Christians should apologize for helping to marginalize gays, pope says

[Exiled_Child]

Apologizing costs us nothing, and it doesn’t even have to imply any of us personally have done anything wrong. It’s a welcoming, friendly gesture, and it’s extending the olive branch. Francis is right. Consider this, anytime some person does some cruel act to another person, it’s always with a sense of self-righteousness. That is to say, humans always lash out at others and then assume an attitude of innocence. The other party deserved it, after all. It’s one of the more pathetic aspects of human behavior and human psychology. Christians, the ones who actually follow Christ, need to rise above this animal muck, and simply be kind. What does it matter? Are any of us worried about lowering ourselves and stepping on our own egos in order to be gracious to others, regardless of how hostile toward us they may be?

 

[RPRPsych]

Apologizing costs us nothing, and it doesn’t even have to imply any of us personally have done anything wrong. It’s a welcoming, friendly gesture, and it’s extending the olive branch. Francis is right. Consider this, anytime some person does some cruel act to another person, it’s always with a sense of self-righteousness. That is to say, humans always lash out at others and then assume an attitude of innocence. The other party deserved it, after all. It’s one of the more pathetic aspects of human behavior and human psychology. Christians, the ones who actually follow Christ, need to rise above this animal muck, and simply be kind. What does it matter? Are any of us worried about lowering ourselves and stepping on our own egos in order to be gracious to others, regardless of how hostile toward us they may be?

Very well said.

 

[JimG]

Whether an apology costs us nothing depends depends on whether an apology is taken as an apology for Catholic doctrine on sexual morality. It could well be taken (and celebrated) that way: the Church acknowledges that it was wrong about same sex relations. An apology which apologizes for teaching the truth about sexuality, and about human nature and the nature of man, woman, and marriage, would help to undermine the culture. So, we’d better be clear about what we’re apologizing for. What are we apologizing for?

 

[pianistclare]

Whether an apology costs us nothing depends depends on whether an apology is taken as an apology for Catholic doctrine on sexual morality. It could well be taken (and celebrated) that way: the Church acknowledges that it was wrong about same sex relations. An apology which apologizes for teaching the truth about sexuality, and about human nature and the nature of man, woman, and marriage, would help to undermine the culture. So, we’d better be clear about what we’re apologizing for. What are we apologizing for?

For people who promote themselves as practicing Catholics that are clearly not espousing Gospel values, is the way I take it.
I think all of us know a person or two who says very unkind things about people who are different from themselves. And they don’t do it in an admonishing for betterment or instructive way. They simply display anger.
Seems pretty clear to me.
Teach. Teach the truth.
Those that believe that Catholics and the Church are all about condemnation probably don’t want to hear the truth though.

 

[Robert_Bay]

Here is what the Holy Father said:

Cindy Wooden, CNS: Holiness, within the past few days Cardinal Marx, the German, speaking at a large conference in Dublin which is very important on the Church in the modern world, said that the Catholic Church must ask forgiveness to the gay community for having marginalized these people. In the days following the shooting in Orlando, many have said that the Christian community had something to do with this hate toward these people. What do you think?

