Posted on 08/29/2015 6:38:18 AM PDT by ELS
ROME, August 28, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) -- While mainstream media is gushing with news today that Pope Francis allegedly praised a children’s book that promotes gender theory, the Vatican is decrying what they called the "manipulation" of a cordial letter from an official in the Secretariat of State to suggest that the Vatican is promoting teachings contrary to the Gospel.
Italian children’s author Francesca Pardi was reported by The Guardian to have submitted a parcel of children’s books promoting the acceptance of homosexuality and gender theory to Pope Francis in June after Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro publicly banned the author’s newest book, Piccolo Uovo (Little Egg), from children’s schools. The book was criticized by pro-family leaders for promoting non-natural family structures of two men and two women.
In a letter accompanying the books, Pardi wrote: “Many parishes across the country are in this period sullying our name and telling falsehoods about our work which deeply offends us. We have respect for Catholics. ... A lot of Catholics give back the same respect, why can’t we have the whole hierarchy of the church behind us?”
The Guardian is reporting that Pardi has now “found an unlikely supporter in Pope Francis,” who through his staff has responded to the author and is presented as “praising her work.” It quotes the following from a July 9 letter to Pardi from the Vatican.
“His holiness is grateful for the thoughtful gesture and for the feelings which it evoked, hoping for an always more fruitful activity in the service of young generations and the spread of genuine human and Christian values,” wrote Peter B. Wells, a senior official at the Vatican Secretariat of State, in a the letter The Guardian is reporting it has seen.
While the letter gently calls the author to use her talents to spread “genuine human and Christian values,” The Guardian takes it as the pope’s endorsement of gender theory.
“Pope Francis sends letter praising gay children's book,” the paper’s headline states. “Italian book that explores different family types including same sex was banned by mayor of Venice, but pontiff becomes unlikely supporter,” reads the subtitle.
In a press release that Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi sent to LifeSiteNews on Friday, the vice speaker of the Vatican, Ciro Benedettini, made clear that the friendly reply letter to the author in no way approves of attitudes or positions that are contrary to Catholic teaching and the Gospels.
The Vatican's statement also says that in the original letter from the secretariat of state Wells merely "acknowledged receipt" of the materials sent by Pardi, and also made clear that the letter was private and not meant for publication.
"In no way does a letter from the Secretary of State intend to endorse behaviors and teachings not in keeping with the Gospel," says the statement, decrying the "manipulation" of the letter.
Benedettini said the blessing of the pope at the end of the letter was meant to be for the author herself, and not to affirm positions concerning gender theory that are contrary to the Church's teaching. Using the letter to this end is erroneous, he said.
Pope Francis has strongly condemned the notion of “gender theory” on numerous occasions, saying that it is an “error of the human mind that leads to so much confusion.”
How about a ton of salt, given what we know about Pope Che Guevara?
ping!
bkmk
Papal clarification needed too often.
Sad, but true.
It’s called ‘triangulation’; the pope and the Vatican are positioning the church in such a way as to appeal to or appease both liberal and conservative positions.
I don’t trust the Guardian, but I don’t trust Francis either. I hesitate to say more in public, but maybe you can guess.
With this pope, who needs the Guardian? If the Vatican denies it; it probably lacked the right amount of social justice rhetoric.
The question should read...IS THE POPE SAVED
By actively promoting world government and make confusing statements about gay marriage and abortion which constantly require interpretation and clarification Pope F. is the shepard that is leading his one billion plus flock astray. This of course is much worse than an indvidual privately holding these beliefs.
Catholic Christians have been, are and can be saved. However, that’s because they follow God’s word and fellowship with other like minded Christians. Following this pope is dangerous for the soul.
I wish our washing machine had such a vigorous spin cycle.
“By actively promoting world government and make confusing statements “
This is the BIG problem-
Anyone can make a mistake- an “utterance” that gets
mis-interpreted-? so WHEn WILL THE POPE CLARIFY?
and CALL out the newspapers and that EVIL author?
Well... I have Never seen such a sacriligious piece of
crap as Jesus on the hammer and sickle of communism!
( the “art” work that was handed to him)
I am still waiting for a forceful Rebuke!- nothing
coming forth from this pope
An off the cuff slip of the tongue is one thing but writing a letter of praise to the author of the book is a whole other thing.
What, you haven't seen these in the mainstream media, either?
Ever wonder why?
LINKS:
Pope Francis Tells Couples To Wait Until Marriage To Have Sex
Pope Francis: Gender Theory Is a Threat to Society
Pope: Marriage between man and woman is threatened by gender ideology
Pope Francis: “Children have a ‘Right’ to a Mother and Father”
The Closed Door of Pope Francis (Speaks against abortion, divorce, and homosexuality)
Pope Francis: marriage inscribed in creation (Man/Woman)
Pope Francis and the family, the next step (pro-Traditional Family)
Pope Francis is starting to look a lot like Sarah Palin (Guardian UK dumps Francis)
A Letter to Pope Francis (Pope defends man-woman marriage)
Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’
Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See
Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador
Kasper is Not the 'Pope's Theologian,' Says Leading African Cardinal
Cardinal Burke Denies Rift With Pope, Warns of ‘Gay Agenda’ for Synod
Pope Rejects ‘So-Called Gender Theory’
Pope Rejected Gay French Diplomat as Ambassador to Holy See
Pope Francis 'refuses' gay French ambassador
Pope Francis condemns gender theory a third time: ‘The family is under attack’
Pope Francis defends church’s opposition to artificial contraception
Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals
Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)
Pope Francis: ‘The Choice To Not Have Children Is Selfish’
Pope declares couples who don’t want kids ‘selfish,’ says they are part of a ‘greedy generation’
Pope Francis on abortion: ‘Never, never does killing a person resolve a problem’
Bringing children into the world is never a ‘mistake’: Pope Francis
Don’t be afraid to have more children: Pope Francis
Pope Francis supports Slovak effort to ban gay ‘marriage’, adoption
Pope Francis Defends Human Nature Against Gender Radicals
Pope's Shocking Hitler Youth Comparison (Pope blasts gender theory)
Pope to Catholic couples: you can’t get married if you’re not open to children
The Pope has not endorsed homosexuality. Where are you getting that information? The lamestream media?
Why do you not believe them when it comes to politics, but do believe them if they say anything about Catholicism or the Pope?
I’ve never been into conspiracy theories, but I’m beginning to wonder about the reason given for Pope Benedict’s retirement because of health. I’ve read that Francis was the #2 candidate for selection when Benedict was raised to Peter’s seat and that his supporters never stopped wanting him to be pope and not Benedict?
I must say that I much prefer Benedict XVI to what we are seeing from the new pontif.
He had better start making his message clear without ambiguity. otherwise, his boss make send him a message.
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