Pope urged to condemn gay unions as unnatural

[gilliam]

VATICAN CITY, Aug 13 – Nearly half a million Catholics have signed a petition urging Pope Francis to condemn same sex unions as unnatural and rule out allowing divorced believers who remarry to receive communion, organisers claim.
The Filial Appeal on the Future of the Family, launched by a group describing itself as an alliance of lay Catholics and pro-Life organisations, has also secured the backing of more than 100 senior clerics, including many bishops from the developing world and American cardinal Raymond Burke, an arch-conservative who has been sidelined within the Vatican hierarchy since Francis was elected two years ago.

According to the Appeal’s website, more than 462,700 people had, by Thursday, signed the petition, which urges Francis to uphold traditional teaching ahead of an October synod which will review how the Church relates to gay and divorced followers.

The petition claims that a first synod held last year had caused, “widespread confusion arising from the possibility that a breach has been opened within the Church that would accept adultery — by permitting divorced and then civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion — and would virtually accept even homosexual unions when such practices are categorically condemned as being contrary to divine and natural law.”

Francis has made it clear he wants the church to adopt a more inclusive, understanding approach to believers living “irregular” lifestyles.

capitalfm.co.ke/news/2015/08/pope-urged-to-condemn-gay-unions-as-unnatural/

 

[Murmurs]

He shouldn’t need to, really. It’s not as though he or any pope is or could be in a position to change teaching on the matter (nor is anything he says likely to influence a country currently considering changing the law about same sex marriage, to be honest). People should really calm down about it.

 

[Seamus_L]

We should have a more clear picture after the October Synod. Last year alot of people thought some of us were worrying over nothing, but after the midterm report, I think the crowd that thought the sky was falling, had made the more accurate predictions.

 

[SWolf]

We should have a more clear picture after the October Synod. Last year alot of people thought some of us were worrying over nothing, but after the midterm report, I think the crowd that thought the sky was falling, had made the more accurate predictions.

One does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to see the very powerful machinations at work.

A shame at a time when sacramental marriage is doing so poorly, the synod focuses communion for the civilly remarried, something that was already rejected several times in the last century.

 

[Cider]

Considering his " who am I to judge" statement among others that are being used by some to imply that the Pope is for same sex marriage and relationships I do think he should come out and flatly reiterate what the catechism says regarding homosexual relations.

The waters have been muddied in the last couple years and he needs to clear them for those that are confused and think that church teaching can be changed ( especially those deluded enough to think he’s already changed it).

 

[commenter]

Does this petition tell the pope anything he would not already know?

 

[commenter]

He shouldn’t need to, really. It’s not as though he or any pope is or could be in a position to change teaching on the matter (nor is anything he says likely to influence a country currently considering changing the law about same sex marriage, to be honest). People should really calm down about it.

Church teaching isn’t changeable, but political responses to the family, and media coverage of the family, is changeable. An earlier generation of Catholics would have petitioned leaders of nations, and media executives. All of them are making decisions about legislation or coverage of family issues this Fall.

The petitioners chose not to petition those people. They petitioned the pope instead.

 

[MarcoPolo]

With all the ignorant Catholics and deceitful media out there advancing false Catholic teaching, it’s not surprising the masses want to hear a clear statement from Pope Francis echo the true teaching.

 

[commenter]

With all the ignorant Catholics and deceitful media out there advancing false Catholic teaching, it’s not surprising the masses want to hear a clear statement from Pope Francis echo the true teaching.

So they saw no need to petition the executives who control the deceitful media, to be less deceitful about covering the family, and Pope Francis? They trust CNN and BBC more than they trust the Pope?

 

[MarcoPolo]

So they saw no need to petition the executives who control the deceitful media, to be less deceitful about covering the family, and Pope Francis? They trust CNN and BBC more than they trust the Pope?

This is a little over the top, no? I think, in part, because people don’t trust the media they are asking for clarity from Pope Francis.

 

[FollowChrist34]

One does not have to be a conspiracy theorist to see the very powerful machinations at work.

A shame at a time when sacramental marriage is doing so poorly, the synod focuses communion for the civilly remarried, something that was already rejected several times in the last century.

I agree on the powerful machinations. I still don’t know how much real clout the “reformers” have though. The Synod is the key to revealing that. And how the Pope reacts. My gut feeling is they don’t have the power they need to make any real impact on teaching. Practice may be something else. It’s a Christian duty to be vigilant about this whole thing, watch the Synod like a hawk.

 

[Seamus_L]

When Catholics express very serious concerns about what could happen at this October Synod, I’m frequently hearing responses that question whether or not they believe Our Saviour’s words when he said that the gates of Hell would not prevail against his church. It should also be remembered that during the Arian Heresy, the majority of Catholic churches turned Arian. One priest I know actually said it was 96 pct, but couldn’t remember where he had read it. So with that in mind, YES I believe Our Saviour’s words, but I think it also quite possible that we may say high ranking church clerics, and numerous congregations going against church teaching and condoning homosexuality.

 

[Murmurs]

When Catholics express very serious concerns about what could happen at this October Synod, I’m frequently hearing responses that question whether or not they believe Our Saviour’s words when he said that the gates of Hell would not prevail against his church. It should also be remembered that during the Arian Heresy, the majority of Catholic churches turned Arian. One priest I know actually said it was 96 pct, but couldn’t remember where he had read it. So with that in mind, YES I believe Our Saviour’s words, but I think it also quite possible that we may say high ranking church clerics, and numerous congregations going against church teaching and condoning homosexuality.

I highly doubt they will, but for the sake of hypothetical argument, if this happened…what does one do?

 

[commenter]

This is a little over the top, no? I think, in part, because people don’t trust the media they are asking for clarity from Pope Francis.

No matter what Pope Francis says, no matter how clear, the Media will muddy it, make it sound ambiguous. The developers of this petition saw no need to petition the Media, or political leaders. The Media makes Catholics skeptical of popes and bishops. Catholics - even those who call themselves “traditional” - are shaped by the Media.

Genuine Traditional Catholics would be petitioning the Media, and politicians.

 

[SWolf]

No matter what Pope Francis says, no matter how clear, the Media will muddy it, make it sound ambiguous. The developers of this petition saw no need to petition the Media, or political leaders. The Media makes Catholics skeptical of popes and bishops. Catholics - even those who call themselves “traditional” - are shaped by the Media.

Genuine Traditional Catholics would be petitioning the Media, and politicians.

Some Bishops also said some pretty disturbing things. It isn’t just political figures.

 

[Seamus_L]

I don’t think Cardinal Burke, or the Polish Bishops or Archbishop Schneider got their information on the last Synod’s mid term report from the newsmedia.

 

[zz912]

So they saw no need to petition the executives who control the deceitful media, to be less deceitful about covering the family, and Pope Francis? They trust CNN and BBC more than they trust the Pope?

Why would you petition those you don’t trust? The point is you DON’T trust them. So any promises they made to you would be worthless.

 

[MarcoPolo]

The developers of this petition saw no need to petition the Media, or political leaders.

Perhaps if you feel called to do so, start a petition against the media.

 

[dans0622]

From the Code of Canon Law:

Can. 212 … §2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

Dan

 

[PTL]

Close to half million people petitioned to Pope, asking clarification from the Holy Father.
When do you think the Pope will give his clear statement? When he comes to U.S. or before the Synod starts? The Sheep badly want to hear from their Shepherd.