Pope Francis: I will repeat what I said on my first trip. 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. One can condemn, but not for theological reasons, but for reasons of political behavior…Certain manifestations are a bit too offensive for others, no? … But these are things that have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well…this is what the catechism says, a clear catechism. Then there are traditions in some countries, in some cultures that have a different mentality on this problem. I think that the Church must not only ask forgiveness – like that “Marxist Cardinal” said (laughs) – must not only ask forgiveness to the gay person who is offended. But she must ask forgiveness to the poor too, to women who are exploited, to children who are exploited for labor. She must ask forgiveness for having blessed so many weapons. 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! – Christians must ask forgiveness for having not accompanied so many choices, so many families…I remember from my childhood the culture in Buenos Aires, the closed Catholic culture. I go over there, eh! A divorced family couldn’t enter the house, and I’m speaking of 80 years ago. The culture has changed, thanks be to God. Christians must ask forgiveness for many things, not just these. Forgiveness, not just apologies. Forgive, Lord. It’s a word that many times we forget. Now I’m a pastor and I’m giving a sermon. No, this is true, many times. Many times … but the priest who is a master and not a father, the priest who beats and not the priest who embraces, forgives and consoles. But there are many. There are many hospital chaplains, prison chaplains, many saints. But these ones aren’t seen. Because holiness is modest, it’s hidden. Instead it’s a little bit of blatant shamelessness, it’s blatant and you see so many organizations of good people and people who aren’t as good and people who … because you give a purse that’s a little big and look at you from the other side like the international powers with three genocides. We Christians – priests, bishops – we have done this. But also we Christians have Teresa of Calcutta and many Teresa of Calcuttas. We have many servants in Africa, many laity, many holy marriages. The wheat and the weeds. And so Jesus says that the Kingdom … we must not be scandalized for being like this. We must pray so that the Lord makes these weeds end and there is more grain. But this is the life of the Church. We can’t put limits. All of us are saints, because all of us have the Holy Spirit. But we are all sinners, me first of all! Alright. I don’t know if I have replied.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-inflight-press-conference-from-armenia-45222/

 

[qui_est_ce]

All sin is disordered. It goes against what God wills for us. In a sense, we are all disordered in that have not detached from the will to sin (concupiscence). This is why we need confession. Different sins tempt different people. The problem is there is a huge push to normalize sin.

 

[Mark121359]

We talk about gay people too much here, in my opinion,*** and very uncharitable things are said. They know our views. We don’t need to ram it down their throats. ***
Being right does not make it okay to be mean.

It works both ways. Some believe it’s the other way around. We know their views. But they continue to ram them down our throats. How uncharitable is it of them to teach our children, or rather, indoctrinate them with this universal push to rationalize homosexual behavior…even to those who are in kindergarten? And when objections are raised to this, the usual “you’re a homophobe” card is flashed, so successfully I might add, that even conservatives tend to back off for fear of being branded as bigoted.

Even the leaders of our church haven’t escaped this. I’m reminded of the secret one day meeting that took place shortly before the synod, where a group of about 50 cardinals, bishops and theologians met behind closed doors at the Gregorian University in Rome to discuss marriage and sexuality with an apparent attempt to sway the synod to accept stable same-sex unions. How amazingly successful has their agenda been, that even some in our hierarchy would possibly consider this? When you read things such as that, you know you’re in real trouble…big time! The confusion that reigns in the church today is staggering. Hardly a week goes by that you won’t hear or read that someone high-up in the church has made a statement that goes completely contrary to what she actually teaches. Discussions such as this one are becoming common place.

So yes, chalk me up as one of those who believes that the Church needs to apologize…to those who have remained faithful that is!

Peace, Mark

 

[JosieN]

You are right, it is dishonest and disingenuous. Its trying to have the best of both worlds essentially. And it doesn’t stack up as a matter of logic.Either homosexual acts are immoral or not. The Church has always said that they are. If we therefore go with that at least as being the position of the Church, that leaves us with the position that homosexual lifestyles are, at least according to the Church’s teaching, disordered and immoral and that surely this message needs to be preached in order that sinners can be brought to repentance and reconciled to God. It flows from this that a culture of acceptance of homosexual lifestyles can not be consistent with the teachings of the Church. In this sense, Francis is being very disingenuous and confusing people.

Pope Francis may not intentionally mean to confuse us, but this is what is happening with many of his statements.

 

[Cheiron]

Perhaps you can elaborate on that line of reasoning? I see no contradiction between those two statements and I would say that exact reasoning is applied to every Catholic regardless of their sexual orientation.

So take me for example. I have the grave misfortune of being cowardly, quick to anger, and lustful in nature. I don’t choose to have any of these traits — in fact I actively work to correct them — and so you could say that they are a part of me.

