George Clooney among celebrities honored by Pope Francis [CNA]

[CNA_News]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/i...016_Credit_LOsservatore_Romano_CNA.jpgVatican City, May 30, 2016 / 08:08 am (CNA/EWTN News).- On Sunday, Pope Francis praised Hollywood actors George Clooney, Salma Hayek, and Richard Gere at a conference promoting a Vatican education initiative that helps poor communities.

Speaking in the Paul VI’s Synod Hall, the Pope reminded the celebrities of their responsibility to “help the world recover the language of gestures.”

During the gathering, the actors received the “Olive Medal” of peace, which were presented by the Scholas Occurentes initiative, who organized the Vatican conference.

Touching on a separate topic altogether, Francis said he does not intend to step down from the papacy, as Benedict XVI did when he became the first pope to resign in centuries.

“I never thought of quitting being pope, or of leaving because of the many responsibilities,” the pontiff said during a Q&A session.

The Argentine-founded Scholas Occurentes is an education initiative which aims to promote “integration of communities” - especially poor communities - through the use of “technology, sports, and artistic proposals,” according to its website.

The initiative, which works in various kinds of schools of different religious affiliations, is present in 82 countries and 400,000, with headquarters in Vatican City, Argentine, Spain, Paraguay and Mozambique.

The May 27-29 conference also marks the launch of the Scholas’s latest initiative: a new website which allows anyone to ask Pope Francis questions.

Speaking in Spanish, Pope Francis praised the gathering for its climate of communication and encounter, offering a bridge in a world which is at risk of being “fragmented.”

The Pope encouraged gestures such as smiling and making eye-contact, and being patient and tolerant. In contrast, “bullying is an aggression that hides a deep cruelty,” he said. “The world is cruel.”

“To build a new world, a better world, we must banish all kinds of cruelty. And war is cruel. But this kind of war more cruelly still rages because an innocent.”

The Pope said that the separation of peoples, families, and friends create animosity and hatred, where as “social friendship” defends “against every kind of throwaway culture.”

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Full article…

 

[livnlern]

I don’t understand what this is all about. What do George Clooney and Richard Gere have to do with world peace and understanding?

 

[mikekle]

Uh, that picture is Ann Hathaway and George Clooney, not S. Hyeck.

 

[DeniseNY]

Uh, that picture is Ann Hathaway and George Clooney, not S. Hyeck.

I think it’s actually George Clooney’s wife.

 

[Catholic_farmer]

What did they do? How are they actually helping the poor? Are they giving to Catholic Charities (which has the infrastructure, knowledge, and access to help the most) or through their own private charity? Didn’t these actors meet the Pope recently for something else? Is this in response to something the Pope asked them to do?

 

[Augustine]

Quo vadis, Petrus?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

What did they do? How are they actually helping the poor? Are they giving to Catholic Charities (which has the infrastructure, knowledge, and access to help the most) or through their own private charity? Didn’t these actors meet the Pope recently for something else? Is this in response to something the Pope asked them to do?

Well, not all of them are Catholic, so I doubt it was because they donated to Catholic Charities.

 

[dixieagle]

What did they do? How are they actually helping the poor? Are they giving to Catholic Charities (which has the infrastructure, knowledge, and access to help the most) or through their own private charity? Didn’t these actors meet the Pope recently for something else? Is this in response to something the Pope asked them to do?

Clooney’s wife, Amal, is a well-known and accomplished international human rights attorney. George Clooney has a long history of supporting numerous anti-poverty and human rights organizations. Richard Gere works against poverty and homelessness, and Salma Hayek has a foundation that supports anti-domestic violence projects and, now, vaccination programs for poor families.

 

[Augustine]

Clooney’s wife, Amal, is a well-known and accomplished international human rights attorney. George Clooney has a long history of supporting numerous anti-poverty and human rights organizations. Richard Gere works against poverty and homelessness, and Salma Hayek has a foundation that supports anti-domestic violence projects and, now, vaccination programs for poor families.

Many other philanthropists do the same, yet all three are Hollywood stars? Pray, tell me that these choices were not for their marketing value.

 

[dixieagle]

Many other philanthropists do the same, yet all three are Hollywood stars? Pray, tell me that these choices were not for their marketing value.

Who knows? It was an Argentine group that gave the medals. The article states that the group is involved in helping poor communities through “technology, sports and artistic proposals.” Perhaps the “artistic” aspect explains why these actors (all of whom are involved in philanthropy) were chosen.

 

[ARSpade]

Clooney’s wife, Amal, is a well-known and accomplished international human rights attorney. George Clooney has a long history of supporting numerous anti-poverty and human rights organizations. Richard Gere works against poverty and homelessness, and Salma Hayek has a foundation that supports anti-domestic violence projects and, now, vaccination programs for poor families.

Clooney also supports Planned Parenthood and is worth $180m.

 

[mikekle]

Clooney also supports Planned Parenthood and is worth $180m.

So why would our current Pope be ‘buddying up’ to people like this…something not right.

