Protecting humanity from homosexuality is as important as protecting the rainforest

[one...two...tree 2,762]

While I do not agree with the Pope on this matter, and in fact, I disagree with this particular pope on many matters, what he says is in keeping with the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. I may not like it, but at least he is not being hypocritical. The very foundation of CST is "the life and dignity of the human person" which is further developed in theme 2 "call to family." Now, again, I don't agree, but what he says is certainly based in these foundations. Of course, the other 5 themes also elaborate and extend to show that as a church Catholics believe in protecting all regardless of sexual orientation, and (again, whether I agree or not) that homosexuality is the sin, the homosexual is not the sinner. It doesn't make sense to many people, especially if you don't believe homosexuality is a choice, but nonetheless, it is there.

There are many facets of the church I disagree with, not the least of which is the scandal involving pedophilia and the re-assignment of those priests without disclosure of their crimes

, but there are also many wonderful aspects of the church which are consistently overlooked because of things like this.

There is so much good the Catholic church does worldwide that gets swept under the carpet because it's done by "the evil Catholic church." It's just like the idiots who say "like omg the pope was in Hitler Youth!!!!!111" without the real understanding behind that.

Oh, did I just get on a soapbox

Amen, sister.

Amen, sister? You were calling it an asinine thing to say...this post above to me explains why what was said was in keeping with the Church's teachings.

'

The highlighted part in read is what I was responding to.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

So you do believe it's a choice, Steven?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So you do believe it's a choice, Steven?

Of course not and neither does Jen...or the Church for that matter.

[jundp 191]

AJ, I don't believe homosexuality is a choice, so I cannot believe it's a sin.

[HAL 9000 96]

It's just that as a Catholic who tries REALLY HARD to live according to my faith, I get really tired of people nit-picking certain aspects of the Church. I am still a practicing Catholic because of the social teachings of Catholicism. There is so very much good the Catholic church has done in the world that is not praised or recognized. The people who do this work don't seek praise or glory, but sometimes I just can't take how only the bad is noticed.

That being said, Pope John Paul II was, IMHO, an amazing man. My jury is still out on this current pope, but I think JPII's shoes were some pretty darn big ones to fill, so maybe I would have felt this way about anyone taking over. I just remember the days leading up to the election of this pope and the disappointment I felt when he was chosen. There were quite a few other candidates who might have continued the work JPII had started.

Again... well said sister.

It should be noted that there are pretty good ways of making it to Heaven and then there are the sugarcoated, make-excuses-way of justifying all kinds of things to get to Heaven too as long as we can be hypocrites about faith and being good to each other.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What does the Pope believe?

And I mean the Pope, not make-believe Popes, the real one.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

AJ, I don't believe homosexuality is a choice, so I cannot believe it's a sin.

And I would take it further to say that homosexual activity is no more a sin than any consensual sexual activity between two adults who are not married - that would be consistent with the Catholic viewpoint, IMO.

[Fandango 1,440]

While I do not agree with the Pope on this matter, and in fact, I disagree with this particular pope on many matters, what he says is in keeping with the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. I may not like it, but at least he is not being hypocritical. The very foundation of CST is "the life and dignity of the human person" which is further developed in theme 2 "call to family." Now, again, I don't agree, but what he says is certainly based in these foundations. Of course, the other 5 themes also elaborate and extend to show that as a church Catholics believe in protecting all regardless of sexual orientation, and (again, whether I agree or not) that homosexuality is the sin, the homosexual is not the sinner. It doesn't make sense to many people, especially if you don't believe homosexuality is a choice, but nonetheless, it is there.

There are many facets of the church I disagree with, not the least of which is the scandal involving pedophilia and the re-assignment of those priests without disclosure of their crimes

, but there are also many wonderful aspects of the church which are consistently overlooked because of things like this.

There is so much good the Catholic church does worldwide that gets swept under the carpet because it's done by "the evil Catholic church." It's just like the idiots who say "like omg the pope was in Hitler Youth!!!!!111" without the real understanding behind that.

Oh, did I just get on a soapbox

Amen, sister.

Amen, sister? You were calling it an asinine thing to say...this post above to me explains why what was said was in keeping with the Church's teachings.

'

The highlighted part in read is what I was responding to.

The bit in red also says that it's in line with the church's teachings....your responses ranged from 'Good God! Jesus needs to slap him for that' to 'asinine' 'idiocy' you 'shaking your head' posting things about the fallibility of the Pope...then you Amen the bit I enlarged...I don't get it at all.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What does the Pope believe?

And I mean the Pope, not make-believe Popes, the real one.

He's a man and he's not perfect. And the process by which he was selected is not perfect. He may be the leader of the Church, but not everything he utters from his mouth is an edict from God.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What does the Pope believe?

And I mean the Pope, not make-believe Popes, the real one.

