Pope Bluntly Faults Church's Focus on Gays and Abortion

[Fevronia]

I am not sure what Masses you all attend but I have not recently heard any homily on abortion, gay marriage or contraception. The silence is deafening.

As I said in another thread, imagine if you were a young Catholic university student, doing all the right things. All your liberal friends would mock you and say “even the Pope doesn’t agree with you”.

This interview is a massive own-goal and the glee with which it is being reported by the NY Times and other media is proof of this.

Pope Benedict would have never said these things. He would have never called those fighting the hard culture war issues “small minded” or suggested these valiant souls were the problem. Pope Francis has handed a big “get out of jail” card to the Bidens, Pelosis etc that routinely defy core teachings. The whole interview is a shambolic disaster. We can only pray for the Pope to be wiser and show greater discernment in his words and gestures.

Sadly this is true. I feel bad for our children that will attend Universities and will be told by their peers when they talk about these issues that even the Pope doesn’t like them and disagrees with them

Hmm, I guess these are tough times.

 

[catholicguy25]

I am not sure what Masses you all attend but I have not recently heard any homily on abortion, gay marriage or contraception. The silence is deafening.

As I said in another thread, imagine if you were a young Catholic university student, doing all the right things. All your liberal friends would mock you and say “even the Pope doesn’t agree with you”.

This interview is a massive own-goal and the glee with which it is being reported by the NY Times and other media is proof of this.

Pope Benedict would have never said these things. He would have never called those fighting the hard culture war issues “small minded” or suggested these valiant souls were the problem. Pope Francis has handed a big “get out of jail” card to the Bidens, Pelosis etc that routinely defy core teachings. The whole interview is a shambolic disaster. We can only pray for the Pope to be wiser and show greater discernment in his words and gestures.

Hopefully you’re right…

 

[Fevronia]

Anti-gay and Gay conversion pamphlets… and as far as homosexuals/lifestyles, need to listen to the words of the Holy Father.

My friend, what you are saying is starting to sound like the exact thing the people on this forum who are complaining about the comments are pointing out.

Are you implying that you understood the Pope to have changed (or be in favor of) changing existing teachings of the Church? If so, you prove the point that people in this thread are trying to make.

 

[holyrood]

Yes it’s pretty startling given that claim that it’s talked about too much.

I’m adding myself to the list. I think I might possibly have heard one homily on abortion, and possibly one on homosexuality in over 40 years of steady church attendance at churches all over this country.

How is this too much?

As to purportedly bringing lost sheep home by no longer speaking the truth about abortion or sexual sin…what then? They either come back to a Church that is now really a social charity organization because it keeps quiet about morality, or they come back expecting to be supported in their sin and find what feels like a switch and bait pulled on them?

 

[HMSVictory]

Nope… I am here to express my thankfulness that this Man is MY SPIRITUAL FATHER… night

 

[irishpatrick]

Jesus I Trust In You!

 

[holyrood]

Abstinet ??? what business is it of yours ??? Not getting into a shouting match again. LISTEN to the Holy Fathers’ words. If he does not have a problem with me, then you as a good Catholic should not either.

With you or with your actions?

You are proving exactly the problem with what’s being reported.

 

[anglicanusepapa]

Abstinet ??? what business is it of yours ??? Not getting into a shouting match again. LISTEN to the Holy Fathers’ words. If he does not have a problem with me, then you as a good Catholic should not either.

If you are an homosexual and not abstinent then you have no right to be receiving the Sacraments of the Church unless you repent and intend to cease the sinful behaviour.

The Holy Father did not say that acting homosexuals could be active in the Sacramental life of the Church, if you did get this from what the Holy Father said then you are misreading what he said or you are trying to twist his words to justify an immoral lifestyle.

KNK

 

[Blackrook]

I have never felt more demoralized and betrayed.

Pope Francis is saying to every devout Catholic who followed its moral teachings, and fought for them, that we are the enemy, and we need to “go away” because we are an embarrassment to him.

My father was worried when he found out Francis was a Jesuit, and his fears have been realized. Has there been any other order that have caused more problems for the Catholic Church than the Jesuits?

Now devout Catholics have nowhere to turn in our struggle against evil. Even our own Church is against us. It’s like the end of the world. I wish I had not lived to see these dark days.

 

[Country_Gal]

I agree, these issues are not spoken about in church. But the Church, in the political arena, is constantly harping on them. I think it really presents the Church in a one dimensional light, when, in fact the Catholic liturgy and focus is really about the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

[jediliz]

The director of Catholic Social Services of SE Nebraska used to be “in residence” at my parish and we usually had a great moral issues Homily from him. Then two years ago he switched to another parish to be closer to a special CSS project. We rarely have any homilies as great as his nowadays.

 

[SlowKenyan]

A terrible Pope. But then, most of the Curia is composed of unbelievers. He fits right in.

 

[gracepoole]

Even if one hasn’t heard about these topics at Mass, these topics are everywhere here. Can’t turn around in CAF without bumping into a thread about homosexuality, abortion, or birth control. Maybe it’s the flock, rather than the shepherd, that’s showing signs of obsession.

