Pope Francis made some sweeping and one might say presumptuous statements this past Sunday which have caused more traditional Catholics to wonder whether their church will survive the often off-the-cuff remarks of the pontiff.
Following the lead of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who seemed to be testing the waters for a statement on LGBT relations with the church and beyond, the Pope made the following observations:
“I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally,” Francis said at a press conference aboard the papal plane returning from Armenia.
“The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times — when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners!”
“I believe that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended,” he added, “but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons.”
Francis first uttered that rhetorical question — Who am I to judge gay people? — in 2013, also during a news conference on the papal plane. His comments were hailed as a breakthrough for a church that has historically condemned homosexuality, often in harsh terms. Francis has not changed church doctrine that calls homosexual acts sinful, but he has shown a more merciful approach to people on the margins, including gays and lesbians.
A leading cardinal of the Catholic Church, one who is part of a council to help advise Pope Francis, preceded the pontiffs remarks at a different venue, saying that the church should apologize to gays and lesbians for the “scandalous and terrible treatment” inflicted on them for many years by the church and its members. Cardinal Reinhard Marx stated that “the history of homosexuals in our societies is very bad because we’ve done a lot to marginalize [them].”
It is worth wondering if the social changes in society and the drifting of membership has caused a new perspective in the church.
Cardinals comments question Church position on gays and lesbians, page 2:
SCREW THIS WACKY IDIOT !!!
Ok , I apope agize, for all the times I didnt share the gospel with any homosexual, knowing they would die and spend eternenty in hell, I will do better in telling you to turn from your sins.
Man, I’m sorry cause i can’t stop laughing… Thank you
This stupid pedophile can go on to hisell ASAP. WHY ARE CATHOLICS SO BLIND ARE YOU ALL SODOMITES
What for the Bible? Homosexual behavior is an afont to every major religion.
No wonder Islam has the appeal it does christian teaching directly contradicts scripture and is becoming meaningless just do what you feel like and no right and wrong.
child molestation, both boys and girls is not only in the Catholic religion, it happens in all of them, only the Catholics are exposed more
Makes you wonder dont it
Sorry he is crazy people
Idiot , You are by No means a True representative of any religion !!!!!