Moreover, the Catholic Church would say that these desires are “disordered” because they they aren’t “oriented” towards their appropriate ends. A desire for protection, safety and comfort is good, but when it becomes excessive (as in cowardice) that desire is disordered. A desire for justice and fairness is good, but when it becomes wrathful and intemperate that desire is disordered. Finally, desire for sexual intimacy and companionship is good, but when that desire comes at the expense of the dignity of others that desire is disordered. And it isn’t just me. Any individual, unless they are a saint, has these disordered desires. Catholic-Christians believe it is a result of the fall.

Yet despite the fact that we’re all intrinsically disordered, many of us have been treated with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Yes, I am a broken person, but the goal here is to orient my desire’s with God’s Will.

I am sure many people in committed same-sex relationships would resent the implication that their no-doubt loving and committed relationships aren’t oriented towards the right place. I have also no doubt that many heterosexual individuals would resent the suggestion that premarital sex, contraception and masturbation are disordered. I’m just not sure the possibility of feeling resentment precludes the possibility of being treated with love, sensitivity and respect.

In summary, if I’ve been treated with love, sensitivity and respect despite the fact that I’m intrinsically disordered, I’m a little skeptical that the Church is hypocritical for saying they can do the same in other circumstances.

The Church effectively says that the LGBT community should be treated with love and respect and then offends them by saying that such an important and intimate part of their personality is disordered. It’s offensive because homosexuality is a form of love and does not deserve condemnation. It deserves the same respect as heterosexual love.

The Church can’t simultaneously offend gay people and say that people should be treated with respect. I know it’s not offensive to gay Catholics, but it is to those outside the Church. It would be more honest if the Church says that gay people are morally evil and that their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not as important as it is for heterosexuals. Given the fact that the Church opposes equal rights for LGBT people, that would be the more honest position.

Good point though. I’ve had to think long and hard about how to phrase things. English isn’t my native language.

I would disagree with your use of the term “dishonest”. That word implies an intentional variance from truth. I have made no intentional effort, nor has the Church made an intentional effort to vary from the truth. You just disagree with the Church and myself on what is “truth”.

The Church separates the person from the action. You seem to link them. Please correct me if I misunderstood you.

You list your religion as “Secular Humanism”, which seems to me has a fair amount of subjectivity in determining what is “truth”. I believe there is an objective truth based on natural law and revelation.

You also have an issue with the Church declaring homosexuality (the actions) as being immoral. I realize you have a different worldview, however, understand from the perspective of the Church, that God has revealed sex to be used in the context of a man/woman marriage, and that sex outside of that context is dangerous to one’s soul. So you tell me, what is more hateful, to tell someone the error in their way in hopes that they might receive everlasting life with the Creator OR to let them continue on their path to their immortal destruction?

We might disagree with what is “truth”, but please don’t impugn the motives of myself or the Church.

To take your points in the same order:

The Church does not only condemn the homosexual act, but also the feeling of love towards someone of the same sex. The inclination towards homosexuality is called “objectively disordered” by the Catechism (2358) and a “moral evil” by the “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons.”

With regards to morality, I think that is a bit offtopic. It’s an interesting subject, so perhaps we can continue that conversation in an other thread.

I understand that it is not hateful from a Catholic perspective. If you believe that homosexuality is the road (or one of many roads) to hell, then I fully understand you think it’s right to tell homosexuals that they’re wrong and need to change their ways. You sincerely try to help LGBT people achieve the best life they can possibly get, in your opinion a Catholic life and an everlasting life with the Creator. I don’t think you are dishonest.

Finally, then, on the subject of honesty: I have to admit that I recently read the letter about pastoral care homosexual persons, and it explicitly says that the homosexual inclination is not a form of sin. So I was wrong about that. It does say it’s a moral evil. The point remains the same: that the Church does not treat gay people with love or respect. So yes, with regard to the treatment of the LGBT community, the Church is dishonest.

