Statements on Cardinal Kasper Interview with ZENIT

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Cardinal Kasper dismisses African prelates’ objections to Synod proposals

Catholic World News - October 15, 2014

Cardinal Walter Kasper said that African prelates should not have much influence on the Synod of Bishops, in an interview with the Zenit news agency.

The German cardinal said that bishops from Muslim countries are under constraints when speaking about homosexuality. “It’s a taboo,” he said. Consequently, he said, “they should not tell us too much what we have to do.”

Cardinal Kasper’s remark seemed certain to intensify complaints that European bishops are attempting to impose their own agenda on the Synod, ignoring the needs of the Church elsewhere in the world…
…

(Below is the text of the interview relating to the African Bishops)

ZENIT: It has been said that he added five special rapporteurs on Friday to help the general rapporteur, Cardinal Peter Erdo. Is that because he’s trying to push things through according to his wishes?

Cardinal Kasper: I do not see this going on in the Pope’s head. But I think the majority of these five people are open people who want to go on with this. The problem, as well, is that there are different problems of different continents and different cultures. Africa is totally different from the West. Also Asian and Muslim countries, they’re very different, especially about gays. You can’t speak about this with Africans and people of Muslim countries. It’s not possible. It’s a taboo. For us, we say we ought not to discriminate, we don’t want to discriminate in certain respects.

ZENIT: But are African participants listened to in this regard?

Cardinal Kasper: No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them].

ZENIT: They’re not listened to?

Cardinal Kasper: In Africa of course [their views are listened to], where it’s a taboo.

ZENIT: What has changed for you, regarding the methodology of this synod?

Cardinal Kasper: I think in the end there must be a general line in the Church, general criteria, but then the questions of Africa we cannot solve. There must be space also for the local bishops’ conferences to solve their problems but I’d say with Africa it’s impossible [for us to solve]. But they should not tell us too much what we have to do.
 
I think he is politely saying that in the Church in Africa has to deal with the fact that in some countries they imprison and kill homosexuals. They are at a different place than Europe and the West and their (name removed by moderator)ut, while valuable, often doesn’t bare directly on what is happening in developed countries. I don’t think any of us in the West want the Synod to publically advocate imprisoning and killing homosexuals or tolerating such actions.

On the other hand, I wonder if the final Synod document will say anything about polygamy? In Africa there is a problem if a man wants to convert but he has more than one wife. You have to tell him to pick one and dismiss the rest. That breaks up the family unit; and that is a problem. So what do you do? That is a good question, and I don’t know what the answer is.
 
gilliam said:
I think he is politely saying that in the Church in Africa has to deal with the fact that in some countries they imprison and kill homosexuals. They are at a different place than Europe and the West and their (name removed by moderator)ut, while valuable, often doesn’t bare directly on what is happening in developed countries. I don’t think any of us in the West want the Synod to publically advocate imprisoning and killing homosexuals or tolerating such actions.
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This is extremely presumptuous of you, with due respect. You simply assume that the contributions African bishops have in the synod is to suggest to the West they should imprison and kill homosexuals…really???:mad:

The Bishops probably are simply telling it straight, that no wishy washy acceptance of homosexuality should be attempted by the church to please the World. I have no idea why you would decide that because countries/parliaments in Africa criminalize homosexuality that this would be the contribution of CATHOLIC Bishops would bring to a Catholic synod on the FAMILY…Do you think Africans have nothing else to talk about homosexuality besides their murder, especially Catholic clergy?:mad:
On the other hand, I wonder if the final Synod document will say anything about polygamy? In Africa there is a problem if a man wants to convert but he has more than one wife. You have to tell him to pick one and dismiss the rest. That breaks up the family unit; and that is a problem. So what do you do? That is a good question, and I don’t know what the answer it.
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The church in Africa has no problems with polygamy. Polygamy is clearly taught as a SIN for decades and for that reason has been steadily on the decline for decades. you will not find it among younger generations of Christians. few more decades it will be effectively extinct except for Muslims. thas the truth.
 
