Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco told LifeSiteNews that during their January 27 ad limina visit, the pope said, in the words of the archbishop, that “civil unions between two people of the same sex can never be marriage. As long as this is respected, civil unions that give access to government benefits can be acceptable.”
However, to regard homosexual civil unions as acceptable contradicts Catholic teaching, notably reaffirmed in the 1986, 1992 and 2003 documents issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and approved by Pope Saint John Paul II.
The 2003 letter “Considerations regarding proposals to give legal recognition to unions between homosexual persons” reiterates that homosexual acts go against the natural moral law and that “[t]here 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 Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions,” it points out.
Moreover, where “homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty,” the document asserts….
The above comes from a Feb. 3 story on LifeSitenews.
+Cordileone is right, but now we are running Church 2.0 with Merciful Update. He shouldn’t stick to that obsolete software but upgrade to the bright new system.
If this proves to be true in some sort of papal statement on the matter, how is it that a Pope can contradict not only previous Popes, but, even more importantly, the long-standing, even ancient, tradition and witness of the Church (and the Jews before us)?
How can we approve of or legitimize sinful behavior (whether heterosexual or homosexual, sexual or otherwise)?
(It seems some often treat sexual sins differently than other sins. Should the Church recognize or somehow acknowledge, without condemning, institutionalized, “legal” slavery, racism or the exploitation of workers?)
God will judge each person with both mercy and justice. That is not our “job.” But, asking the Church to “recognize” or somehow approve of something contrary to the the teachings of Christ and natural law seems inappropriate.
Let’s love our brothers and sisters with same-sex attraction enough to lovingly speak the truth to them. It is the Truth, Who sets us all free. (John 8:32, 14:6)
Since the Church condemns all immoral sexual activity, I suspect that the Pope’s statement is in support of cheating welfare systems. What perplexes me, though, is that this is also immoral. I’m confused.
The Holy Father is probably correct in his approach.
David,
If you’re talking about the internal forum where there could be a plethora of unique mitigating factors in play, I might be able to agree with you.
If you’re talking about public pronouncements in the external forum, the Pope would be placing souls at grave risk and be guilty of pastoral incompetence.
The Pope needs to re-read the famous Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah– and preach a good sermon on it!
I’m sorry, but Pope Francis is not in conjunction with the Church.
Archbishop Cordileone, did you remind Pope Francis, “The Church teaches that respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual behaviour or to legal recognition of homosexual unions,”
It is from LIfeSiteNews. There is no documentation. They just say that Archbishop Cordileone told them that. It does not say when or why or where. Could be true or not true.
Maybe CCD can contact AB Cordileone or Gomez or Bishop Barron or one of the other bishops in attendence and verify? Or someone from his diocese? I don’t have social media but maybe someone else here does.
“…during their January 27 ad limina visit, the pope said…”
That should answer some of your questions.
No article on the ad limina visit that I can find online mentions it.
“Access to government benefits”. Please add this to the list of mitigating circumstances for moral lapses ( previously called sins, considered obsolete usage.)
No, Archbishop, the Pope cannot say this under any set of circumstances, and, if he did, then you cannot teach it in your Archdiocese. Such words are a stalking horse for homosexual marriage, as every society where it has been tried demonstrates. Further, and more to the point, homosexual sex is a mortal sin, and one crying out to Heaven for vengeance.
Stand up, Archbishop, and say, “whatever the Pope meant, it cannot mean that we condone, or support, in any way, homosexual unions, however described, or why ever entered into.
It seems the Pope has forbidden the James Martins of this world from going through the front door, but quietly opened the side and back doors for him and those of like mind. With acceptance of civil unions comes the (un?)intended consequence of acceptance of homosexual acts. The dam is finally breached, the genie out of the bottle, the Church sows to the wind. The next tree to be blown down will be Humanae Vitae. And with all this the Church will reap the whirlwind.
HI.
Question for everyone. What did Jesus Christ say about this issue? Show me a verse from the Gospels where he even mentioned this issue. Love One Another. A New Commandment I give onto you. Love one another as I have loved you. Perhaps we need to read again the Gospels and ask ourselves, what did our Lord and Savior say about this issue. May it be so. Peace.
Doug, what did Jesus ever say about racism, pollution, drunken driving, arson, smoking, human trafficking, phone scams, credit card fraud, universal healthcare or foot binding?
As you say, “Show me a verse from the Gospels.”
First century rabbis were not discussing “civil unions” for those engaging in homosexual behavior.
May it not be so. Peace out.
Doug,
Jesus condemned sexual immorality on multiple occasions. Further, when he spoke those words, homosexual acts were considered to be gravely immoral.
Also, there are four meanings of love, but only one word for love in English. When Jesus spoke of love, he was referring to agape love. He then went on to show what agape love looks like on the cross. Jesus did’t speak about eros love.
Matthew 5:17-20 is Jesus’ teaching on the Law.
Now also, as Catholics we have Tradition as well as Scripture. They are from the same Source. .The Catholic Church teaches that contracting a civil marriage is a mortal sin.
To love one another as Jesus has loved us…Jesus told us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is Perfect. Matthew 5:48
Matthew 15:18 -20 Jesus gives us a list of those things which defile: evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy.
Many today, have not grown up with correct teaching on Christisn Morality! The Pope needs to be a good teacher for all, on this subject! Marriage is a holy Sacrament, in which one man and one woman are joined together for life, and bring forth children, in cooperation with God’s Plan– this teaching is found in Genesis. Marriage is the correct place of sex. Sacred Scripture teaches us that the body is a holy temple, in which we worship God. We must love God, and always strive to see Christ in others, and must never defile our bodies and souls, with sexual sin. One must never commit unnatural acts of sex perversion — an abomination, before God! St. Paul has stern warnings against all sexual sins! There is a correct place for all things that God has created– the Marriage Bed is sacred! Christ was a devout Jew, and the Son of God. He taught the Jewish teaching on Marriage, and preached about Marriage also, in the Sermon on the Mount. Everyon must obey these teachings!
What will the Pope have to say, in his final document on the Amazon Synod– which will come out, soon?? Another disaster for us all to get through?? Looking forward to reading the book by Cardinal Sarah and Pope Benedict! Cardinal Sarah says the priesthood may be “in mortal danger!” May God bless our Church!
I’ve been sitting with this article for a few days before commenting. I’m confused. The discussins in the ad limina visit are supposed to be confidential, or at least I thought. Why is Cordileone disclosing ANYTHING about what was discussed? And if I’m wrong and he is allowed to disclose, why would he choose to do so? Is he in agreement with the Holy Father? Is he trying to embarrass the Holy Father? Is he saying that same sex partners shuoldn’t be eligible to be covered in the health benefits of their spouse, or to be denied housing or other benefits of being in a relationship? The whole idea of civil partnerships is to sustain each other in times of difficulty and need, so that the partners do not become a burden on the rest of society. Is the Archbishop suggesting that it would be better for the Church to provide health care and housing for LGBT people rather than ask partners to look after each others’ needs? So far, I haven’t seen him propose any health care offerings for gay people. Have you?
YFC, there is no verification that the Archbishop said this. Or that Pope Francis said this. You could do us all a favor if you have social media and try to find out from him or one of the other bishops if it is true. Let us know.
I never heard that ad limina discussions are confidential. I don’t think that is true.