Harpy

looks like JP is spreading his message of universal love and tolerance again.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3108349.stm

"There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family," the document says.

"Marriage is holy, while homosexual acts go against the natural moral law

Godless Dave

Well look at it from the church's point of view. If gay men can get married, how is the church supposed to recruit priests?

Ad Astra

"I think it's important that the Vatican devote itself to preventing progress at every turn," the Pope was overheard saying...

winstonjen

...while pedophile priests can do whatever the hell they like.

MzNeko

Well, I said this on another board, but I may as well repeat it here.

What bugs me is that the Pope isn't just forbidding same-sex marriages to Catholics - he's trying to dictate this to EVERYBODY by interfering with secular law.

If the Catholic Church doesn't want to bless same-sex marriages, that's fine and dandy, that's what religious freedom is about. If the Southern Baptist Church feels the same way, fine, whatever. Same for any other religious organization.

Heck, as I understand it, according to some religions, ANY marriage that doesn't take place under the auspices of their particular Church doesn't REALLY count to them - as in, if you and your spouse join up after your marriage, it is strongly recommended that you remarry "in the faith".

HOWEVER, when it comes to marriage as recognized by the government it's NO Church's danged business. If the Pope wants to tell Catholics who they can marry, go right ahead - But I'm not Catholic, neither is my neighbor, neither are the guys down the street. Who any non-Catholics marry isn't the Catholic Church's concern.

That's my opinion anyway.

streamline

This coming from a group in ridiculous outfits who are almost entirely composed of gay (and troubled) men.

And I'd love to see a rigorous defense of this so-called "natural moral law." How is it discerned by the moral agent? Of what is its origin? Is it of immutable character amidst a fluid and evolving [sic] nature? Does the Pope drool all over himself in his sleep, or do they just revive him for each public appearance with a high-voltage electrical shock?

kkholiday

Are you trying to be humerous, or do you have stats to back that up? Did I just miss a joke here, or what?

Holiday

Bluenose

I forget where I read an article on gay priests [might have been the Sunday NY Times mag], but a Jesuit priest claimed he was heterosexual and an oppressed minority.

kkholiday

So, the Roman Catholic priesthood is " almost entirely comprised of gay and troubled men" as proven by the anecdotal evidence of one guy who feels different than his colleagues.

Call me a skeptic, but this just doesn't do it for me.

streamline

Yes, you missed the joke.

Stats, no, but I also read that article on gay priests .. not to mention, constantly encountering jokes (I didn't miss 'em) and references about so many Catholic priests being gay, from The Sopranos to indie films. Oh, and a roommate of mine in college had a gay cousin who dropped out of Seminary -- bad case of losing his religion -- and said cousin told us of the large numbers of fellow gays he encountered and/or heard about who made careers of the Catholic church.