Gay Christians, controversial nun among those set to greet Pope Francis

[Thorolfr]

Prior to today’s meeting, the Vatican had already expressed concern that attempted photos with particular guests could be misinterpreted as endorsement, according to The Wall Street Journal.

So who was it at the Vatican that expressed this concern? Was this an official Vatican statement of some sort? Most sources I’ve seen attribute this to “an unnamed Vatican official.”

 

[808Catholic]

Not the Catholic Church in particular, but members of the church can be very adamant about pointing out sins to others. There is a time and place for everything. Sometimes it is not now.

In my humble opinion, NO time is the time to point out the sins of others. We should let God judge; we just do as He asks - love every one.

I’ve passed along a technique I’ve used to others: when given a rude gesture or unkind word, I simply reply “God bless you.” That person invariably is humbled (as they should be when they think of God) and the attacks stop. Sometimes, to defuse “road rage”, I’ve blessed other drivers with the sign of the cross even though I’m not clergy. The other driver looks away/ashamed and the tension defuses immediately.

God has a way of doing that! God Bless you!

 

[sallybutler]

I was just watching a rerun on CSPAN of the Pope’s drive. I felt so sorry for the Secret Service. Although they were good sports, bringing children and babies up to the car for the Pope to bless and kiss. They have a hard job, but they seemed to be enjoying it today. And those are the scenes most of us will remember.

 

[KSU]

The Cardinal Newman Society sent out this article a few hours ago, echoing the
concerns of many here :

" The special invitation of a fired Catholic school teacher and her same-sex partner to today’s meeting between Pope Francis and President Barack Obama encourages discrimination against Catholic schools and further undermines their religious freedom, said two leaders of The Cardinal Newman Society.

The invitation has the appearance of the White House and the Human Rights Campaign taking sides against the Catholic school and joining efforts to distort the Holy Father’s openness and welcoming persona as indicating a change in Church teaching on marriage and sexuality. “Obviously we won’t be talking to the Pope, but we will be in the vicinity,” Winters reportedly said. “But symbolically, it’s a great step forward.”

Prior to today’s meeting, the Vatican had already expressed concern that attempted photos with particular guests could be misinterpreted as endorsement, according to The Wall Street Journal.

“This is a ploy to be in the presence of Pope Francis, to be photographed with him and to make it appear that the Church is now endorsing an LGBT agenda that actually opposes Catholic teaching,” said Dr. Jamie Arthur, manager of the Newman Society’s Catholic Education Honor Roll.

Instead, she said that American bishops have asked Catholic school teachers to be faithful to the Church by strengthening faith and morality clauses in teacher contracts.

• See more at: cardinalnewmansociety.org/CatholicEducationDaily/DetailsPage/tabid/102/ArticleID/4388/Newman-Society-Laments-White-House-Invitation-for-Fired-Catholic-School-Teacher.aspx#sthash.TDS92VhB.2gHrnvbB.dpuf

Thank you, sarah:thumbsup:

 

[Thorolfr]

I don’t think that Pope Francis was concerned about the people on the guest list who have caused so much outrage among some conservative Catholics. As Pope Francis said yesterday in his homily at the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra:

Jesus did not provide a short list of who is, or is not, worthy of receiving his message, his presence. Instead, he always embraced life as he saw it. In faces of pain, hunger, sickness and sin. In faces of wounds, of thirst, of weariness, doubt and pity. Far from expecting a pretty life, smartly-dressed and neatly groomed, he embraced life as he found it. It made no difference whether it was dirty, unkempt, broken. Jesus said: Go out and tell the good news to everyone. Go out and in my name embrace life as it is, and not as you think it should be. Go out to the highways and byways, go out to tell the good news fearlessly, without prejudice, without superiority, without condescension, to all those who have lost the joy of living.

nytimes.com/2015/09/23/us/pope-francis-homily-at-the-canonization-mass-for-the-rev-junipero-serra.html?_r=0

Nothing there about admonishing sinners or excluding certain people.

 

[808Catholic]

I don’t think that Pope Francis was concerned about the people on the guest list who have caused so much outrage among some conservative Catholics. As Pope Francis said yesterday in his homily at the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra:

nytimes.com/2015/09/23/us/pope-francis-homily-at-the-canonization-mass-for-the-rev-junipero-serra.html?_r=0

Nothing there about admonishing sinners or excluding certain people.

Absolutely agree! Christ did not limit His message or salvation but His message of salvation included who would and would not be taken to heaven. We don’t control who gets on the “elevator” to heaven; God does. But I’m pretty sure not everyone will be going to heaven as well. We get to choose which button is pushed and God, out of His love for us, will respect our free choice.

 

[Songcatcher]

I don’t think that Pope Francis was concerned about the people on the guest list who have caused so much outrage among some conservative Catholics. As Pope Francis said yesterday in his homily at the canonization Mass for Junipero Serra:

nytimes.com/2015/09/23/us/pope-francis-homily-at-the-canonization-mass-for-the-rev-junipero-serra.html?_r=0

Nothing there about admonishing sinners or excluding certain people.

Absolutely agree! Christ did not limit His message or salvation but His message of salvation included who would and would not be taken to heaven. We don’t control who gets on the “elevator” to heaven; God does. But I’m pretty sure not everyone will be going to heaven as well. We get to choose which button is pushed and God, out of His love for us, will respect our free choice.

