Current Events: Vatican

[MaxPC]

Vatican’s Doctrinal Office: Catholic Church Cannot Give Blessings to Same-Sex Unions
Excellent explanation here from another Catholic news source and why this topic needs to be addressed yet again. I have been asked to explain this current event from a Catholic perspective. I shall attempt to clarify some of the key passages from the article and also offer apologies for the length of this post.

The quoted passages are in italics.
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican- ... sex-unions

In an accompanying note, the doctrine [sic] (doctrinal) office explained that blessings are sacramentals, and “consequently, in order to conform with the nature of sacramentals, when a blessing is invoked on particular human relationships, in addition to the right intention of those who participate, it is necessary that what is blessed be objectively and positively ordered to receive and express grace, according to the designs of God inscribed in creation, and fully revealed by Christ the Lord.”

“Therefore, only those realities which are in themselves ordered to serve those ends are congruent with the essence of the blessing imparted by the Church,” the CDF said.

Church-speak translation
In essence, for the blessing to be licit and allowed, two factors are key:
-the “right intention” of those receiving the blessing for the relationship and

-the relationship itself which must be “ordered”, i.e. the relationship is in obedience and compliance with Biblical teaching and the Early Church Fathers.

The Catholic Church sees its incumbent mission to teach what the Bible and the Early Church Fathers teach. It will continue to uphold that teaching in regards to the administration of blessings and the sacraments.

“For this reason, it is not licit to impart a blessing on relationships, or partnerships, even stable, that involve sexual activity outside of marriage (i.e., outside the indissoluble union of a man and a woman open in itself to the transmission of life), as is the case of the unions between persons of the same sex.”

Church-speak translation
If the relationship is homosexual or other status that does not follow the Biblical teaching of marriage between one man and one woman, then it is not a marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church. It is therefore sex outside of marriage and is not licit for receiving any blessing (formal approval and the sacramental).

+++

After lengthy discussions and Biblical study, this was settled definitively in 2003:
"The CDF explained in 2003 that “the Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions.”

Church-speak translation

Respect does not equal approval of those things that are taught against by the Bible. It means the Catholic Church respects the free will choice of individuals as God does. It does not mean that the Catholic Church will approve what God condemns as abomination.

The Church will welcome any person who gives up the disordered (non-Biblical) lifestyle but they must continue to remain chaste and to never again pursue that disordered life.

The words, “Go, and sin no more,” can be gut-wrenchingly difficult, but they are transformative.

Precisely. Too often the forgiveness factor is emphasised but there is always that second aspect to Jesus’ directive: "sin no more" (John 8:11).

God judges the individual based upon the individual’s choices. The Catholic Church upholds God’s teaching and expects the individual to seek complete conversion of the heart.

If the person chooses to ignore the stated teachings and their stated consequences then the person himself draws down God's judgment upon himself. The Catholic Church will not enable nor approve self-destructive behavior.
E.g. Children. A child is told repeatedly to avoid the hot oven door and to not touch it as it will burn him. The child ignores the instruction and chooses to touch the door, thus burning himself. Is it the fault of the instruction or the oven? Or is it the fault of the child?
The oven is hot - Truth.
The child ignores the instructions that the oven is hot - free will.
The child touches the oven and is burned. Consequences/judgment.
Free Will and the consequences of choices are a part of the complete and entire concept/definition of judgment in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

+++

"The call for liturgical blessings of same-sex unions is part of a wider push by some German bishops to change the Church’s teaching on a number of issues, including on the sacraments of priestly ordination and marriage."

The reason all of this has come up again is because of the rumblings coming from some of the German bishops. They are in a bit of a panic. Not all of the German bishops but some.They are beguiled into thinking that allowing secular lifestyles, fads and culture will increase attendance as well as membership. Of course as we have seen in other congregations, this is one of satan’s lies.

So as it does, the Vatican is making it clear yet again that nothing has changed regarding Catholic teaching and that this dogma is a Biblical mandate that cannot change: therefore all parishes and dioceses are required to obey this teaching. If they choose to disobey this teaching they incur excommunication upon themselves.

My POV:
EVERY DENOMINATION AND GROUP has had rebellious leadership and members at some point in its history. Those who are rebellious and apostate first attempt to change the groups' Biblical teachings. In those groups whose leaders and members are strongly anchored in the Bible, this attempt fails and the rebels leave.

In those groups who are not anchored in the Bible and with weak leadership and members, the attempt succeeds and the group thus falls prey to every shifting sand of society.

A continuation of the news out of Germany:
German Catholics and Protestants pursue intercommunion despite Vatican objections

[temporal1]

Page 1:

Max:
.. After lengthy discussions and Biblical study, this was settled definitively in 2003:

"The CDF explained in 2003 that “the Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behavior or to legal recognition of homosexual unions.” ..

