Transgender man has private audience with Pope Francis

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A transgender man from Spain had a private audience with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday.
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Hoy, a newspaper in the Extremadura region of Spain, reported that Diego Neria Lejárraga and his fiancée had a private audience with the pontiff that took place at his official residence.
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Neria told Francis in a letter that some of his fellow parishioners at the church he attends in the Spanish city of Plasencia rejected him after he underwent sex-reassignment surgery. He said a priest even called him “the devil’s daughter.”
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Francis called Neria on Christmas Eve after receiving his letter.
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The private audience took place a month later.
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“After hearing him on many occasions, I felt that he would listen to me,” Neria told Hoy in an interview the newspaper published on Sunday.
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washingtonblade.com/2015/01/25/transgender-man-private-audience-pope-francis/
 
Isn’t it comforting to see a Pope that is willing to speak to any of God’s Children ,
No matter of what Character they may be,
 
It’s good to see the Pope opening up dialogue to the GBLTQ folks like this. 👍
 
My initial reaction was “what?”

Then I remembered: tax collectors and prostitutes, the Samaritan woman at the well, the Centurion…

Who am I to tell Francis how to do his job?
 
JackVk said:
My initial reaction was “what?”

Then I remembered: tax collectors and prostitutes, the Samaritan woman at the well, the Centurion…

Who am I to tell Francis how to do his job?
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I sure he’ll speak kind words but let it be known what sin is. I have faith in our holy father.

Bill
 
thetazlord said:
I hope that he’s honest with him about his lifestyle & references Deuteronomy 22:5 if the issue of whether or not God “accepts” him as he is. Also, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as well. Since God is love, & God would never condone anything He is against, likewise, servants of God should “lovingly” teach what God is against, as well as what He is for.
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You mean you hope the pope remembers that he’s the head of the Catholic Church? Yeah, somehow I don’t think that will be a problem. Of course, he **is **the head of the Catholic Church and therefore isn’t protestant. I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to follow Church teachings.
 
thetazlord said:
I hope that he’s honest with him about his lifestyle & references Deuteronomy 22:5 if the issue of whether or not God “accepts” him as he is. Also, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 as well. Since God is love, & God would never condone anything He is against, likewise, servants of God should “lovingly” teach what God is against, as well as what He is for.
Click to expand...
You mean you hope the pope remembers he’s the head of the Catholic Church? Yeah, I don’t think that will be a problem. Of course, he **is **the head of the Catholic Church and therefore isn’t protestant. I’ve no doubt he’ll emphasize Church teachings.
 
SuperLuigi said:
It’s good to see the Pope opening up dialogue to the GBLTQ folks like this. 👍
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It is good to show love and mercy and to talk to people.

Unfortunately, when folks hear ‘opening up dialogue’ they think it means he’ll change some Church teaching and suddenly approve of changing ones gender.
 
KCT said:
It is good to show love and mercy and to talk to people.

Unfortunately, when folks hear ‘opening up dialogue’ they think it means he’ll change some Church teaching and suddenly approve of changing ones gender.
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This is all just confusion. We are all confused in many ways and issues to some are not to others. The wages of sin. 😦
 
DaddyGirl said:
This person seems to be of good character.
The pope read his letter and must have decided that he was, to invite him in for a private audience.

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???

He is openly violating church teaching and living a life of sin.

He needs to repent.
 
The meeting clearly reassured this transgender man. Since there is no public teaching on transgender people Francis sends a powerful message to good catholics to treat all people with dignity.
It is likely not coincidental that Fancis’ first reported call to a transgender person comes exactly 6 years to the day after Benedic’s alleged “Christmas Condemnation of Transexuals”. I can only imagine how powerful that meeting must have been for Diego. I recall how very validating it was for me to hear affirming words from a Bishop when I disclosed my transexual status to him. Although I have been affirmed by every priest I have shared my story with, it was still very powerful to hear this Bishops kind words about my journey and to share dinner with him.
Thank you for sharing this kind act with the many in this forum that are so concerned about how to treat transgender people.
 
togetherstyle said:
The meeting clearly reassured this transgender man. Since there is no public teaching on transgender people Francis sends a powerful message to good catholics to treat all people with dignity.
It is likely not coincidental that Fancis’ first reported call to a transgender person comes exactly 6 years to the day after Benedic’s alleged “Christmas Condemnation of Transexuals”. I can only imagine how powerful that meeting must have been for Diego. I recall how very validating it was for me to hear affirming words from a Bishop when I disclosed my transexual status to him. Although I have been affirmed by every priest I have shared my story with, it was still very powerful to hear this Bishops kind words about my journey and to share dinner with him.
Thank you for sharing this kind act with the many in this forum that are so concerned about how to treat transgender people.
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When it comes to this sex stuff many people have their hangup. That’s why we not only have LGBT. But Bestiality, sadism, masochists, fetishism, And absolutely NO sexual attraction. People attracted to different body parts. But we are all human. And as said deserving of dignity. Sexuality can be a real struggle for some. Just as alcohol, and eating problems can hinder others. And any number of “fleshly” sensory based things. To me porn can be a problem. Staying completely away and in prayer meditation and going to Mass strengthens us. As Catholics understand marriage and chastity I think gives us a positive edge. We know what the conjugal act is for and know not to abuse it.

Bill
 
gracepoole said:
You mean you hope the pope remembers that he’s the head of the Catholic Church? Yeah, somehow I don’t think that will be a problem. Of course, he **is **the head of the Catholic Church and therefore isn’t protestant. I’ve no doubt he’ll continue to follow Church teachings.
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This post has nothing to do with Catholicism vs. Protestantism. I was just pointing out that I hope that during his meeting that he remembers to bring those verses up in God’s Word, & not just spend the time in the meeting with him letting him know how much “God loves” him, but to also lovingly rebuke his life-style. BTW, you won’t find a single Protestant who would disagree with you that the pope is the “head of the Catholic church.” Because the Head of the Protestant Church is Christ - not a human being.
 
togetherstyle said:
The meeting clearly reassured this transgender man. Since there is no public teaching on transgender people Francis sends a powerful message to good catholics to treat all people with dignity.
It is likely not coincidental that Fancis’ first reported call to a transgender person comes exactly 6 years to the day after Benedic’s alleged “Christmas Condemnation of Transexuals”. I can only imagine how powerful that meeting must have been for Diego. I recall how very validating it was for me to hear affirming words from a Bishop when I disclosed my transexual status to him. Although I have been affirmed by every priest I have shared my story with, it was still very powerful to hear this Bishops kind words about my journey and to share dinner with him.
Thank you for sharing this kind act with the many in this forum that are so concerned about how to treat transgender people.
Click to expand...
I have had very similar experiences talking to priests, it seems like the Pope is on the same page as them.
independent.co.uk/news/people/pope-francis-embraces-transgender-man-in-meeting-at-the-vatican-and-tells-him-there-is-a-place-for-him-in-the-church-10007556.html
He is sending out a strong message.
 
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