 

[2PT3]

These three “celebrities” seem particularly “worthy” of awards from the Vatican in the era of Pope Francis. Pope Francis has made clear that he will overlook your apostasy, your anti-Catholicism, and your radical pro-abortion and pro-homosexual political positions if you are a supporter of socialist economics and global warming theory. The fact that these three received awards from the Pope is a scandal.

1. Hayek.
   Hayek is an apostate Catholic who “no longer believes in the institution” of the Catholic Church. She starred in the blasphemous anti-Catholic “comedy” film Dogma. She has appeared in numerous completely nude and extremely graphic sex scenes, including lesbian ones. She admits to being very devoted to her faith as a young girl, but has since given up on Catholicism–and pretty much religion altogether. She said of her break with the church: “The minute I started thinking it through, I realized all religions are a form of manipulation.” She has studied at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (an American spiritual sect established in 1988 by JZ Knight, who claims to channel a 35,000-year-old being called Ramtha the Enlightened One). She publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
2. Clooney.
   Clooney is an apostate Catholic who says he “has outgrown his childhood religion and now, has no problem telling the world he’s an Agnostic.” He has said: “I don’t believe in Heaven and Hell. I don’t know if I believe in God. All I know is that as an individual, I won’t allow this life — the only thing I know to exist — to be wasted.” He has been married twice and has a reputation for sexual profligacy with numerous women. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
3. Gere.
   Gere, (who starred as a male prostitute in the film American Gigolo) is a Methodist who turned his back on Jesus Christ as a college student and became one of the world’s leading spokesmen for Buddhism. He has said: “I found [Christianity] to be incredibly compassionate. . . but when you ask difficult questions about the origin of the universe, about the nature of the self. . . there didn’t seem to be a basis for discussion in Christianity.” He has been married twice and has engaged in a series of high-profile sexual relationships outside of marriage. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.

Saying we shouldn’t judge others’ souls is correct; but neither should we hold up for emulation those who callously, defiantly embrace such things as the slaughter of the unborn, nor hold up for honor those who mock or scorn the precious faith we hold so dear, the faith for whom so many humble Christians have lovingly sacrificed all they hold dear—including their own lives. In holding up for honor those who scorn life, who mock Christ, we numb ourselves to the preciousness of all that is truly good.

 

[RCinMT]

These three “celebrities” seem particularly “worthy” of awards from the Vatican in the era of Pope Francis. Pope Francis has made clear that he will overlook your apostasy, your anti-Catholicism, and your radical pro-abortion and pro-homosexual political positions if you are a supporter of socialist economics and global warming theory. The fact that these three received awards from the Pope is a scandal.

1. Hayek.
   Hayek is an apostate Catholic who “no longer believes in the institution” of the Catholic Church. She starred in the blasphemous anti-Catholic “comedy” film Dogma. She has appeared in numerous completely nude and extremely graphic sex scenes, including lesbian ones. She admits to being very devoted to her faith as a young girl, but has since given up on Catholicism–and pretty much religion altogether. She said of her break with the church: “The minute I started thinking it through, I realized all religions are a form of manipulation.” She has studied at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (an American spiritual sect established in 1988 by JZ Knight, who claims to channel a 35,000-year-old being called Ramtha the Enlightened One). She publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
2. Clooney.
   Clooney is an apostate Catholic who says he “has outgrown his childhood religion and now, has no problem telling the world he’s an Agnostic.” He has said: “I don’t believe in Heaven and Hell. I don’t know if I believe in God. All I know is that as an individual, I won’t allow this life — the only thing I know to exist — to be wasted.” He has been married twice and has a reputation for sexual profligacy with numerous women. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
3. Gere.
   Gere, (who starred as a male prostitute in the film American Gigolo) is a Methodist who turned his back on Jesus Christ as a college student and became one of the world’s leading spokesmen for Buddhism. He has said: “I found [Christianity] to be incredibly compassionate. . . but when you ask difficult questions about the origin of the universe, about the nature of the self. . . there didn’t seem to be a basis for discussion in Christianity.” He has been married twice and has engaged in a series of high-profile sexual relationships outside of marriage. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.

Saying we shouldn’t judge others’ souls is correct; but neither should we hold up for emulation those who callously, defiantly embrace such things as the slaughter of the unborn, nor hold up for honor those who mock or scorn the precious faith we hold so dear, the faith for whom so many humble Christians have lovingly sacrificed all they hold dear—including their own lives. In holding up for honor those who scorn life, who mock Christ, we numb ourselves to the preciousness of all that is truly good.

Clooney and Gere…whatever. Hayak, however, is quite annoying in saying that once she thought about it she realized all religion is manipulation. I disagree with her but would have to conclude, then, that she would say everything is manipulative: politics, acting, groups in favor of same sex marriage and abortion. I wonder if Salma has applied her deep thinking any of these things? Or is more likely that she ran into a pretty common issue with several celebrities: religion would make them accountable and force them to believe in something bigger themselves, which seems to become quite a struggle for them.

I pray for them all.