I agree with both of you and think this “controversy” ended up being much ado about nothing. These guests ended up being just part of a very large crowd of people who were also sinners. The Pope seemed delighted to greet them all with his usual love and compassion.

 

[KSU]

I agree with both of you and think this “controversy” ended up being much ado about nothing. These guests ended up being just part of a very large crowd of people who were also sinners. The Pope seemed delighted to greet them all with his usual love and compassion.

Songcatcher, you and a few others here have tried to change the subject and hijack the issue of this thread: The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father.

Nevertheless, as much as you (and the politically and religiously corrupt media) try to cover it up, Obama’s crudity will go down in the sorry history of this embarrassingly anti-Catholic presidency.

Incidentally, your statement that “The Pope seemed delighted to greet them all with his usual love and compassion” is a complete falsehood. The truth is this: Had the Pope been introduced to a group of homosexual and other anti-Church activists invited to the White House greeting ceremony, he would have defused the situation by greeting them all with his usual love and compassion.

 

[Thorolfr]

Songcatcher, you and a few others here have tried to change the subject and hijack the issue of this thread: The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father.

Nevertheless, as much as you (and the politically and religiously corrupt media) try to cover it up, Obama’s crudity will go down in the sorry history of this embarrassingly anti-Catholic presidency.

Incidentally, your statement that “The Pope seemed delighted to greet them all with his usual love and compassion” is a complete falsehood. The truth is this: Had the Pope been introduced to a group of homosexual and other anti-Church activists invited to the White House greeting ceremony, he would have defused the situation by greeting them all with his usual love and compassion.

So when the Pope said, “Jesus did not provide a short list of who is, or is not, worthy of receiving his message, his presence” he’s only talking about Jesus. The Pope, on the other hand, believes that only certain people are worthy of being in his presence and does want short lists of who should be invited. Is that what you mean?

 

[KSU]

So when the Pope said, “Jesus did not provide a short list of who is, or is not, worthy of receiving his message, his presence” he’s only talking about Jesus. The Pope, on the other hand, believes that only certain people are worthy of being in his presence and does want short lists of who should be invited. Is that what you mean?

My non-Catholic friend, what part of this don’t you understand?: " you and a few others here have tried to change the subject and hijack the issue of this thread: The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father."

I really do not intend any disrespect, but if you want to change the subject and talk about your rather silly question about whether I think the Pope thinks homosexual and other anti-Catholic activists are worthy of receiving his message at official greeting ceremonies, please start a new thread.

 

[Thorolfr]

My non-Catholic friend, what part of this don’t you understand?: " you and a few others here have tried to change the subject and hijack the issue of this thread: The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father."

I really do not intend any disrespect, but if you want to change the subject and talk about your rather silly question about whether I think the Pope thinks homosexual and other anti-Catholic activists are worthy of receiving his message at official greeting ceremonies, please start a new thread.

So you’re saying that the Pope is like any other head of state, a king or a president, for example, who might get offended if certain “activists” are invited to their greeting ceremony and so certain diplomatic measures should be taken to exclude such people? And exactly how former Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson could be considered an “anti-Catholic activist” I’m not sure. The same goes for Aaron Ledesma and Sister Simone Campbell. Are they “anti-Catholic activists”?

 

[Songcatcher]

My non-Catholic friend, what part of this don’t you understand?: " you and a few others here have tried to change the subject and hijack the issue of this thread: The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father."

The subject of the thread is “Gay Christians, controversial nun among those set to greet Pope Francis” not “The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father.” Our comments are on topic, they just don’t conform to an Obama hating agenda.

There were over 10,000 people invited to that event for the Pope. I’m not sure why these particular sinners are being singled out or why every. single. part. of the Holy Father’s trip has to be turned into something to be outraged about. It has been a wonderful visit and the Pope has been treated with the utmost respect from everyone, which he richly deserves.

 

[KSU]

Originally Posted by Thorolfr : So you’re saying that the Pope is like any other head of state, a king or a president, for example, who might get offended if certain “activists” are invited to their greeting ceremony and so certain diplomatic measures should be taken to exclude such people? And exactly how former Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson could be considered an “anti-Catholic activist” I’m not sure. The same goes for Aaron Ledesma and Sister Simone Campbell. Are they “anti-Catholic activists”?

Originally Posted by Songcatcher: The subject of the thread is “Gay Christians, controversial nun among those set to greet Pope Francis” not “The diplomatic disrespect President Obama displayed toward the Holy Father.” Our comments are on topic, they just don’t conform to an Obama hating agenda.
There were over 10,000 people invited to that event for the Pope. I’m not sure why these particular sinners are being singled out or why every. single. part. of the Holy Father’s trip has to be turned into something to be outraged about. It has been a wonderful visit and the Pope has been treated with the utmost respect from everyone, which he richly deserves.​

My friends, the Holy See is the universal government of the Catholic Church and operates from Vatican City State, a sovereign, independent territory. The Pope is the ruler of both Vatican City State and the Holy See. The Holy See, as the supreme body of government of the Catholic Church, is a sovereign juridical entity under international law. state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3819.htm

You two Lutherans insist on using this thread to argue with an orthodox Catholic about what constitutes anti-Catholic activism by very public and loud gays and others, rather than about the OP (i.e., our president’s diplomatic crudity regarding his guest, the Head of the Vatican City State). Please do so without me; your chance at reaching agreement will double.