Page 2:

Max:
A continuation of the news out of Germany:
German Catholics and Protestants pursue intercommunion despite Vatican objections

i’m continuing to mull your first post over.
(this is not the first time you’ve referred to the “definitive” statement on forum).

but for the political bloc/cult, for those who worship self as god, there is no definitive outside themselves.
they scorn, if not laugh, at the concept. these men claim to be Christian, Catholic, first carefully removing Jesus Christ from the equation. they insist God glory with them in their sin.

submission and obedience are not for them.
they choose PRIDE, with gaudy flags (no coincidence, blasphemy of God’s creation).

it could not be more sad. or more destructive. world-wide destruction. tragic.

they delight in themselves/their earthly power. God is greater.

[temporal1]

Cancer research.

“Vatican Hospital makes important breakthrough in cancer research”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-c ... pment.html

This new discovery opens the way to therapies that block the defense system of diseased cells.
After decades of research and many hypotheses, it closes the circle on the mechanisms of the cell cycle, the process through which cells, including cancer cells, mature and proliferate.

Researchers at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital and the University of Rome "Tor Vergata", in collaboration with other European and U.S. research centres, have discovered the missing piece: what regulates the life of Cyclin D, an essential molecule in cell division.

The switch that turns the activity of Cyclin D on and off is a protein called Amber1: when it does not work it triggers a process that leads to the rapid formation of many types of cancer.

The discovery opens the way to specific therapies that inhibit the defense system of the diseased cells up to their self-destruction.

The results of the study supported by AIRC, have just been published in the scientce magazine Nature. .. ..

[silentreader]

Scientism, today's religion

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/forme ... d-response

[temporal1]

Scientism, today's religion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/forme ... d-response

i will read.
before beginning, i believe there is a stark difference between science and scientism.
i’m interested in this article.

[temporal1]

2022: UKRAINE

“Pope Francis appeals for Easter truce in Ukraine”
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news ... ppeal.html

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco ... gelus.html

POPE FRANCIS
ANGELUS
Saint Peter's Square
Palm Sunday, 10 April 2022

[Multimedia]

Dear brothers and sister,

Before concluding this Celebration, I would like to greet all of you, in particular, the pilgrims from various countries, among whom are numerous young people. I wish all of you a good Holy Week, even to those who are connected through the media.

I am near to the dear people of Peru, who are experiencing a difficult moment of social tension. I am accompanying you with prayer and I encourage all parties to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of the country, especially of the poorest, respecting the rights of everyone and of the institutions.

In a moment, we will turn to the Blessed Mother with the Angelus Prayer. It was the Angel of the Lord himself who said to Mary in the Annunciation: “Nothing is impossible for God.” Nothing is impossible for God. He can even bring an end to a war whose end is not in sight, a war that daily places before our eyes heinous massacres and atrocious cruelty committed against defenseless civilians. Let us pray about this.

We are in the days preceding Easter. We are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death – over sin and death – not over someone and against someone else. But today, there is a war. Because there is something to be won this way, according to the way of the world? This is only the way to lose. Why not allow Him to win? Christ bore his cross to free us from the dominion of evil. He died so that life, love, peace might reign.

Let the weapons be put down! Let the Easter truce begin. But not to provide more weapons and pick up the combat again – no! – a truce that will lead to peace, through real negotiation that is even disposed to some sacrifice for the good of the people. In fact, what victory is there in planting a flag on a pile of rubble?

Nothing is impossible for God. We entrust this to Him through the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

[temporal1]

Bishop strips middle school of Catholic status for flying BLM and gay pride flags
https://www.ncronline.org/news/politics ... ride-flags

Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, Massachusetts, has stripped a Jesuit middle school for disadvantaged boys of its official Catholic status, after the institution flew flags representing the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride movements.

In an official decree released June 16, McManus declared that Nativity School of Worcester may not use the title "Catholic" to describe itself and that Mass and the sacraments can no longer be celebrated on its premises.

Under the decree, which the bishop said is effective immediately, Nativity is also not permitted to sponsor any liturgies in a church building or chapel within the diocese. The school will also no longer be listed or advertised in the diocesan directory. McManus said Nativity cannot undertake any fundraising activities that involve diocesan institutions. He also ordered the school to remove retired Worcester Bishop Daniel Reilly from its board of trustees.

In his decree, McManus insisted that Nativity's decision to continue flying the Black Lives Matter and pride flags despite his objections had sent a "mixed, confusing and scandalous message to the public about the Church's stance on these important moral and social issues."

"Despite my insistence that the school administration remove these flags because of the confusion and the properly theological scandal that they do and can promote, they refuse to do so. This leaves me no other option but to take canonical action," McManus wrote.

In a prepared statement posted on the school website, Nativity School President Thomas McKenney said the school will appeal the bishop's decree through the Catholic Church's "appropriate channels." He also said the school will continue to display the Black Lives Matter and pride flags "to give visible witness to the school's solidarity with our students, families, and their communities."

"Commitment to our mission, grounded and animated by Gospel values, Catholic social teaching, and our Jesuit heritage compels us to do so," McKenney said.

