Pope Francis reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage

Share:
Pope Francis leads the opening mass for the synod of bishops on the family at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican October 3, 2015. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Pope Francis leads the opening mass for the synod of bishops on the family at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican October 3, 2015. REUTERS/Max Rossi

Pope Francis on Sunday reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage as he opened a three-week gathering of bishops from around the world but said the Church had to show love and understanding towards all.

Francis presided at a solemn Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica to open the meeting, known as a synod, on the theme of the family in the modern world.

But the run-up to the synod, attended by some 300 bishops and other delegates, has been dominated by gay issues.

On the eve of the gathering, the Vatican dismissed a Polish priest from his Holy See job after he came out as gay and called for changes in Catholic teachings against homosexual activity.

Conservative Catholics held a conference in Rome just before the synod started on how homosexuals can live by Church’s rules that they should be chaste while Catholic gay activists held another demanding full acceptance of active gays in the Church.

Francis dedicated one third of his homily to the topic of love between man and woman and its role in procreation.

“This is God’s dream for his beloved creation: to see it fulfilled in the loving union between a man and a woman, rejoicing in their shared journey, fruitful in their mutual gift of self,” he said.

He also spoke of the “true meaning of the couple and of human sexuality in God’s plan,” a clear reference to heterosexual marriage.

MERCIFUL CHURCH

But Francis also stressed that the Church must be more welcoming, charitable, compassionate and merciful to all people, particularly those whose lives have been wounded and who those find it difficult to adhere to all of the Church’s regulations.

The leader of the 1.2 billion member Church said the person “who falls or errs must be understood and loved.”

“The Church must search out these persons, welcome and accompany them, for a Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and, instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock,” he said.

In its explanation of the firing of the Polish monsignor on Saturday, the Vatican said his very public coming out was intended to put undue media pressure on the synod on gay issues, which are expected to be only a small part of the bishops’ discussions.

The story made the front page of nearly all Italian newspapers, with one headline calling it “An Earthquake in the Vatican”.

At a preliminary synod last year, bishops watered down a initial statement that was seen as a major change of tone toward homosexuals. That statement spoke of “gifts and qualities” of homosexuals but was changed after a backlash by conservatives.

One key topic at the synod will be how to reach out to Catholics who have divorced and remarried in civil ceremonies.

They are considered by the Church to be still married to their first spouse and living in a state of sin. Some bishops want a change to the rules that bars them from receiving sacraments such as communion.

Last month, Francis made it simpler and swifter for Catholics to secure a marriage annulment, the most radical such reform for 250 years, and told bishops to be more welcoming to divorced couples.

Share:

Comments

7 responses to “Pope Francis reaffirmed Catholic opposition to gay marriage”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    They just can’t do it. Goes against the psychological grain.

    1. Always the same repetitive bullshit about those biatches you know in Lebanon. Zzzzz
      And then the “at least the church doesn’t kill gays” like Islam does.
      You disgusting apologist of Christianity and a disgusting religious bigot.
      Btw how did you manage to meet ALL these Christian women in Lebanon but somehow didn’t meet any Muslims? Even though the majority in tripoli are Muslim. Religious bigot white supremacist scum bag.
      RIPiss mrs 5th

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar
        5thDrawer

        Well, Miss Bitchy-at-everything, I actually did. One of my friends and I jammed into a clear-glass telephone enclosure so she could help me get through the Arabic calling-card and local operator ‘features’ of dialing long-distance from Lebanon, and a screaming female voice, much like yours I suspect, stood outside the booth under a black shroud drawing a crowd to come see the ‘sexy antics’ of two people taking into a telephone. When I got Canada finally, I told the guy where I was and that he better fix my ‘cell-phone’ problem fast or I’d be suing him for damages … and it chirped to life 15 seconds later. (assume he believed because I’m sure he could hear the Muslim female voice) …. Fortunately we had a ‘male’ standing outside the booth nervously trying to explain real life to the crowd and guarding the booth … AND, I even got to press my hands together and ‘salam’ back to a smiling guy in a long white sheet, before the friends pushed me into the car and stepped on the gas. It was an exhilarating moment, meeting a Muslim woman, in her environment, to be sure. The ones I meet here in the bank or grocery store are so aloof, after all. But that’s ok anyway … I’m sure most don’t sound like you do.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar
          5thDrawer

          And, considering THAT possibility, if they are mostly the same as you over there in their ‘home environment’, it’s no wonder all the males are crazy – especially with 4-to-1 odds.

          1. and there is the classic religious bigotry from the disgusting vile smelly old used up white supremacist.
            RIPiss mrs 5th

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar
    5thDrawer

    AND THIS might as well be in the ‘Arts and Culture’ section too.
    Canada has these ‘dangerous creatures’ along with the Bears too. This is called ‘MOOSE’. They don’t need passports to ramble into the USA, so this is in Alaska.
    http://www.ktva.com/video-rutting-moose-duke-it-out-in-anchorage-subdivision-899/

  3. That’s interesting, if Priests are supposed to be celibate, and in a relationship with GOD, and they teach the values of the church, what difference does it make!

    It’s kind of hypocritical, after all, you don’t allow women in your club!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *