Nicolas Coppola, gay catholic who married, is banned from church duties, was this right?

[Em_in_FL]

I suppose I will put it simple the Catholic teaching on homosexuality is cruel. Those aren’t my words but rather a Priest in the church. I agree with that assessment.

Why, exactly? How is it cruel?

Comparing this to abortion, or other church doctrines just doesn’t have the same equivelant. I also really hate that we relegate the issue to abortion, because its not about abortion it’s about life. Hence why as Catholics we should be just as morally opposed to abortion as we are the death penalty unfortunately we don’t remark as much on the subject of the death penalty as we do on abortion.

Abortion is discussed more because it’s a bigger issue. Millions of innocent souls… millions… are affected by abortion. It’s a bigger statistic.

 

[dshix]

I suppose I will put it simple the Catholic teaching on homosexuality is cruel. Those aren’t my words but rather a Priest in the church. I agree with that assessment.

Comparing this to abortion, or other church doctrines just doesn’t have the same equivelant. I also really hate that we relegate the issue to abortion, because its not about abortion it’s about life. Hence why as Catholics we should be just as morally opposed to abortion as we are the death penalty unfortunately we don’t remark as much on the subject of the death penalty as we do on abortion.

Church teaching on SSM is not “cruel,” as you say. Homosexual acts are disordered, unnatural, and immoral. The Church has an obligation to speak out against and oppose evil, and homosexuality is on the list of the world’s evils.

I’m sorry for that priest in the Church which you speak of, who favors SSM. I fear for his soul and the souls of his parishioners.

 

[EasterJoy]

I suppose I will put it simple the Catholic teaching on homosexuality is cruel. Those aren’t my words but rather a Priest in the church. I agree with that assessment.

Is it cruel to consider other sexual disorders something which must be faced with resistance instead of capitulation? That is hard, but why is that cruel?

I suppose it is also cruel to oppose the gay “couples” who find a woman to bear her child for/with them with the plan that they will pay her not to be the child’s mother, so that they can pretend that the sexual attraction between two men can produce a child?

I suppose it is also cruel to tell someone that a valid marriage to a great sinner is still a valid marriage. It is cruel to tell young people that their goal must be to have sex with no one but their spouse, with whom they must conduct their sexual lives so as to welcome children, and to bypass all the other sexual partners that the secular world promises them. Isn’t it cruel to expect people to “repress” their sexuality that way?

Why does abortion come up in these debates? Because the argument that it is “cruel” to expect women to bear the living children they are carrying but don’t want to bear is the main argument in favor of abortion. The connection is false compassion.

 

[anruari]

Sorry but the Church is quite clear in her teaching. Anyone who publicly reject core teachings, and is publicly engaging is gravely sinful behaviour is not to be considered suitable to receive the Sacraments and not to be in a position which would give scandal.

The parish priest was derelict in his duties to permit this situation to develop so far.

THis man’s situation is the same as that of any unwed couple living in a state of fornication, and very similar to that of any validly married divorcee who attempts a second marriage.

By entering into a civil union with another man he added further significant public injury to the situation.

He is in a state of grave mortal sin, and has voluntarily made that public. The bible is very clear that such behaviour must not be tolerated.

 

[Corki]

Has he since passed himself off to people as married?

It seems that he has from the article. A marriage is a public event - even a simulated one.

But even if he “married” in secret, attempting a Sacrament is a grave sin. It’s not one of those sins that is only grave if done publicly. Persisting in grave sin would make him ineligible for parish ministry.

 

[EasterJoy]

It isn’t so much the Church’s teaching as how the uppity, insolence [sic], disobedient, poorly taught laity try to enforce things they don’t understand like a bunch of brownshirts.

I can’t tell from this whether you are trying to sound truly outraged or merely sardonic. Your comedic writing needs work. Cut the hyperbole a bit, as a start.

 

[EasterJoy]

No simply it is not the right decision. Although, I’m more disconcerned about all the hate that is thrown at our shared faith. Fighting intolerance with intolerance is simply not a good way to move forward.

It is only the public act in denunciation of Church teaching which is not being tolerated. If we can’t be intolerant about that, just take down the shingle. If you cannot defend the faith within the walls of your own church and in the conduct of the most sacred rituals, then I don’t know what kind of “shared faith” you’ll wind up with. (Ask the Unitarians…)

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

Hence why **as Catholics we should be just as morally opposed to abortion as we are the death penalty **unfortunately we don’t remark as much on the subject of the death penalty as we do on abortion.

Did you know that there *could *be cases where the Church is ok with the death penalty, but there are NEVER cases where abortion would be ok?

2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent."68

BTW, I am with you, I despise the death penalty. I still remember fighting back tears while people around me rejoiced at Scott Peterson’s sentence. I was pregnant, I thought what happened to Laci was horrible, only a monster could do that, but it still sickened me to see everyone celebrate the sentence that he was going to be killed. I don’t think that is the only way we can protect society from him or his likes. Nevertheless, although I don’t think this justifies the death penalty, and my heart gets heavy every time it comes up, I know these men and women have it a little different, they have a chance of an appeal, they may not be completely innocent and it may be the consequences (although I don’t agree with them) to their actions. If they are innocent, they may be able to prove it and avoid having their lives taken unjustly. In abortion, the baby cannot defend him/herself. The baby did not make any wrong choices; he/she is pure innocence. There are no appeals, no chances to prove innocence, the baby cannot do anything. Their right to live is stripped from them, and the worst part is that it is being done by the baby’s own mother! The one that should be protecting him/her has given him/her the death penalty, sometimes as a consequence of a bad decision made by the mother. That is why abortion and death penalty are not the same.