 

[JosieN]

Here is what the Holy Father said:

Cindy Wooden, CNS: Holiness, within the past few days Cardinal Marx, the German, speaking at a large conference in Dublin which is very important on the Church in the modern world, said that the Catholic Church must ask forgiveness to the gay community for having marginalized these people. In the days following the shooting in Orlando, many have said that the Christian community had something to do with this hate toward these people. What do you think?

Pope Francis: I will repeat what I said on my first trip. 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. One can condemn, but not for theological reasons, but for reasons of political behavior…Certain manifestations are a bit too offensive for others, no? … But these are things that have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well…this is what the catechism says, a clear catechism. Then there are traditions in some countries, in some cultures that have a different mentality on this problem. I think that the Church must not only ask forgiveness – like that “Marxist Cardinal” said (laughs) – must not only ask forgiveness to the gay person who is offended. But she must ask forgiveness to the poor too, to women who are exploited, to children who are exploited for labor. She must ask forgiveness for having blessed so many weapons. 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! – Christians must ask forgiveness for having not accompanied so many choices, so many families…I remember from my childhood the culture in Buenos Aires, the closed Catholic culture. I go over there, eh! A divorced family couldn’t enter the house, and I’m speaking of 80 years ago. The culture has changed, thanks be to God. Christians must ask forgiveness for many things, not just these. Forgiveness, not just apologies. Forgive, Lord. It’s a word that many times we forget. Now I’m a pastor and I’m giving a sermon. No, this is true, many times. Many times … but the priest who is a master and not a father, the priest who beats and not the priest who embraces, forgives and consoles. But there are many. There are many hospital chaplains, prison chaplains, many saints. But these ones aren’t seen. Because holiness is modest, it’s hidden. Instead it’s a little bit of blatant shamelessness, it’s blatant and you see so many organizations of good people and people who aren’t as good and people who … because you give a purse that’s a little big and look at you from the other side like the international powers with three genocides. We Christians – priests, bishops – we have done this. But also we Christians have Teresa of Calcutta and many Teresa of Calcuttas. We have many servants in Africa, many laity, many holy marriages. The wheat and the weeds. And so Jesus says that the Kingdom … we must not be scandalized for being like this. We must pray so that the Lord makes these weeds end and there is more grain. But this is the life of the Church. We can’t put limits. All of us are saints, because all of us have the Holy Spirit. But we are all sinners, me first of all! Alright. I don’t know if I have replied.

catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-inflight-press-conference-from-armenia-45222/

Thank you! I intend to read this over many times as I find the message a bit confusing.

 

[JimG]

It’s important to remember that the Church doesn’t just teach that homosexual sex is wrong and that heterosexual sex is good. It teaches that all non-marital sex is wrong: fornication, cohabitation, adultery, masturbation, sodomy. All heterosexual sex is wrong except marital sex between husband and wife. Artificial contraception is also against the moral law.

 

[Justin_Swanton]

To be fair - and one must be especially in the case of the Holy Father - Pope Francis does make a couple of precisions, though it would really help if a few more were made:

Here is what the Holy Father said:

