Recently, Pope Francis called on the church to apologize to gays and others for years of poor or abusive treatment. It was a signature moment for this Pope who has reached out to marginalized groups and rejected many of the long-entrenched positions and habits (and excesses) of the Vatican. However, his words were given an interesting spin by Catholic League President Bill Donohue, who had a remarkably heated exchange with CNN’s Chris Cuomo and refused to apologize to gays. The video is below.
During a recent return flight from Argentina, the Pope said that
“the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended, but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labor; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons . . . The church must say it is sorry for not having behaved as it should many times, many times — when I say ‘the church,’ I mean we Christians, because the church is holy; we are the sinners . . . We Christians must say we are sorry.”
Donohue rejected the notion of an apology and added “As a matter of fact, I want an apology from gays. I’ve been assaulted by gays. I’ve never assaulted a gay person in my entire life.”
He criticized CNN and said “Your producers only want to talk about LGBT,” he charged. “I don’t care what gay people do. I don’t want to have a lifestyle thrusted in my face though. That’s a different kind of thing altogether.”
Then came Donohue’s interpretation of the Pope’s remarks that he meant to say that Christians could “condemn certain manifestations” of sexual behavior “though he didn’t complete the sentence.”
Here is the video:
What do you think?
Why no Irish Pope? Some one asked. Well. They are excluded. I am surprised that we had a German one. Where is the present one from? Argentina?
Why does he apologize to gays? Catholic priests are gay as can be. He ought to be apologizing for pedophile priests and what they do to the altar boys. And not always at the altar.
Nol’mDave – Pope Francis has apologized for the pedophile priests. You need to keep up with the news.
Paul,
Popes come and go.
This one seems to be fading out.
At the church where the So.Baptist Convention was founded, the organist was a gay pedophile and so was one of the leaders of youth groups there. Did the pastor know? I’m sure he did, but he was also involved in some kind of scandal with a woman other than his wife, and was hardly in a position to do anything – even assuming that he might have wanted to.
This was during the late 1950s-60s.
And folks wonder why there’s never been an American or Irish Pope.
The pope did not change doctrine.
Off the cuff remark.
Meh.
KC Fleming – an off the cuff remark by a pope is how Mary Magdalene ended up branded as a prostitute. An omission of a country is how South Korea got invaded by North Korea. When powerful people are speaking, all their words matter.
There has never been an Irish pope because a Pope gave England permission to invade Ireland. They were too Catholic for the rest of the Church.
What does the CCC say?
From Fr. Z’s blog, with his comments in brackets:
“2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. [It’s “psychological”.]
2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. [But it is a small minority.] This inclination, which is objectively disordered, [The inclination is “objectively disordered”, that is, “it inclines a person toward something that is objective not meant for a person by its nature”] constitutes for most of them a trial. [Probably an understatement.]They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. [Don’t bully them, beat them up, harass them, etc. But that doesn’t mean that “gays” (I detest that term) get a pass on everything just because they have “quella condizione”.] These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives [ALL people are!] and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.
2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. [ALL people are, within the sphere of their vocation.] By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, [Many same-sex relationships are friendships that have gone wrong.] by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
2360 Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. [NOT same-sex acts.] In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of spiritual communion. Marriage bonds between baptized persons are sanctified by the sacrament.“
When will Bill move out of his moms basement?
Its just a matter of attrition.
Catholics, older white people and those opposed to Benedict’s call for organic growth.
They will all just die off soon here in the next 15-20 years.
Hard core Catholics like conservatives Kathryn Jean Lopez and Ed Morrissey are just becoming more insignificant and anachronistic, Supreme court ruling after Supreme court ruling, meanwhile being sold out by elected Republicans en masse in congress.
My concern is what influence the Nigerians and their “same sex prohibitions act” will have on the Catholic Church’s future. They are the truly capable of becoming the Catholic Taliban.
@swarthmoremom
No, Squeeky Truth Speech.
What would you call a group of people who would rather give their “lover” a deadly disease than put a condom on??? A group of people whose sexual pleasure is more important to them than the very life of their sexual partner??? A group of people who care sooo little for each other that they refuse to even get tested for HIV, even when they know that 20% of men who have sex with men are HIV positive??? A group of people who kill more Americans each year than either drug gangs or drunk drivers, simply so they won’t have to bother with that pesky condom???
I think “vile, filthy, and murderous” is quite apt. Now, little Miss School Marm wannabee, do you think you are capable of dealing with the truth or falsehood of what I say, as opposed to simply complaining about how I say it?
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
“My goodness, but gay males are the vilest, filthiest, most murderous group of individuals who ever existed” Squeeky Hate speech!!!
SWM – without question gay males helped kill two of my brothers.
I am sooo sick of all this pro-Gay nonsense. My goodness, but gay males are the vilest, filthiest, most murderous group of individuals who ever existed. I wonder if the Pope is going to ask the sodomites to apologize for the millions of “bottoms” they have murdered, just because they didn’t want to wear a condom??? I doubt it. Anyway, I suspect this is just another one of those warm and fuzzy drivel thingies.
Rectumus Maximus???
An Irish Poem by Squeeky Fromm
There once was a guy called the Pope,
Who proclaimed out a confusing trope. . .
He said to the Gays,
“We’re amending our ways,”
But still we ain’t bending for soap!”
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
My personal view is live and let live. It’s important to do a bit of hair splitting. The view of orthodox Christians is: first, certain sexual acts are sinful regardless of the sexual orientation of the people engaging in those acts; second, accept all people regardless of sexual orientation. If orthodox Christians condemn sinners, then they condemn all people, and this is wrong. In short, condemn the sin and forgive the sinner, it is up to God to judge us. The problem comes when orthodox Christians (or those of any faith) do the judging and/or don’t forgive. Neither is right.
Perhaps the pope will excommunicate Donahue!
“Bill Donohue, who had a remarkably heated exchange’
A remarkably heated exchange for Bill Donohue is one in which he is NOT remarkably heated. Bill Donohue and his wife basically are the entire Catholic League, milking the saps who wire him a very impressive amount of money every year to enjoy more of his nuclear-powered umbrage.
Atheism could use a couple of him – he is a genius at getting his seat at the table.
“If the Pope wants to apologize that is up to him, but he has no call on other Catholics to ask them to apologize for following church doctrine.”
That’s sarcasm, right?
Gingerbaker – nup
Mammals in costumes pretending to dictate morality. Don’t forget it.
I’m gonna do just- how I feel!
Don’t try to hustle me the way I feel!
Hey Hey Hey!
I’ll count the times that I told you
You really shouldn’t try
And I told you
‘Cause baby, you’ll just cry for a shadow
Believe me
Baby, baby, baby
(Is this the dream you’re crying for?)
Isn’t it amazing that a professional Catholic like Donahue and NYC own Cardinal Dolan are pretty free with their criticism of the pope and his positions. For people like them Christianity and the Catholic Church is an excuse for their prejudices and a way to make money and in Dolan’s case amass power. Christ has nothing to do with them.
It’s time to end all religious exemptions for the law including but not limited to the tax laws and end all religious privileges.
I think Donahue and the Catholic League hasn’t spoken for American Catholic for over the last 25 years. In fact Catholics like Donahue are the REASON many young Catholics have rejected American Bishops teachings
If the Pope wants to apologize that is up to him, but he has no call on other Catholics to ask them to apologize for following church doctrine.