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:
is this pope really catholic
NO POPE,…You NEED To Apologise For Saying The BIBLE Is The Same As The KORAN,…Your Totally DELUSIONAL Just Like OBAMA,…And You NEED To Be REMOVED FROM POWER!!!
Something is up with this guy what’d he the antichrist because he’s about the stupidest god fearing man I’ve ever seen God does not bless homosexuals I’m sorry. Adam and eve
Pope not getting younger—-better get right with God
Wait, WHAT? Specifically, for what?
The Church sent out crusaders against the homosexual hoards; sanctioned acts of terror against homosexual individuals?
If so, I am unaware.
The Church should apologize for Jesus’ teaching?
The Pope has no authority to alter God’s edicts!
What other principles will be considered too restrictive or intolerant:
Salvation through Jesus alone?
He will return to judge all unrighteousness; as determined by Him, not the Pope, a President, Congress, the U.N. …
POPE FRANCIS TELL THE RADICAL MOSLEMS TO APOLOGIZE FOR KILLING IN ORLANDO MASSACRE…CAUS THE RADICAL MOSLEMS HATE GAY……OKAY……
DISGUSTING……
The pope is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
The pope does not follow Gods word, he follows the world.
This pope is a sham, a Satanic puppet to obama.
The pope is helping to usher in the new world order.
“NO WAY JACK” THE POPE IS DEAD WRONG ……………
And then what ? Start tearing out pages in the Bible cause God’s word doesn’t work in today’s world, like when he says , no man shall lay with another, because it’s an abomination to do so ?
The Pope is on dope.