ROME’S CONFLICTED TAKE ON THE HOMOSEXUAL ZEITGEIST
By FITSNEWS || This website hasn’t always adopted the friendliest of tones in addressing the Catholic Church. Don’t get us wrong, we’re fans of the liturgical … just not the hypocritical. Especially when it involves child sexual abuse.
The Catholic Church is guilty of perpetuating many of the problems it professes to abhor (refusing to let priests marry, for example) … and once those problems are manifested in the most unspeakable forms of sexual deviance, its first impulse seems to be covering things up rather than dispensing the judgment the situation requires.
That’s not good …
In fairness there are hypocrites in every established religion … just as in every established religion there’s an ongoing battle over how to best reconcile its foundational law with the vanguard of current thought. And of course those decisions are motivated in many cases by marketplace considerations.
Don’t believe us? We asked around … and when clergy of all faiths were allowed to speak off the record, they made it clear their job isn’t just about feeding people spiritually.
“Butts in pews, money in the plate,” one Lowcountry, S.C. pastor bluntly told us.
Yeah …
As libertarian leaners we have no problem with that … freedom of religion means religions are free to practice as they see fit, with individual congregations being held accountable to their members, their denominations and (ultimately) to the Gods they profess to worship.
That’s as it should be …
It is interesting, though, to watch the Catholic Church grapple with the issue of gay marriage – which is well on its way to being the law of the land in the United States of America.
This week, the church released a relatio post disceptationem – or “report after debate” – in which the issue of homosexuality was addressed.
Bear in mind a decade ago, Pope Benedict XVI – who was replaced by Pope Francis last year – referred to homosexuality as an “inherent moral evil.” Benedict went on to say the institution was an attack on the church and the family, and that homosexuals were denying God and devaluing human life.
Strong language …
This week? The church’s relatio claims homosexuals “have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community” and should be “welcomed and accompanied with patience and delicacy.”
“Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions, it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners,” the report added.
Hmmmmm …
Not surprisingly, the document – which doesn’t reflect established church policy but rather comments made during a recent gathering of cardinals – was rebuked by many church leaders.
A ranking American cardinal said the document endorsed certain positions (no pun intended) “which many synod Fathers do not accept and, I would say, as faithful shepherds of the flock cannot accept.” Another British cardinal noted the report was “composed under pressure and … not a doctrinal or decisive document.”
Wow. Church … conflicted.
Obviously we have no position on what the Catholic Church should do regarding gay marriage. That’s up to the church – and like we said, it will be held accountable by its members, leaders and (ultimately) its God.
As long as government has nothing to do with sanctioning or banning marriage … we don’t really care what the church does. Although we would advise it to recall the counsel of its founder and let its statement be “yes, yes” or “no, no.”
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35 comments
Some Protestants characterize the Catholic Church as a cult. I don’t espouse that thought, but if they accept gay marriage, those Protestants will have been right about them… (;
Yeah I guess those particular Protestants, the ones who also burn the cross of flames and run around in sheets…
I’ve NEVER seen any cross burning or anyone running around in sheets in real life. NEVER. But I have seen people BRUTALLY beaten by gangs of blacks for being guilty of being white… Have you ever heard of the ‘Knockout’ game? If not, get off your @$$ and do some research.
My, my the myths you must feed yourselves to be a brain-dead F*#k in the Democrat Party. Are you too stupid to digest reality, or do you know the truth, and just act ignorant?
Josh are you still blogging from jail.
Pics of the positions please!
Pope Francis is a leader. The Synod is a work in progress and signals that the Church is constantly practicing introspection.
Two Catholic priests were standing at adjacent urinals when one looked over and asked, “What is that on your penis?”
The otherpriest replies, “It’s a Nicoderm Patch.”
“Well,” says the other, “it’s not going to work there.”
“Oh, yes,” he replies, “I’m down to two butts a day.”
Homosexuals???…Why do you insult them for being Catholic, but you’re scared to death to call them out for being gay. Looks like the speech police has you terrified to think for yourself.
People like you – intimidated and coward by political correctness – are as guilty for allowing gay pedophiles as the Catholic Church hierarchy is for not kicking their gay @$$#$ out of the priesthood.
Everytime a Republican is outed as a pedo, you join in with the “he’s a homo and homo means Democrat, Democrat, Democrat” crap. Pedos tend to consider themselves hetero. But I’m sure even after bashing Liberals 24/7 he’s still a Democrat in the closet…RIGHT?? LMAO…
Funny, how you pipe in with the most comments when Gays are mentioned or if a Republican is caught with the meat in his mouth. Makes you look really foolish.
Every homosexual I know is a Democrat.The DNC owns you. If true. ..hes a homosexual. Do the math.
We all here at Fits’ comment section beg you to take a class in Logic.
For the love of God please listen to Gay Ass Republican (and you dont hear that everyday…)
Mitt Romney’s only openly gay spokesman, Richard Grenell, left his job with the campaign this week after backlash from social conservatives.
Mr. Richard Tisei formerly headed the Republican caucus in the Massachusetts State Senate. In 2010
Paul Babeu is the sheriff of Pinal County Arizona who is also running for Congress. As sheriff, Mr. Babeu has earned a reputation as a fierce opponent of illegal immigration that landed him spots campaigning alongside Mitt Romney and John McCain during their presidential bids.
And here’s the hypocritical Republicans that acted anti-gay only to be outed by wives, police, sex tapes, escorts:
Steve Wiles
Caleb Douglas Hesse
George Rekers
Pastor Eddie Long
Troy King
Richard Curtis
Ted Haggard
Glenn Murphy Jr.