Pope Francis: I will repeat what I said on my first trip. 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. One can condemn, but not for theological reasons, but for reasons of political behavior…Certain manifestations are a bit too offensive for others, no? this could be applied to the agenda that is trying to legitimize homosexuality in the political = public forum. It can be condemned … But these are things that have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God **hence a homosexual/lesbian who does not try to legitimize his inclination but wishes to conform himself to God’s will, who are we to judge? in this context, if a homosexual is battling with his condition then clearly we must not judge him. And we must accompany them well…this is what the catechism says, a clear catechism. Then there are traditions in some countries, in some cultures that have a different mentality on this problem. I think that the Church must not only ask forgiveness – like that “Marxist Cardinal” said (laughs) – must not only ask forgiveness to the gay person who is offended this needs clarification. How exactly is a homosexual ‘offended’ in a way that requires an apology? But she must ask forgiveness to the poor too, to women who are exploited, to children who are exploited for labor. She must ask forgiveness for having blessed so many weapons. 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! – Christians must ask forgiveness for having not accompanied so many choices it would help to know exactly what ‘accompanied’ means for the Pope, so many families…I remember from my childhood the culture in Buenos Aires, the closed Catholic culture. I go over there, eh! A divorced family couldn’t enter the house, and I’m speaking of 80 years ago. The culture has changed, thanks be to God. Christians must ask forgiveness for many things, not just these. Forgiveness, not just apologies. Forgive, Lord. It’s a word that many times we forget. Now I’m a pastor and I’m giving a sermon. No, this is true, many times. Many times … but the priest who is a master and not a father, the priest who beats in what way? and not the priest who embraces, forgives and consoles. …]

catholicnewsagency.com/news/full-text-pope-francis-inflight-press-conference-from-armenia-45222/

 

[Lion_IRC]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_HIV/AIDS

For being the worlds largest private provider of care to HIV/AIDS patients.
I apologize.

caritas.org.au/?gclid=CLmX6-n5yM0CFdhivAodS6wBvg
End poverty. Promote justice. Uphold dignity

For project compassion. I apologize!

biblehub.com/revelation/3-16.htm

For refusing to be part of the church in Laodicea. I apologize.

 

[2PT3]

My question is this: how are these statements by the Pope helpful to the cause of evangelization? I believe they are not helpful, but rather hurt the cause of evangelization.

1. First, the context is Orlando.The Orlando shooter was a deranged, homosexual Muslim. Neither the Church nor any individual Christians bear any responsibility for his actions. Frankly, I find it scandalous for the Bishop and the Pope to suggest that they do.
2. Second, the impression conveyed by comments such as these to the “average person” is that the Church (or at least Pope Francis) is finally “coming around” on the issue of homosexuality and apologizing for having been wrong all these years. Perhaps that’s not how these comments should be understood, but it is how they will be understood.
3. Third, the fact is that homosexual acts are an abomination to God. The same is true of adultery and fornication of all types. The repeated and insistent emphasis on “welcoming” homosexuals has the (unintended?) effect of conveying that it really isn’t all that bad. It is bad; very, very bad. It is not “okay.”
4. In the West, we are having the gay agenda shoved down our throats by every major actor in society: the media, entertainment, academia, the courts. There will be no toleration for Christians who hold traditional views on this issue. Statements like this, i.e., that the Church should apologize for the acts of individual Catholics who treated homosexuals poorly, convey the impression that the Church is giving up.
5. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, statements like this give great comfort and aid to those within the Church who are actively working to do what cannot be done: remove “homosexual acts” from the sin list. There is a great effort underway to “normalize” homosexual conduct by certain activist Catholics - including many clergy. Their aim is to see homosexual “unions” recognized, blessed and normalized by the Church - even if they can’t be “sacramental” marriages.

 

[pianistclare]

My question is this: how are these statements by the Pope helpful to the cause of evangelization? I believe they are not helpful, but rather hurt the cause of evangelization.

1. First, the context is Orlando.The Orlando shooter was a deranged, homosexual Muslim. Neither the Church nor any individual Christians bear any responsibility for his actions. Frankly, I find it scandalous for the Bishop and the Pope to suggest that they do.
2. Second, the impression conveyed by comments such as these to the “average person” is that the Church (or at least Pope Francis) is finally “coming around” on the issue of homosexuality and apologizing for having been wrong all these years. Perhaps that’s not how these comments should be understood, but it is how they will be understood.
3. Third, the fact is that homosexual acts are an abomination to God. The same is true of adultery and fornication of all types. The repeated and insistent emphasis on “welcoming” homosexuals has the (unintended?) effect of conveying that it really isn’t all that bad. It is bad; very, very bad. It is not “okay.”
4. In the West, we are having the gay agenda shoved down our throats by every major actor in society: the media, entertainment, academia, the courts. There will be no toleration for Christians who hold traditional views on this issue. Statements like this, i.e., that the Church should apologize for the acts of individual Catholics who treated homosexuals poorly, convey the impression that the Church is giving up.
5. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, statements like this give great comfort and aid to those within the Church who are actively working to do what cannot be done: remove “homosexual acts” from the sin list. There a great effort to “normalize” homosexual conduct by certain activist Catholics - including many clergy. Their aim is to see homosexual “unions” recognized, blessed and normalized by the Church - even if they can’t be “sacramental” marriages.

