"Cardinal against cardinal." - Our Lady of Akita
Indeed, the much ignored 1986 document from the CDF: Letter to the Bishops on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons warned that "increasing numbers of people today, even within the Church, are bringing enormous pressure to bear on the Church to accept the homosexual condition as though it were not disordered and to condone homosexual activity. Those within the Church who argue in this fashion often have close ties with those with similar views outside it. These latter groups are guided by a vision opposed to the truth about the human person, which is fully disclosed in the mystery of Christ. They reflect, even if not entirely consciously, a materialistic ideology which denies the transcendent nature of the human person as well as the supernatural vocation of every individual."
The Former Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Carlo Martini is evidently one of the people the document refers to, although no one needed to be identified, since there is ample evidence today that the Church is well staffed by those who want to see a change in doctrinal teaching, to approve of homosexual behavior in and through the acceptance of civil unions, or to more specific, legal recognition of same sex marriage. Although as the CDF document cited above clearly instructs: “But we wish to make it clear that departure from the Church’s teaching, or silence about it, in an effort to provide pastoral care is neither caring nor pastoral. Only what is true can ultimately be pastoral. The neglect of the Church’s position prevents homosexual men and women from receiving the care they need and deserve.”
Cardinal Carlo Martini:
ROME, March 27, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Cardinal Carlo Martini, who at the conclave of 2005 was a favorite of ‘social justice’ Catholics to be elected Pope, has penned a book wherein he supports homosexual relationships. The powerful Cardinal who was Archbishop of Milan until his retirement in 2002 at age 75, now lives in Jerusalem and suffers from Parkinson’s disease.Hey, it looks like they are all 'coming out' now Fr. Martin.
Given Cardinal Martini’s prominence in the Catholic Church (some sources suggest that he had quite a few votes to become Pope in the 2005 conclave) his statements on homosexuality point to a powerful counter-ideology that has made significant inroads into the Church’s teaching on the matter of homosexuality. It is an ideology or theology that was warned about already in 1986 by Martini’s contemporary Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.
In his newly released book, Credere e conoscere (Faith and Understanding), Cardinal Martini posits his disagreement with the Catholic teaching against homosexual civil unions. “I disagree with the positions of those in the Church, that take issue with civil unions,” he wrote. “It is not bad, instead of casual sex between men, that two people have a certain stability*” and that the “state could recognize them.” - LSN
*Not all that stable... just ask Dan Savage... Married with infidelities.
To be fair, his argument seems to be less a principled rejection of Church teaching and more utilitarian "well the kids are doing it anyway" kind of argument.
ReplyDeleteHe's not *wrong* to say that a committed gay relationship is better than promiscuous random gay sex, but that doesn't make it "okay", any more than a committed cohabiting couple is doing the right thing because they aren't hitting the clubs for hook-ups.
It's sort of like the question "is it okay to use a condom if you're committing adultery?"
... stepping stones to radical change ?
ReplyDelete... adds to the confusion of families, young children and teens, and sorely tests those who have been living by the teachings that they have been told are just and for their salvation ...
... go figure
You might be interested in this debate between Luke Timothy Johnson and Eve Tushnet, if you haven't seen it already.
ReplyDeletehttp://commonwealmagazine.org/homosexuality-church-1
Tushnet, a lesbian, defends the Church's teaching.
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ReplyDeleteI'm just amazed that anyone would be surprised by such a thing.. (I'm shaking my head). I remember long ago reading that this cardinal was "papabile". I remember the Daughters of St Paul peddling his writings. People we need to get our heads out of the sand. 40 years I've listened to justifications for positions that are lacking a Sensus Catholicus from people in authority with the Church.
ReplyDeleteServus - me too - for 40 years this has been going on - 40 years. It's not getting better but worse. In 40 years we have finally arrived at the point where people are ready to accept gay marriage - because prelates like this guy says give 'em what they want.
ReplyDeleteLikewise - I have rarely ever encountered a gay couple who does not allow for some sort of infidelity or sharing their bed with a third party on occasion or on a regular basis. Not to forget that the use of pornography to enhance sex life is a norm.
Is this Cardinal at all interested in the salvation of souls? Or the proper training of children?
As the priest who witnessed our marriage said, and I think Bishop Sheen would agree, the laity always bring the Church back. So let us continue slogging on (and sometimes slugging on).
ReplyDeleteTerry,
ReplyDeleteI do not deny the "good intention" of such people. I question their understanding of the homosexual condition. This is the same line of reasoning that prevents the church approved Courage Apostolate from being established in dioceses instead of "Dignity sympathetic style ministries". This is the same reason that the "SOHO Masses" continue unabated in the archdiocese of Westminster. There are those in positions of authority in the Church who would rather not ruffle feathers, rock the boat and affirm people in their sins rather than speak up for Catholic truth. THe crisis in the Church is a crisis of bishops.
The crisis is not simply lack of knowledge and courage to promote/defend the basic tenets of basic Judeo-Christian ethics. The real crisis is the progressive errosion and complete loss of faith for more than 50 - 70 years starting from the very heart of the Catholic Church, the high ranking clergy all the way down to the average Joe, the 98 - 99%
ReplyDeletewell, these OLD guys are dying out and might have made a descent showing in the last few decades but trust me, the seminaries and convents have corrected themselves and the up and coming religious are more conservative than ever...Thank God
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