 

[stlcatholic86]

We will never agree about the Catholic Church on the teaching of homosexuality. I’m sure people will suggest that I am not a true Catholic, but I disagree. Yes, I am openly gay man who accepts the Eucharist.

 

[stlcatholic86]

Did you know that there *could *be cases where the Church is ok with the death penalty, but there are NEVER cases where abortion would be ok?

BTW, I am with you, I despise the death penalty. I still remember fighting back tears while people around me rejoiced at Scott Peterson’s sentence. I was pregnant, I thought what happened to Laci was horrible, only a monster could do that, but it still sickened me to see everyone celebrate the sentence that he was going to be killed. I don’t think that is the only way we can protect society from him or his likes. Nevertheless, although I don’t think this justifies the death penalty, and my heart gets heavy every time it comes up, I know these men and women have it a little different, they have a chance of an appeal, they may not be completely innocent and it may be the consequences (although I don’t agree with them) to their actions. If they are innocent, they may be able to prove it and avoid having their lives taken unjustly. In abortion, the baby cannot defend him/herself. The baby did not make any wrong choices; he/she is pure innocence. There are no appeals, no chances to prove innocence, the baby cannot do anything. Their right to live is stripped from them, and the worst part is that it is being done by the baby’s own mother! The one that should be protecting him/her has given him/her the death penalty, sometimes as a consequence of a bad decision made by the mother. That is why abortion and death penalty are not the same.

I disagree abortion and the death penalty are moral equivalents and to try to justify they aren’t makes zero sense.

 

[Spencerian]

I agreed with everything you posted but wanted to clarify - the article from HuffPost does not say the pastor conducted the services or was in attendance specifically - just that there was "a ceremony attended by several members of St. Anthony’s . . . " I got confused so I thought maybe I could save someone else from having to go double check

Looking back on that story, I think you’re right there. Thank you–that’s an important clarification.

 

[dshix]

We will never agree about the Catholic Church on the teaching of homosexuality. I’m sure people will suggest that I am not a true Catholic, but I disagree. Yes, I am openly gay man who accepts the Eucharist.

In that case, you are committing a sin of sacrilege every time you receive, and are digging your hole ever deeper.

If you really consider yourself a “true Catholic,” why not actually research what the Church really teaches?

 

[estesbob]

I disagree abortion and the death penalty are moral equivalents and to try to justify they aren’t makes zero sense.

Well the Church disagrees with you:

Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

Pope Benedict XVI

 

[estesbob]

In that case, you are committing a sin of sacrilege every time you receive, and are digging your hole ever deeper.

If you really consider yourself a “true Catholic,” why not actually research what the Church really teaches?

There is no problem as long as he is celibate.

 

[KellyPalmer]

I disagree abortion and the death penalty are moral equivalents and to try to justify they aren’t makes zero sense.

The Catholic Church states otherwise. Do you believe that the Catholic Church makes zero sense? I’m guessing not but this is something to consider when making such comments.

 

[1ke]

There is no problem as long as he is celibate.

I don’t think that is what the PP meant by “openly gay”.

 

[Spencerian]

We will never agree about the Catholic Church on the teaching of homosexuality. I’m sure people will suggest that I am not a true Catholic, but I disagree. Yes, I am openly gay man who accepts the Eucharist.

I appreciate your candor. But why add the face?

None of us on the forums have a right to question you in terms of your same-sex attraction in so much that I and others here are obligated first to curb our own wrongs first before questioning the wrongs of others (Matthew 7:1-5).

Having same-sex attraction makes you no more of a sinner than I or anyone else. That said, we are called to obey Christ and the teachings of our faith without equivocating about it. I’m proud to know you as a fellow Catholic, but as part of the Body of Christ I am also called to warn you (as you would be for me) to call out behavior that may lead you away from God’s will, just as Paul called out Peter for his strange behavior in one of his letters.

Do continue your own meditations on the Church teachings in the Catechism on same-sex attraction, for there is more to sexuality than just the pleasurable aspect that God added into this framework. It’s really important not to use your own interpretation as to what is right and wrong without using Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium to support and guide that decision, no matter how hard it is to bear.

You can surely know that everyone here will have prayers for you, and we ask you to pray for us to God for our transgressions that aren’t relevant to this thread’s topic.

 

[stlcatholic86]

In that case, you are committing a sin of sacrilege every time you receive, and are digging your hole ever deeper.

If you really consider yourself a “true Catholic,” why not actually research what the Church really teaches?

This assumes I believe Catholic doctrine that being gay is a sin. I don’t.

 

[stlcatholic86]

Well the Church disagrees with you:

Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

Pope Benedict XVI

This is an indefensible theological opinion. It’s creating a moral double standard.

 

[Rose74]

I suppose I will put it simple the Catholic teaching on homosexuality is cruel. Those aren’t my words but rather a Priest in the church. I agree with that assessment.

Comparing this to abortion, or other church doctrines just doesn’t have the same equivelant. I also really hate that we relegate the issue to abortion, because its not about abortion it’s about life. Hence why as Catholics we should be just as morally opposed to abortion as we are the death penalty unfortunately we don’t remark as much on the subject of the death penalty as we do on abortion.

I feel for you… I believe that gay people should be able to live as companions to love and care for each other. However, I believe in the conjugal aspects of marriage and a gay coupling just doesn’t have that. I don’t take communion because I’m married to a divorced man because I respect the church’s teaching even if I don’t live it.