LSN: Among the viewpoints of Cardinal Kasper and, more recently, Bishop Bonny of Antwerp, and others, was the consideration that “faithful” homosexuals, “remarried” divorcees and non-married couples show qualities of self-sacrifice, generosity and dedication that cannot be ignored. But through their choice of lifestyle, they are in what must be seen by outsiders as an objective state of mortal sin: a chosen and prolonged state of mortal sin. Could you remind us of the Church’s teaching on the value and merit of prayer and good actions in this state?
CB: If you are living publicly in a state of mortal sin there isn’t any good act that you can perform that justifies that situation: the person remains in grave sin. We believe that God created everyone good, and that God wants the salvation of all men, but that can only come about by conversion of life. And so we have to call people who are living in these gravely sinful situations to conversion. And to give the impression that somehow there’s something good about living in a state of grave sin is simply contrary to what the Church has always and everywhere taught.
***LSN: So when the man in the street says, yes, it’s true these people are kind, they are dedicated, they are generous, that is not enough?
***CB: Of course it’s not. It’s like the person who murders someone and yet is kind to other people…
LSN: What genuine pastoral care would you recommend for people in those situations, and what can they obtain from practicing their faith insofar as that is possible when they cannot obtain absolution or receive Holy Communion?
It looks like you beat me by three minutes.
When I look for an article to post, my criteria is, “Is it interesting?”
Sometimes I have a position, an opinion, on what I post, and sometimes I don’t.
This is one of those case where I don’t have an opinion. I’m not a Catholic, therefore I would probably be viewed as unqualified and presumptuous to comment on this.