David Dreier
Bruce Barclay
Roy Ashburn
Ed Schrock
Robert (Tex) Allen
Mark Foley
Phillip Hinkle
I have NO idea who these people you are trying to dredge up are. You sound like a Gay outing Gestapo. Trying so hard to prove you’re not a low-life, it seems….by associating alleged Republicans.
Not to mention the homosexual you say works for Romney must have been one incompetent son of a b!*ch. He could not even beat the worst president of my lifetime. Are all gays that big of a failure?
Ever hear of a search engine, journalist? I thought you guys did research…LMAO…
Haha, Mark Foley. His story sure was a funny one. What a fag.
Every homosexual I know
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Biblically?
Are you trying to indict (and attack) me if I were gay? What a BIGOT and mean-spirited bully you are, using your own standards to identify such.
Sounds like he could have used the “Nic o dic” instead of the patch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aFji7aJP7o
It’s probably something he would have enjoyed more too.
Gee, guys — it’s only a joke! Just for being mean about me I’ll give you a mean joke back…
——————————————
The Sister is leaving after the morning service only to find two young boys lying face down in the deep snow behind the church. “What are you two boys doing in the freezing snow?”
They jumped up in surprise showing their blue peckers sticking out. One said, “Sorry, Sister, but the Father always likes a couple of cold ones after church!”
Three guys walk into a bar.
A priest, a homosexual and a pedophile.
[Pause for dramatic effect]
The second guy was…
Badoom Pshhhh!
“don’t get us wrong” … “make no mistake about it” … “don’t get us wrong” … “make no mistake about it” … “don’t get us wrong” … “make no mistake about it” … Lines Used By The Obamas
Oh the irony….LMAO…
FITS said: “In fairness there are hypocrites in every established religion”
FITS you know Liberalism is one of the most ESTABLISHED religions of all…and you are one of the best examples of their hypocrisy.
You are usually all over the road in applying your theology, in accordance w/ what Obama and Co. said the day before for political convenience…
This Pope has come up in an environment of S. American social justice with a dash of Jesuit communal philosophy thrown in.
So it’s no surprise that he struggle to reconcile Biblical teaching with his worldly learning.
Is there any more political organization than religion in general? Doubtful.
If you are counting radical liberalism as religion…NO!!!…
This pope may not be around for long. Obama is nosediving, and I’m guessing the pope’s bent for liberalism is not selling well w/ congregants fed up w/ failure, lies and corruption. His health is not so good. I could see a quick retirement coming soon.
There was an article last month discussing his stepping aside for health and being something like a “Vice-Pope” or a “Co-Pope” or something else like that. This is old news….
Is the writer of this article a member of a religious organization that is known for strong anti-Catholicism. It was started by a man who wanted to have his way when he knowingly knew what was expected of him when he took up priesthood.
God will decide at this point. Faith will be the answer. Deo Vindice to all !
Thanks tango
What a delight it was for me back in the day when after had read his blog religiously even downloading his homilies to discover Father Dwight Longenecker was actually a Catholic Priest right here in the Diocese of Charleston! He is the parish priest over at Our Lady of the Rosary in Greenville, SC!
Anyway
Fr. Dwight Longenecker is an American who has spent most of his life living and working in England.
Fr Longenecker was brought up in an Evangelical home in Pennsylvania. After graduating from the fundamentalist Bob Jones University with a degree in Speech and English, he went to study theology at Oxford University. He was eventually ordained as an Anglican priest and served as a curate, a school chaplain in Cambridge and a country parson on the Isle of Wight.
Realizing that he and the Anglican Church were on divergent paths, in 1995 Fr. Dwight and his family were received into the Catholic Church.
He penned a very resolute, agreeable “chasuble on the ground” response to the shenannigans over at VATCOM Headquarters. Please, take a look.
In part, “The Holy Father has been very good in lecturing priests and telling us what to do. We are to go out into the world and “make a mess.” We are to “smell like the sheep.” We are to welcome all with compassion, forgiveness and mercy. We are to be good and kind pastors who administer the sacraments with care and concern. We are to seek out the poor, castigate the rich, side with the unfortunate, heal the sick, support the immigrants and reach out to the lowly. We are to welcome the divorced and remarried, not judge those with same sex attraction and open the doors of the church to all with a warm hearted and affirming form of evangelization by attraction.
This is a message I endorse and embrace. I want to be that kind of priest…
Being that the pope controls more wealth than any other individual in the world, does he instruct priests to castigate him as well?
To be truthful with myself, as long as you have human beings in ANY institution, there will be corruption.
Napoleon once supposedly told a Cardinal that, if he so desired, he could destroy the Catholic Church in an instant. The Cardinal laughed and replied, “We, the clergy, with our sins and stupidity have been trying to destroy the Church for 1,800 years. What makes you think you can do better?”
When atheists say that religion is man-made, without an ounce of “divinity” in it, this is what they refer to: the shifting views of religious leaders on matters like homosexuality. Churches go along to get along, and they desperately need money to pay the heating and light bills. Religious policy changes with the times, suggesting that man not God is behind the façade of religion. The tide goes in, the tide goes out.
Remember when slavery was considered OK back in the 1800’s by mainstream denominations.? I remember when churches were segregated. I remember blacks did not attend white Episcopal churches way back when I was a wee lad in the Lowcountry.
I still think that morality and ethics –not religion–are the way to go. Do the right thing. Treat others as you want to be treated. These are values that never change with the tide.
No matter the religion,there’s a disproportionate number of gays(compared to society) among all clergy.I guess,somewhere along the way,they got mixed up about their love for their fellow man.Besides Catholics,I’ve been around gay Baptists,Lutherans,etc.
They’re always creepy.
Pope Francis is an attention seeking idiot.