The Pope affirmed Catholic teaching yesterday:
Pope Benedict said Monday that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behaviour was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.
The Church “should also protect man from the destruction of himself. A sort of ecology of man is needed,” the pontiff said in a holiday address to the Curia, the Vatican’s central administration.
“The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less.”
The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are
Considering the first line I was waiting for a direct quote concerning homosexuality. Maybe the author didn’t include it because the Pope didn’t make one:
Benedict XVI stands accused today of ecclesiastical gay-bashing. When I was woken up very early this morning by a radio station looking for a quote, I was given the impression that he’d given a speech saying homosexuals were as big a threat to the planet as climate change.
That would have been an own goal, I admit. But look at the text of the Pope’s speech to the Curia and he doesn’t even come close to saying that. The point Benedict is making is that God’s plan for creation encompasses both stewardship of the planet and the expression of human sexual relations within (and only within) marriage.
Nowhere in his speech does he say that “homosexuaity” is a sin, because that’s not Catholic teaching.
None the less the long knives are out:
“When you have religious leaders like that making that sort of statement then followers feel they are justified in behaving in an aggressive and violent way because they feel that they are doing God’s work in ridding the world of these people.”
Her views were echoed by the Reverend Dr Giles Fraser, the vicar of Putney and president of Inclusive Church, the pro-gay Anglican movement. “I thought the Christmas angels said ’Fear not’. Instead, the Pope is spreading fear that gay people somehow threaten the planet. And that’s just absurd … Can’t he think of something better to say at Christmas?”
Pam Spaulding, a leading lesbian blogger from the United States, was even more direct. She said: “The Prada Papa Ratzi opens his trap again, and the homophobia stinks like trash piled up during a NYC garbage strike.”
If you want to read the actual text of the speech it is available in German and Italian here, but not in English. A babel fish translation is here but it seems a tad iffy to me so feel free to use your own translator.
Lets cut to the Chase: Regardless of what is done in other denominations the Pope is not going to change Church doctrine because you don’t like it. There is no requirement for anyone to be Catholic. There is no requirement for you to believe Catholic teaching. If you want a church that fits your beliefs there are plenty of denominations out there that tailor their beliefs to fill the collection plate. Or you can even form your own. If you don’t want to believe in any religion that is fine too. It’s all up to you. Feel free to critique, demonize, attack, belittle, ridicule, denounce and even hate the Church and proclaim it loudly for the rest of your life if you want to.
After that you’re on your own.
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