One_point said:
This is extremely presumptuous of you, with due respect. You simply assume that the contributions African bishops have in the synod is to suggest to the West they should imprison and kill homosexuals…really???:mad:
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No, sorry, I did not. I said they have to live and work there, so there suggestions will be from that vantage point. Accepting openly gay men is not actually a problem if they live in a society where the reaction of the neighbors is to persecute them; so men aren’t openly in a relationship to begin with. There is a difference. Their issues are different (see below)
The Bishops probably are simply telling it straight, that no wishy washy acceptance of homosexuality should be attempted by the church to please the World. I have no idea why you would decide that because countries/parliaments in Africa criminalize homosexuality that this would be the contribution of CATHOLIC Bishops would bring to a Catholic synod on the FAMILY…Do you think Africans have nothing else to talk about homosexuality besides their murder?:mad:
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African bishops that have been interviewed have said they have pretty much stayed away from that topic. They have other pressing issues in their countries (e.g., polygamy) that they would like some help with.
The church in Africa has no problems with polygamy. Polygamy is clearly taught as a SIN for decades and for that reason has been steadily on the decline for decades. you will not find it among young generations of Christians. few more decades it will be effectively extinct except for Muslims. thas the truth.
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See this interview of Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Jos, Nigeria. starting around 1:08 he discusses the problem of polygamy and ministry.
youtube.com/watch?v=fKSU-sUupkk&list=PLgoAlsvvzIyXYCLmJBpQd7f0hTFAK6jkU
 
firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/10/dont-listen-to-the-africans-says-catholic-cardinal

Don’t Listen To The Africans, Says Catholic Cardinal

“In a stunning new interview, German Cardinal Walter Kasper has said that African Catholics “should not tell us too much what we have to do” and admitted that they are not being listened to at the Vatican’s current synod as it takes up matters including homosexuality, divorce, remarriage, and family life.”
 
McCall1981 said:
firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2014/10/dont-listen-to-the-africans-says-catholic-cardinal

Don’t Listen To The Africans, Says Catholic Cardinal

“In a stunning new interview, German Cardinal Walter Kasper has said that African Catholics “should not tell us too much what we have to do” and admitted that they are not being listened to at the Vatican’s current synod as it takes up matters including homosexuality, divorce, remarriage, and family life.”
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Just the same thing as the OP, why post it again? :confused: Are you accusing Kasper of racism?
 
Gilliam, it is this statement of yours I found perplexing

“I don’t think any of **us in the West **want ***the Synod ***to publically advocate imprisoning and killing homosexuals or tolerating such actions.”

Why would yu think Synod is in danger of publicly advocating killing/imprisoning homosexuals? It implies that this is what African influence in the synod is about.
 
Before one gets too excited here, the syntax of the interview with Zenit leads me to believe that what we’re reading in English is a very poor translation. What the Cardinal said may not be as appalling as it seems because he may have said something different, or differently nuanced, in the original language.

Or, if the interview was in fact in English, the Cardinal’s possibly less than perfect English may be at fault for making things sound worse than they are.
 
Card Dolan on the African Bishops:

"We in the Church in Europe, the Church in North America, we suffer sometimes from a lethargy, don’t we? Not Africa! … The bishops of Africa are prophetic in reminding us that the role of the Church is to transform the culture, not to be transformed by the culture. …

I’m afraid sometimes we in the West might say, “Oh, I guess we ought to dilute things, I guess we ought to capitulate, it’s obvious this teaching’s being rejected, oh my Lord, we’re not popular.” And the Africans say, “Well, you know what? We’re not supposed to be. What we’re supposed to do is propose the truth and invite people by the love and the joy of our lives to embrace the truth. And take it from us, brothers, it works.”

catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3437/cardinals_kasper_and_dolan_and_the_african_bishops.aspx
 
:eek:

Card Dolan on the African Bishops:

"We in the Church in Europe, the Church in North America, we suffer sometimes from a lethargy, don’t we? Not Africa! … The bishops of Africa are prophetic in reminding us that the role of the Church is to transform the culture, not to be transformed by the culture. …

I’m afraid sometimes we in the West might say, “Oh, I guess we ought to dilute things, I guess we ought to capitulate, it’s obvious this teaching’s being rejected, oh my Lord, we’re not popular.” And the Africans say, “Well, you know what? We’re not supposed to be. What we’re supposed to do is propose the truth and invite people by the love and the joy of our lives to embrace the truth. And take it from us, brothers, it works.”

catholicworldreport.com/Blog/3437/cardinals_kasper_and_dolan_and_the_african_bishops.aspx
 
I’m not so sure Cardinal Kasper said they’re not listened to. The brackets seem to show that Cardinal Kasper said the African bishops aren’t speaking about the issue.
 
This spin sounds to me like the African bishops need more welcoming into the Church than the scandalous.
 
This is xenophobic. How is this man a cardinal? Yeah Casper should be listened because his policies have worked so well in Germany.
 
Pentin asked Kasper: But are African participants listened to in this regard?
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Kasper responded: No, the majority of them [who hold these views won’t speak about them.
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I think the African Bishops won’t talk about homosexuality because they are afraid it may get more gay persons killed by the African governments who do that.😦
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