point.**

[Salvation]

Here is my list of Catholics and Politicians and posts about the same, including this thread. What can we do to call ALL politicians to see the light?

The Deadly Dozen

Canadian Prime Minister Taunts Church: "I Am A Catholic And For Abortion"

Catholic Church asks Tom Daschle to stop calling himself a Catholic

On Catholic Politicians and Faith

Vatican Urges Catholic Politicians to Vote Along Church Lines

Senator Santorum on Being Catholic and a Politician

William E. Simon, Sr. and Jr. Devout Catholics, Philanthropists and Politicians

Deadly Dozen senator taken to task over claims of Catholicism

THE BISHOP AND THE SENATOR [author links to FR thread regarding Daschle in her online column]

Blood On Their Hands: Exposing Pro-abortion Catholic Politicians

MI Gov Granholm Proclaims June "Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month"

Colorado Governor To Media:'WE LOVE OUR CHURCH' [Gov. Bill Owens

U.S. Senator Brownback and Commentator Dick Morris Join Catholic Church

PRIEST REFUSES COMMUNION TO KNEELING PRO-LIFE POLITICIAN [Richard Black, Virginia]

Kerry [Catholic} says he'll filibuster Supreme Court nominees who do not support abortion rights

Pope to MPs: Stop gay marriage

Vatican - Considerations regarding ... homosexual persons

[ThomasMore]

Hey Doc,

Have you been to the NARTH site? If so, what do you think? Of all the theories and explanations, their's is the one I've come to see as the most convincing.

Here's the LINK

[Uri’el-2012]

All sins are not the same in their gravity. Christ himself makes this plain in the Gospel.


35 posted on 07/31/2003 10:16 AM MDT by wideawake

Would you be so kind as to provide the citation; chapter and verse.

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if
what Paul said was true.

chuck <truth@YeshuaHaMashiach>

[Gamecock]

Protestant denominations are you listening...?

The Presbyterian Church in America checking in. Examples of my older taglines speak for me:

The PCA, we're the intolerant ones!
The PCA, annoying the liberal church since 1983!

I.T., do you wish to add anything?

[ThomasMore]

Thanks for the answer, wideawake.

[ThomasMore]

Annie,

I think the following from 1 Corinthians 5:1ff explains wideawake's position...

"It is widely reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of a kind not found even among pagans--a man living with his father's wife. And you are inflated with pride. Should you not rather have been sorrowful? The one who did this deed should be expelled from your midst. I, for my part, although absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as if present, pronounced judgment on the one who has committed this deed, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus: when you have gathered together and I am with you in spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. Your boasting is not appropriate. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." [1 Cor 5:1-8]

[ThomasMore]

And I'm glad that there are some Catholics who oppose abortion and homosexuality too.

As a denomination, Catholics oppose it. There are Catholics who oppose the Catholic teaching on homosexuality and abortion. Just like there are protestants who oppose the teachings of their denomination. However, there are denominations who teach that homosexuality is nothing more than an alternative lifestyle or, to a lesser degree, are silent on the issue.

[ThomasMore]

Thanks for this important post!

[ThomasMore]

[1 John 5:16] If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray.
[1 John 5:17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.

[anniegetyourgun]

And I never said that the congregate in Corinth wasn't living in sin. Though he was not engaged in homosexuality, he was in sin....just as those who choose to have sex with others of the same sex. In fact, Christ said that even those who look upon another with lust in their heart are sinners. That's my point - we're all sinners in desparate need of a Savior.

[ThomasMore]

In this instance, Paul did not implicate anyone to the degree he did this man.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes, there are several denominations that oppose such things. And within those denominations, there are many who do not adhere to the Truth of God. Thanks be to God that His remnant exists throughout the world. The Body of Christ exists within many denominational (and non-denominational) churches. She is The Church.

[anniegetyourgun]

And here I thought it was an indictment of those in the congregation for not exercising church discipline against the sin in the camp.

[lrslattery]

Thanks for all the links...it will save me much frustration if/when I go back to review them. Most, if not all, I have read before. Many of them are excellent for exercising one's patience.

[ThomasMore]

It's the excommunication from the congregation by Paul.

[lockeliberty]

General Revelation is known how? By right reason? By instinct? The Catholic would say the former.

Yes, that's exactly the difference between Catholic Natural theology and Reformed Natural theology. Being Reformed means not trusting reason because of the noetic effect of sin. Any knowledge we have outside of scripture is a priori knowledge which comes from God.

[wideawake]

Any knowledge we have outside of scripture is a priori knowledge which comes from God.

How do we know that it is from God instead of from the adversary?

Presumably you would say by confirming it through the Scriptures - that true General Revelation cannot contradict Special Revelation.

[RnMomof7]

Churches have no business placing the unregenerate into a state of holy matrimony (regardless of whether this state is considered an ordinance or a sacrament). I see a terrific church-state battle developing here-what will happen when the state says that gay marriage is okay, but churches refuse to perform the ceremonies? How long until someone sues?

Bingo ! All that talk about giving churches money for their social action will eventually put them in the position of having to comply with all federal law (just as they destroyed education)

Church will be sued for discrimination and preaching about the sin of homosexuality ...There will be a religious/cultural war.

There is a bill in Canada that will forbid pastors reading or preaching passages that are anti gay , on the basis they may produce hatred and violence. Sodom is closer than we think!

[RnMomof7]

OrthodoxPresbyterian, CCWoody, and i represent the Libertarian wing of the Reforned faith...put your visions of hedonism and Ayn Rand aside for a minute.... Our wing of Calvinism holds that the State has no business at all regulating marriage, or relationships between conscenting ADULTS. The institution of marriage is a matter that should be exclusively within the sphere of the Church. As such, it is the Church that recognises or refuses to recoginse any given 'relationship' as a marriage. Before one can discuss the legalisation of any relationship as a marriage, the issue of unwarrented state interference into the realm of the Church must be considered...that would even include the issuance of "Marriage Liscenses", which is nothing more than getting state permission to marry!

I do agree with that statement , it is not the states business. But practically speaking the state will make its decisions relevant..no matter what personal beliefs we hold