According to a translation by Catholic News Service, the pope said in an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that “matrimony is between a man and a woman” but that moves to “regulate diverse situations of cohabitation [are] driven by the need to regulate economic aspects among persons, as for instance to assure medical care.”
Pope Francis has signaled that the Catholic Church may tolerate some forms of same-sex civil unions, though he affirmed the Church’s opposition to gay marriage.
According to a translation by Catholic News Service, the pope said in an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that “matrimony is between a man and a woman” but that moves to “regulate diverse situations of cohabitation [are] driven by the need to regulate economic aspects among persons, as for instance to assure medical care.”
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The A&E network's suspension of "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson for comments regarding homosexuality constitutes a form of close-minded muzzling that is unhelpful in a pluralistic society, lead Southern Baptist ethicist Russell D. Moore said. The president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission reacted to A&E's Wednesday (Dec. 18) announcement that it had suspended Robertson indefinitely for comments he made in an interview with GQ magazine. The network's statement seemed to indicate the action was taken because of his description of homosexual behavior as sinful. Pastor Rick Warren spoke a line to CNN's Piers Morgan that has resonated with people who, like him, have tried repeatedly to explain why they won't change their stance to support same-sex marriage. "I fear the disapproval of God more than I fear your disapproval or the disapproval of society," Warren, of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., told the host of "Piers Morgan Live." Warren appeared on the show amid a media blitz for his new book "The Daniel Plan" about getting healthy for the glory of God, but his stand for biblical marriage continues to draw attention. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing a Christian photographer asked the U.S. Supreme Court Friday to reverse a New Mexico Supreme Court decision that required her to abandon her freedom as the “price of citizenship.” On Aug. 22, the New Mexico high court upheld a decision against Elane Photography after its co-owner, Elaine Huguenin, declined to use her artistic expression to communicate the story of a same-sex ceremony. A concurrence accompanying the opinion concluded that Huguenin and her co-owner, husband Jonathan, “now are compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives,” adding “it is the price of citizenship.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan is certainly right when he says that Pope Francis “wants to shake us [Catholics] up.” But is he doing more harm than good? Among his most quoted recent statements are: “I see the church as a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol and about the level of his blood sugars. You have to heal his wounds. Then we can talk about everything else.” And, “The most important thing is the first proclamation: Jesus Christ has saved you. And the ministers of the Church must be ministers of mercy above all.” With the stroke of a pen on Monday, California became the first state to enshrine rights for transgender students in state law – setting the stage, say pro-family leaders, for young girls to be molested in school locker rooms by boys who believe they are girls. Without comment, California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday signed into law a bill (AB 1266) strengthening the rights of transgender students (K-12) in the state’s public schools. It makes the Golden State the first state in the nation to allow participation in “sex-segregated programs, activities, and facilities” in public schools based on a student's gender identity. Pope Francis: 'Whom am I to Judge?' Secular Media Twists Compassion into Approval for Gay Lifestyle7/31/2013 On the plane back from Brazil's World Youth Day, Pope Francis conversed with journalists on a broad range of subjects. The next morning, his statement, "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" was reported by leading media outlets as a signal for change within the Catholic Church. Generally ignored was the pontiff's reiteration that the Church teaches that homosexual acts are a sin. "This is yet another example of the mainstream media being utterly incompetent when reporting on matters of religion," says Al Kresta, author of the new book, Dangers to the Faith: Recognizing Catholicism's 21st Century Opponents and host of Ave Maria Radio's "Kresta in the Afternoon." Pastors are supposed to be protected from anti-discrimination laws if they preach against homosexuality or refuse to perform same-gender civil union or marriage ceremonies. That may become a thing of the past at some point in the future. CBN's Brody File raised the question of that at the recent Pastors and Pews events in Des Moines, Iowa, and Texas Senator Ted Cruz points out that Norway, for example, has passed a law requiring pastors to perform same sex wedding ceremonies. The General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has joined with several other oldline Protestant denominations in embracing sexual orientation and gender identity as specially affirmed categories in the church. At their meeting July 13-17 in Orlando, Florida, the church's governing body passed a resolution listing sexual orientation and gender identity alongside race, age and other categories to which the denomination is "striving to become a people of grace and welcome." Britain has legalized homosexual “marriage” after Queen Elizabeth II gave her royal stamp of approval. The queen, who heads the Church of England, gave her assent Wednesday – the day after the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales cleared Parliament. It clears the way for same-sex marriages to begin next summer in both civil and religious ceremonies. But the law was written in a way that allowed the Church of England – which is opposed – to sidestep the controversy since it is explicitly barred from conducting same-sex marriages. |
Walter Blackwood
Associate Pastor with The Bridge Community of Faith in Kelowna BC Canada. Archives
May 2017
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