You do realize that one of the victims was a practicing Catholic youth minister who was straight, right?

I think you are way over-reacting to the Pope’s statement.
He’s against hatred. Why is that so hard?

He never ever has said that homosexual acts are to be condoned.
Never.

My goodness, we are stiff-necked people.

 

[Confiteor_Deo]

My question is this: how are these statements by the Pope helpful to the cause of evangelization? I believe they are not helpful, but rather hurt the cause of evangelization.

1. First, the context is Orlando.The Orlando shooter was a deranged, homosexual Muslim. Neither the Church nor any individual Christians bear any responsibility for his actions. Frankly, I find it scandalous for the Bishop and the Pope to suggest that they do.
2. Second, the impression conveyed by comments such as these to the “average person” is that the Church (or at least Pope Francis) is finally “coming around” on the issue of homosexuality and apologizing for having been wrong all these years. Perhaps that’s not how these comments should be understood, but it is how they will be understood.
3. Third, the fact is that homosexual acts are an abomination to God. The same is true of adultery and fornication of all types. The repeated and insistent emphasis on “welcoming” homosexuals has the (unintended?) effect of conveying that it really isn’t all that bad. It is bad; very, very bad. It is not “okay.”
4. In the West, we are having the gay agenda shoved down our throats by every major actor in society: the media, entertainment, academia, the courts. There will be no toleration for Christians who hold traditional views on this issue. Statements like this, i.e., that the Church should apologize for the acts of individual Catholics who treated homosexuals poorly, convey the impression that the Church is giving up.
5. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, statements like this give great comfort and aid to those within the Church who are actively working to do what cannot be done: remove “homosexual acts” from the sin list. There is a great effort underway to “normalize” homosexual conduct by certain activist Catholics - including many clergy. Their aim is to see homosexual “unions” recognized, blessed and normalized by the Church - even if they can’t be “sacramental” marriages.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[2PT3]

You do realize that one of the victims was a practicing Catholic youth minister who was straight, right?

I think you are way over-reacting to the Pope’s statement.
He’s against hatred. Why is that so hard?

***He never ever has said that homosexual acts are to be condoned.
Never. ***
My goodness, we are stiff-necked people.

He has never called them sinful either, to my knowledge, since becoming Pope. If you could point me to a quote where he did, I would appreciate it, and I would stand corrected. It does not exist, as far as I know. He has been careful to say that homosexual unions cannot be equated to marriages, but to my knowledge he has never once said that homosexual acts are sinful.

I don’t understand how the fact that one victim was Catholic has anything to do with Catholics needing to apologize for Orlando because of so-called prior mistreatment of homosexuals.

 

[Lion_IRC]

You do realize that one of the victims was a practicing Catholic youth minister who was straight, right?

I don’t think 2PT3 was commenting about heterosexual Catholic youth ministers in any way.

…I think you are way over-reacting to the Pope’s statement.
He’s against hatred. Why is that so hard?

We are all against hatred. I don’t think 2PT3 was saying otherwise.

…IHe never ever has said that homosexual acts are to be condoned. Never.

Well nobody would expect him to condone such. (Apart from the LGBTQ lobby.)

…My goodness, we are stiff-necked people.