 

[Country_Gal]

Even if one hasn’t heard about these topics at Mass, these topics are everywhere here. Can’t turn around in CAF without bumping into a thread about homosexuality, abortion, or birth control. Maybe it’s the flock, rather than the shepherd, that’s showing signs of obsession.

And, society as a whole.

 

[opus101]

Well, I’m starting to think that the Holy Father was modelling a type of response for us to imitate ourselves.

IMO, he seemed to say two things:

1. Let’s not constantly be focussing on abortion, homosexuality, etc., alone, but integrate these topics with the whole of the faith.
   and,
2. The Church’s teaching on those topics is clear and unchanging, and we are to accept them (and be sons and daughters of the Church).

Perhaps we don’t need to constantly tangle with those who try to distract us from the whole of the faith by constantly assaulting us on these topics. Provided that we affirm the true teaching in a clear manner, all we need to say is “Catholic beliefs on this will never change, there is no point in debating about it. Let’s talk about something else for a change!”

That actually might shut them up.

As long as #2 is spoken, this can be done with a clear conscience.

The problem is, so many people have been led down the wrong path and taught the wrong things. For them, it is even more important that #2 is said.

Among the tactics used by the various “lobbies” is the constant throwing of their agenda in our faces, trying to provoke angry responses or to lead some astray. This is done so much on the internet, many classic examples can be seen right here on CAF.

Maybe our responses should be patterned after Pope Francis’s. Very briefly affirm Church teaching, then ask why we need to constantly be focussing on this “issue”.

A type of Gandhi-esque approach, maybe. A non-violent verbal “sit-in” where we are so immovable about the truth that we refuse to engage with futile discussions.

 

[Gricken]

This is getting ridiculous. Those on the left are acting like the Holy Father has made radical changes in recent months (which isn’t the case) regarding abortion and same sex marriage and the like. While those on the right are acting like he’s saying none of these issues are important anymore (which ALSO isn’t what he is saying) Pope Francis’s words are becoming a lightning rod of controversy and It’s all become so politically charged…

I think we all need to take a moment to step back and pray before posting again.

 

[livingwordunity]

I think our Pope is a genius at evangelizing. By making an ambiguous statement in an interview, he appears to give the liberal activists what they want without actually giving it to them (since an interview doesn’t change any doctrines) thus taking some of the steam out of their anger for the Catholic Church while, at the same time, getting the average Joe on the street to ask “what is this Catholicism about?” because the subject came up on shows like David Letterman. Once someone starts to wonder what it’s about, and they start to look into the teachings, they are on the way to becoming Catholic.

 

[Gricken]

Well, I’m starting to think that the Holy Father was modelling a type of response for us to imitate ourselves.

IMO, he seemed to say two things:

1. Let’s not constantly be focussing on abortion, homosexuality, etc., alone, but integrate these topics with the whole of the faith.
   and,
2. The Church’s teaching on those topics is clear and unchanging, and we are to accept them (and be sons and daughters of the Church).

Perhaps we don’t need to constantly tangle with those who try to distract us from the whole of the faith by constantly assaulting us on these topics. Provided that we affirm the true teaching in a clear manner, all we need to say is “Catholic beliefs on this will never change, there is no point in debating about it. Let’s talk about something else for a change!”

That actually might shut them up.

As long as #2 is spoken, this can be done with a clear conscience.

The problem is, so many people have been led down the wrong path and taught the wrong things. For them, it is even more important that #2 is said.

Among the tactics used by the various “lobbies” is the constant throwing of their agenda in our faces, trying to provoke angry responses or to lead some astray. This is done so much on the internet, many classic examples can be seen right here on CAF.

Maybe our responses should be patterned after Pope Francis’s. Very briefly affirm Church teaching, then ask why we need to constantly be focussing on this “issue”.

A type of Gandhi-esque approach, maybe. A non-violent verbal “sit-in” where we are so immovable about the truth that we refuse to engage with futile discussions.

THANK YOU for saying this.

 

[Cider]

Of course the subjects of homosexuality and abortion are discussed at length in the media. We are fighting the culture of death that is trying to sell evil as good and good as evil. There is nothing the left would love more than to shut us all down so only their side is heard and they can sell their sin and death. We aren’t talking about these subjects because we want to, we are talking about them because they are rampant in our times and someone has to stand up for truth and good.

Which is why comments telling us all to stop talking about it are disheartening and out of touch with reality.

 

[holyrood]

I agree, these issues are not spoken about in church. But the Church, in the political arena, is constantly harping on them. I think it really presents the Church in a one dimensional light, when, in fact the Catholic liturgy and focus is really about the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Or perhaps the media chooses to present the Church in that light. The media could spend time talking about all the church does for the poor, or about our wonderful processions on feast days, about counseling services or charity work. The media could talk about some of the heinous attacks on bishops, or report on those accusations against priests that have proven to be false. But the media has chosen its focus.

Is the answer for the church to teach what the liberal media finds acceptable in the hopes it will finally portray us in a positive light?