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:
This man is no man of god. I owe no apologies I will not abuse nor will I judge anyone so stop with all this nonsenses
RETIRE AND MIND YOUR BIBLE PLEASE
Wrong Satan they are wrong and will pay for their sins
Behold the false prophet of The Revelation!
Antipope. Communist infiltator. Wake UP people.
Communist infiltrators. WAKE UP!!
How about apologizing to all the molested alter boys?
Just a book?
It’s the Bible. Words for all mankind to live by,
Love by, and obey by. Gods gift . The men who wrote the Bible were chosen by God and inspired by the Holy Spirit . Does it not amaze you how you got here? How you were created by Gods hands. Every hair on your head is numbered . That’s love. People are no longer saying it’s just a book because people laughed at the prophesy until it is all coming to pass.
It’s not my truth, Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life, and no man comes to the father but by me. The truth is for all mankind , Jesus died for all mankind’s sins .
He gives us free will
He will never force himself on anyone. Either you accept him in your heart as your Lord and savior or you don’t .
I choose his Love, peace and grace and everlasting life
with him in heaven.
God created man and woman to populate the world . He warns about unnatural acts by 2 women or 2 men. That doesn’t mean he hates them. Only their sin.
Your creator had plans for us all, how disappointed he has been I’m sure of us all. That’s where grace comes in and asking forgiveness of our sins and moving forward . When I pray, I talk to God, when I read my Bible he talks to me. When you receive Jesus in your heart you are automatically a new person you belong to the king , your creator that longs for the fellowship of his people . To help us through this life he gives us the Holy Spirit to live in us. To teach us, to guide our life. To give us joy that is unspeakable and full of glory. Christians are not perfect but we are forgiven every. Time we ask. if we try to do better .
Let me see- – -when I say church I mean Christians, the Church is Holy, we are sinners. So your Holy Church is made up of sinners, well spoken. The Bible says Jesus’s church are made up of saints, christians (Christ – like). It is written by Paul “yea have the mind of Christ” Writing to one of the early churches. Now it cannot be if Christians have the mind of Christ – they cannot be sinners ( they have been forgiven). All who does God’s will are the sons of God. This was written in the first book of the Bible.
No, they need to apologize to God.