 

[2PT3]

Clooney and Gere…whatever. Hayak, however, is quite annoying in saying that once she thought about it she realized all religion is manipulation. I disagree with her but would have to conclude, then, that she would say everything is manipulative: politics, acting, groups in favor of same sex marriage and abortion. I wonder if Salma has applied her deep thinking any of these things? Or is more likely that she ran into a pretty common issue with several celebrities: religion would make them accountable and force them to believe in something bigger themselves, which seems to become quite a struggle for them.

I pray for them all.

How the heck are we supposed to explain this to our kids?

“Look, Dad, Salma Hayek supports abortion and gay marriage and the Pope just gave her an award. He doesn’t judge her for those things. He’s clearly telling people like you to get over it and stop judging people like her. All that really matters is that she has a good heart and that she cares for the poor. He doesn’t even care that she’s not Catholic.”

 

[2PT3]

Here are some verses that I think are applicable to this situation, particularly with respect to the two apostate Catholics, Hayek and Clooney. They should not be receiving awards from the Pope.

St. Paul - 2 THES 3:14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.

St. Paul - TITUS 3: 10-11 After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.

St. John - 2 JN 9-11 Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.

 

[Good_Tidings]

These three “celebrities” seem particularly “worthy” of awards from the Vatican in the era of Pope Francis. Pope Francis has made clear that he will overlook your apostasy, your anti-Catholicism, and your radical pro-abortion and pro-homosexual political positions if you are a supporter of socialist economics and global warming theory. The fact that these three received awards from the Pope is a scandal.

1. Hayek.
   Hayek is an apostate Catholic who “no longer believes in the institution” of the Catholic Church. She starred in the blasphemous anti-Catholic “comedy” film Dogma. She has appeared in numerous completely nude and extremely graphic sex scenes, including lesbian ones. She admits to being very devoted to her faith as a young girl, but has since given up on Catholicism–and pretty much religion altogether. She said of her break with the church: “The minute I started thinking it through, I realized all religions are a form of manipulation.” She has studied at Ramtha’s School of Enlightenment (an American spiritual sect established in 1988 by JZ Knight, who claims to channel a 35,000-year-old being called Ramtha the Enlightened One). She publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
2. Clooney.
   Clooney is an apostate Catholic who says he “has outgrown his childhood religion and now, has no problem telling the world he’s an Agnostic.” He has said: “I don’t believe in Heaven and Hell. I don’t know if I believe in God. All I know is that as an individual, I won’t allow this life — the only thing I know to exist — to be wasted.” He has been married twice and has a reputation for sexual profligacy with numerous women. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.
3. Gere.
   Gere, (who starred as a male prostitute in the film American Gigolo) is a Methodist who turned his back on Jesus Christ as a college student and became one of the world’s leading spokesmen for Buddhism. He has said: “I found [Christianity] to be incredibly compassionate. . . but when you ask difficult questions about the origin of the universe, about the nature of the self. . . there didn’t seem to be a basis for discussion in Christianity.” He has been married twice and has engaged in a series of high-profile sexual relationships outside of marriage. He publicly supports abortion rights and homosexual marriage.

Saying we shouldn’t judge others’ souls is correct; but neither should we hold up for emulation those who callously, defiantly embrace such things as the slaughter of the unborn, nor hold up for honor those who mock or scorn the precious faith we hold so dear, the faith for whom so many humble Christians have lovingly sacrificed all they hold dear—including their own lives. In holding up for honor those who scorn life, who mock Christ, we numb ourselves to the preciousness of all that is truly good.

The pope is promoting scandal? I think not. Maybe you should read through the other thread about not judging.

 

[RCinMT]

How the heck are we supposed to explain this to our kids?

“Look, Dad, Salma Hayek supports abortion and gay marriage and the Pope just gave her an award. He doesn’t judge her for those things. He’s clearly telling people like you to get over it and stop judging people like her. All that really matters is that she has a good heart and that she cares for the poor. He doesn’t even care that she’s not Catholic.”

I am neither an apologist nor a theologian but my crack at it would be thus: there are four pillars of Catholic social teaching: respect for human dignity, subsidiarity, charity and solidarity/common good. I would say that we’re all God’s children and even if some of our brothers/sisters reject God, we can still applaud their good works and even form unions with them when our goals overlap (though we must be careful not assimilate to them nor embrace any other cause outside of the common cause) striving for the common good of all man kind.

 

[2PT3]

The pope is promoting scandal? I think not. Maybe you should read through the other thread about not judging.

What is your take on these verses?

St. Paul - 2 THES 3:14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.

St. Paul - 2 TIM 3:1-5 But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them.

St. Paul - TITUS 3: 10-11 After a first and second warning, **break off contact **with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.

St. John - 2 JN 9-11 Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.

 

[Good_Tidings]

What is your take on these verses?

St. Paul - 2 THES 3:14 If anyone does not obey our word as expressed in this letter, take note of this person not to associate with him, that he may be put to shame.

St. Paul - 2 TIM 3:1-5 But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days. People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power. Reject them.

St. Paul - TITUS 3: 10-11 After a first and second warning, **break off contact **with a heretic, realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.

St. John - 2 JN 9-11 Anyone who is so “progressive” as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works.

I’m sticking with the pope and his judgement.