You think 2PT3 was wrong on some specific point?
I’m not sure what that is.
I found the post very insightful and accurate.

 

[2PT3]

Here is the truth: “If a man lies with a male as with a woman, they have committed an abomination.” Leviticus 20:13.

We must never be ashamed to proclaim this truth boldly and clearly. In this category we can also place adultery, fornication, incest, bestiality, and just about any other misuse of the sexual function for our own purposes. All sexual activity outside the bond of marriage is a grave offense against God.

Jesus Christ in his great mercy showed us that God no longer requires us to impose the death penalty for such crimes, but that does not make them any less of an abomination. Jesus will judge each man at the end of his life: those who fail to respond to his mercy before they die by repenting of such sins will be thrown into the “outer darkness” where there will be “wailing and grinding of teeth” and where “the worm never dies”.

This probably sounds offensive to many ears. But it is the truth and in my opinion (which is only that) this is a message the modern world needs to hear - especially in the west. They don’t need their ears tickled.

 

[tseleehw]

My question is this: how are these statements by the Pope helpful to the cause of evangelization? I believe they are not helpful, but rather hurt the cause of evangelization.

1. First, the context is Orlando.The Orlando shooter was a deranged, homosexual Muslim. Neither the Church nor any individual Christians bear any responsibility for his actions. Frankly, I find it scandalous for the Bishop and the Pope to suggest that they do.
2. Second, the impression conveyed by comments such as these to the “average person” is that the Church (or at least Pope Francis) is finally “coming around” on the issue of homosexuality and apologizing for having been wrong all these years. Perhaps that’s not how these comments should be understood, but it is how they will be understood.
3. Third, the fact is that homosexual acts are an abomination to God. The same is true of adultery and fornication of all types. The repeated and insistent emphasis on “welcoming” homosexuals has the (unintended?) effect of conveying that it really isn’t all that bad. It is bad; very, very bad. It is not “okay.”
4. In the West, we are having the gay agenda shoved down our throats by every major actor in society: the media, entertainment, academia, the courts. There will be no toleration for Christians who hold traditional views on this issue. Statements like this, i.e., that the Church should apologize for the acts of individual Catholics who treated homosexuals poorly, convey the impression that the Church is giving up.
5. Finally, and perhaps more importantly, statements like this give great comfort and aid to those within the Church who are actively working to do what cannot be done: remove “homosexual acts” from the sin list. There is a great effort underway to “normalize” homosexual conduct by certain activist Catholics - including many clergy. Their aim is to see homosexual “unions” recognized, blessed and normalized by the Church - even if they can’t be “sacramental” marriages.

I agree with all of your points here. I’m still waiting for a concrete example of how the Church has marginalized gay people; I can’t seem to think of one myself, unless you count teaching the truth as an example. The same goes for the poor, I’m really scratching my head on that one. Here I thought all of the opportunities my parish had to participate in to support the poor were good, now we should be apologizing for marginalizing them?

Don’t get me wrong, apologizing to people is good when you have committed some wrong act against them, but I usually like to know specifically what I’m apologizing for before I do so. Other popes in the past have apologized to groups, nations, cultures, or religions, but there is usually some concrete act or stance from the past that they are apologizing for. In this case? I have yet to get an answer. Perhaps there are specific individuals that have gone to far in demonizing gay people, rather than only condemning their actions. If so, they would need to apologize, as individuals. But the whole Church? What has the Church as an entity done that merits an apology? Some policy that it has instituted? Some official act it has taken? I’m very curious to know. If Pope Francis or Cardinal Marx want to apologize to gay people, poor people, whoever, well, it’s their prerogative, even if we disagree. I just think it’s going too far if there’s not a very good reason for it, because apologizing just for the sake of apologizing only hurts the Church’s credibility when it comes to arguing for its teachings on this matter, especially in the western world, where there are high hopes that Pope Francis is all of a sudden going to declare that the Church is performing gay marriages.