He's a man and he's not perfect. And the process by which he was selected is not perfect. He may be the leader of the Church, but not everything he utters from his mouth is an edict from God.

You're not the Pope.

I asked you what the Pope thinks. Not what you think.

[Fandango 1,440]

I think people are just wanting to be outraged instead of understanding the logic behind his statement. Hypothetically, if everyone were to turn gay, there'd be no natural procreation. Yes, it's hyperbole, but I think that's what he was gettin at.

And yes, Jesus died. But He arose 3 days later. Amen!

There isn't much logic behind his statement though. Asking what would happen to the human race if everyone became gay is about as meaningful as asking what would happen if the sun didn't come up in the morning. Its about as relevant.

Of course there is. As far as the Catholic church is concerned, contraception is wrong because marriage is for procreation. So if procreation is the point, then homosexuality in its very basic nature threatens that.

Really, it's not that hard. And I already said it was hyperbole, so I don't know what else you're after here....

[jundp 191]

It's just that as a Catholic who tries REALLY HARD to live according to my faith, I get really tired of people nit-picking certain aspects of the Church. I am still a practicing Catholic because of the social teachings of Catholicism. There is so very much good the Catholic church has done in the world that is not praised or recognized. The people who do this work don't seek praise or glory, but sometimes I just can't take how only the bad is noticed.

That being said, Pope John Paul II was, IMHO, an amazing man. My jury is still out on this current pope, but I think JPII's shoes were some pretty darn big ones to fill, so maybe I would have felt this way about anyone taking over. I just remember the days leading up to the election of this pope and the disappointment I felt when he was chosen. There were quite a few other candidates who might have continued the work JPII had started.

Again... well said sister.

It should be noted that there are pretty good ways of making it to Heaven and then there are the sugarcoated, make-excuses-way of justifying all kinds of things to get to Heaven too as long as we can be hypocrites about faith and being good to each other.

You just summed up everything I said very nicely. Maybe you should be my spokesperson? You can summarize all my lectures into soundbites My students would love you for it!

[HAL 9000 96]

AJ, I don't believe homosexuality is a choice, so I cannot believe it's a sin.

And I would take it further to say that homosexual activity is no more a sin than any consensual sexual activity between two adults who are not married - that would be consistent with the Catholic viewpoint, IMO.

Consensual and here's the biggie... not anyone else's f*cking business unless, of course, they have a closet fascination with it.

Its been going on since way before the Church began and it will continue to be practiced even by those within the Church as long as there is a Church.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

While I do not agree with the Pope on this matter, and in fact, I disagree with this particular pope on many matters, what he says is in keeping with the Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. I may not like it, but at least he is not being hypocritical. The very foundation of CST is "the life and dignity of the human person" which is further developed in theme 2 "call to family." Now, again, I don't agree, but what he says is certainly based in these foundations. Of course, the other 5 themes also elaborate and extend to show that as a church Catholics believe in protecting all regardless of sexual orientation, and (again, whether I agree or not) that homosexuality is the sin, the homosexual is not the sinner. It doesn't make sense to many people, especially if you don't believe homosexuality is a choice, but nonetheless, it is there.

There are many facets of the church I disagree with, not the least of which is the scandal involving pedophilia and the re-assignment of those priests without disclosure of their crimes

, but there are also many wonderful aspects of the church which are consistently overlooked because of things like this.

There is so much good the Catholic church does worldwide that gets swept under the carpet because it's done by "the evil Catholic church." It's just like the idiots who say "like omg the pope was in Hitler Youth!!!!!111" without the real understanding behind that.

Oh, did I just get on a soapbox

Amen, sister.

Amen, sister? You were calling it an asinine thing to say...this post above to me explains why what was said was in keeping with the Church's teachings.

'

The highlighted part in read is what I was responding to.

The bit in red also says that it's in line with the church's teachings....your responses ranged from 'Good God! Jesus needs to slap him for that' to 'asinine' 'idiocy' you 'shaking your head' posting things about the fallibility of the Pope...then you Amen the bit I enlarged...I don't get it at all.

Lisa, the Church's history over homosexuality and it's teachings are complex. For example, my father, who is an ordained Deacon for over 30 years, pondered in a conversation with me one time, whether at some point in the future, the Catholic Church would eventually bless gay marriages. The Church has struggled with the notion that on one hand, it believes that homosexuality itself is not a sin, but on the other hand, homosexual activity is. If one took that further though - so is all sexual activity outside of marriage. So what does the Church do about gay monogamous couples who remain faithful all their lives? Is that a sin? What is sin? Turning away from God? These are difficult questions for the Church to grapple with.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There comes a point where the Pope's dictates and that of the Catholic Church end up being counter productive in real terms. In particular, the CC has attracted a lot of criticism from the World Health Organisation over many years - in regards to the CC's position on contraception in the developing world.