Nativity began flying the pride and BLM flags in January 2021 after its students — the majority of whom are people of color — called on school leaders to show support for making their community more just and inclusive, McKenney said.

"These flags simply state that all are welcome at Nativity and this value of inclusion is rooted in Catholic teaching," McKenney said.

However, the school's position did not satisfy McManus, an outspoken conservative prelate who in his 18 years as a bishop in central Massachusetts has clashed with local Catholic colleges over matters pertaining to abortion rights and gender identity.

In March, McManus told Nativity to remove the flags or risk losing the right to call itself a Catholic school. Later that month, McKenney said, someone tore the school's flags down, an act of vandalism that he said " caused harm to our entire community."

While restating church teachings that prohibit unjust discrimination and call for respect toward LGBTQ persons, McManus said in his decree that it was his "contention" that the pride flag represents support of gay marriage and "actively living a LGBTQ+ lifestyle."

Regarding Black Lives Matter, the bishop suggested that the phrase has been coopted to promote a platform "that directly contradicts Catholic social teaching on the importance and role of the nuclear family and seeks to disrupt the family structure in clear opposition to the teachings of the Catholic Church." ..

.. In recent weeks, the bishop's criticisms have rankled many in and outside Worcester, including Guillermo Creamer, Jr., a member of the Worcester Human Rights Commission who is gay and graduated from Nativity in 2008.

"The reality is that it's unfortunate the bishop has decided to play this game, because that's what this is, it's a game," said Creamer, who accused the bishop of engaging in theatrics to appeal to conservative Catholics.

"I believe the bishop doesn't really stand for what Catholic values are, especially the Catholic values I was taught growing up," Creamer said.

Marianne Duddy-Burke, the executive director of DignityUSA, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that advocates for LGBTQ rights within the Catholic Church, described the bishop's decree as "a shameful denial of the Gospel."

"This is a blatant move to position the Worcester diocese, and the larger Catholic church, as aligned with a certain side in the U.S. culture wars. This move is certain to horrify the large majority of Catholics who support LGBTQ+ equality," Duddy-Burke said in a prepared statement.

Since its founding in 2003 as an independent Jesuit school, Nativity has educated students from disadvantaged backgrounds in grades five through eight. Families pay a $250 activity fee, but no tuition.

According to the school's website, nearly half its 61 students this past academic year were Black, 33% were Hispanic, 20% were multiracial and 2% were white. As a multicultural school, McKenney said the flags represent "the inclusion and respect of all people." He said the past few months of controversy have been "galvanizing" for the school community.

Said McKenney, "Nativity is stronger than ever because of the understanding and support of its amazing community members, benefactors and — most of all — students and their families."

[temporal1]

A recent thread on communion:

“Archbishop Cordileone bars Nancy Pelosi from Communion until she ends abortion support”
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4760

A related thread:

American Secular Religion
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3949

[temporal1]

Cardinal McElroy criticizes EWTN, says San Diego Diocese won't publish content
https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/cardi ... sh-content

San Diego Cardinal Robert McElroy sharply criticized the Eternal Word Television Network, the conservative Catholic U.S. media conglomerate, in an interview with Spanish magazine Vida Nueva published on March 24.

Vida Nueva asked McElroy about the decision of newly installed Bishop Fernando Prado of San Sebastián, Spain, to ban diocesan television from carrying content produced by EWTN. Prado wrote that he made the decision "trying to support the communion of the diocese with the Successor of Peter."

"I would not have EWTN on diocesan media either," McElroy responded.

"EWTN worries me because it represents a giant of economic and cultural power connected to a religious viewpoint that is fundamentally critical of the pope," the cardinal said.

"The main anchors of the channel constantly minimize the abilities and theological knowledge of Francis, cite Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò's slander of the pope and try to move the world away from the reforms the pope is signaling," said McElroy.

Viganò, a former Vatican ambassador to the U.S., has called on Francis to resign the papacy.

McElroy said that Francis has encountered so much opposition because of his "intention of completing the work of the Second Vatican Council," as well as his "constant inclusion of the experiences and spiritual points of view of the Global South at the center of the life of the church."

In the U.S., McElroy said that this opposition is exacerbated by Catholics' worries that "the pope is open to exploring paths of pastoral action in the church that are not prohibited by existing doctrinal formulations."

"Francis' attention is centered on the life of the believer in its complexity and on how the Gospel and the tradition of the church can apply in an effective and compassionate way to the lives of those who struggle ardently to draw close to God and follow his path in the midst of so many challenges," said McElroy.

This focus of Francis "doesn't have the clarity and security that many have come to trust in their understanding of the faith," said McElroy. "But it does incarnate the pastoral method of the same Lord who calls us to draw close to each person first with a loving embrace, then with help and healing, and after with the call to conversion and to change." .. ..

text continues ..

P.4 / Nordic bishops ..
viewtopic.php?t=1519&start=30