The following comes from a June 10 story on LifeSiteNews.com.
Secretary of State John Kerry wishes homosexuals around the world a “Happy Pride Month.” That was the message conveyed in a recorded message released Friday to employees of the U.S. State Department, in which he outlined the bureaucracy’s robust approach to promoting homosexual advocacy throughout the world.
“I wanted to take a moment to join people around the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride month,” Kerry said in the message.
“This month is about the assertion of equality and dignity. It is about the affirmation of fundamental freedoms and human rights. It is about people taking pride in who they are, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. Protecting universal human rights is at the very heart of our diplomacy, and we remain committed to advancing human rights for all, including LGBT individuals. We are committed to advancing these rights not just in the month of June, but year-round.”
“As Secretary,” Kerry added, “I join with my colleagues at our embassies, consulates, and USAID missions around the world in saying, no matter where you are, and no matter who you love, we stand with you.
“Across the globe, in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas our diplomats are assisting local LGBT organizations and supporting local human rights advocates working to promote equality, create dialogue, and ensure protections for LGBT individuals.”
Kerry said that the State Department is working to increase the amount of money available for international homosexual advocacy.
“Through the Global Equality Fund, the State Department has already provided critical emergency and long-term assistance to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons in over twenty-five countries,” said Kerry. “And our support will continue to grow, in cooperation with other equality-minded governments, foundations and corporations.”
He quoted the president as saying that homosexual advocacy is “central” to the U.S. approach to human rights….
To read entire story, click here.
Maybe Kerry does lap dances at the Bohemian Grove meetings.
LOL LOL LOL
This is the same man that said, “I believe that life begins at conception but I support the right to choose.” He should have completed that sentence as to what he meant — to choose to kill your own child. This man will say anything, do anything for a vote. I am tired of the rich, like him, who are not rich in virtue, telling the poor in spirit what to do.
Thank you Anne. Yes, this is one sick puppy. And, as he was surrendering us during the Viet Nam war, he was calling us “baby killers.” But then liberals always call us what they actually are.
Amen! Scubby. Amen!
my brother served in vietnam and won the purple heart, kerry served our nation with courage and conviction if you did not serve in viet nam keep your mouth shut this is the inited states of america not some radical nation as many on this blog want to turn into
If the world wants to know why the Moslems hate America and call us ‘The Great Satan” this is the reason why. Our nation, or any nation has no right to dictate how another country treats its citizens. Especially when the United States is promoting sinful behavior, this is especially wicked. After WWII, Bavaria and the rest of Germany was bothered that the American soldiers had brought bubble gum to this conquered land. Unfortunately, instead of gum, blue jeans and rock music, today we are the major source of pornography, religious indifference, and moral depravity. Coming from a Catholic (in name only), this is especially scandalous. The bishops must excommunicate Kerry, as well as all other so called Catholics who who guilty of spreading Satan’s kingdom on earth. Instead of being the land of the free, and the home of the brave, the United States is becoming an evil empire bent of spreading gravely sinful ways to God-fearing nations. God will no longer bless or protect a nation which has mocked Him, but we can ask for His mercy, as that is the only thing that can help our once God-fearing nation.
Father Karl, Its never going to happen that a Bishop will excommunicate anyone. Unfortunately our Bishops are too afraid of looking ‘bad’ in the eyes of man.
Too afraid of taking political heat. Too afraid of suffering.
We all are helpless and truly weak in the light of things like this.
March 2, 3013 — CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Rev. Robert Marrone, who broke away from the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland after Bishop Richard Lennon closed his downtown church in 2010, has been excommunicated, according to a statement issued by the diocese Tuesday.
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 30, 2013 (Reuters) – The Catholic Church has excommunicated a Brazilian priest after he defended homosexuality, open marriage and other practices counter to Church teaching in online videos.
In a statement released late on Monday, the priest’s diocese said Father Roberto Francisco Daniel, known to local parishioners as Padre Beto, had “in the name of ‘freedom of expression’ betrayed the promise of fealty to the Church.”
List of people excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Church in the 21st century:
Members of multiple organizations in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska were excommunicated by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz in March 1996 for promoting positions he deemed “totally incompatible with the Catholic faith”. The organizations include Call to Action, Catholics for a Free Choice, Planned Parenthood, the Hemlock Society, the Freemasons, and the Society of St. Pius X. The Vatican later confirmed the excommunication of Call to Action members in November 2006.
Emmanual Milingo, former archbishop of Lusaka, for consecrating four bishops without the papal mandate. Also excommunicated were those receiving consecration.
The Community of the Lady of All Nations for heretical teachings and beliefs after a six-year investigation. The declaration was announced by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on September 12, 2007.
Fr. Dale Fushek (also laicized by Pope Benedict XVI 02/2010) and Fr. Mark Dippre. Former Priests were issued a Decree of Excommunication by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted for operating “an opposing ecclesial community” in direct disobedience to orders to refrain from public ministry.
Fr. Marek Bozek (since laicized by Pope Benedict XVI), and the lay parish board members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in St. Louis, Missouri in December 2005 were declared guilty of the ecclesiastical crime of schism by then-Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke. Their excommunication was ratified by the Vatican in May 2008. Four of the parish board members have since reconciled with the Church.
The Archbishop of Olinda and Recife in Brazil, Jose Cardoso Sobrinho, announced the automatic excommunication of the mother and doctors of a nine-year-old girl who had an abortion after being raped and impregnated by her stepfather, who was not excommunicated.
Sr. Margaret McBride, a nun, for allowing an abortion. McBride later reconciled with the church and is no longer living in a state of excommunication.
All the Catholics and legislators who promoted the abortion law in Uruguay.
Fr. Roy Bourgeois (also laicized and dismissed from the Maryknoll Fathers) for participating in the ordination of a woman.
Fr. Robert Marrone, by Bishop Richard Gerard Lennon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland in Cleveland, Ohio for violating the terms of his leave of absence. Marrone set up a worshipping community (the Community of St. Peter’s) in a vacant warehouse and outside of a Catholic building or church after St. Peter’s Parish in Cleveland was closed (it has since been reopened), in defiance of the bishop .
Fr. Roberto Francisco Daniel, known by local community as “Father Beto”, by Bishop Caetano Ferrari, from Bauru, Brazil. Daniel was excommunicated because he refused a direct order from his bishop to apologize for or retract his statement that love was possible between people of the same sex. The priest also said a married person who chose to have an affair, heterosexual or otherwise, would not be unfaithful as long as that person’s spouse allowed it.
Bwangi Kilonzo I’m praying for a miracle and hope that it will shock many….
“After WWII, Bavaria and the rest of Germany was bothered that the American soldiers had brought bubble gum to this conquered land.” Well, I just learned something today. I just read an article that said that the number of Nazi camps and prisons was much larger than previously thought. Under Hitler, Germany and much of Europe was cleansed of most of its Jewish population. Many Catholics also died as a result of Nazi terror, including over 2 million Polish Catholics. It is painful to me to realize that many of these Jewish people, Polish Catholics and others were murdered with the help of German Catholics. It is interesting that people who didn’t speak up when their neighbors were being murdered would be bothered by bubble gum.
PA no one, repeat no one is committing genocide against your precious fellow gays,, but you gays are committing genocide of our culture
Father Karl, I asked my dad about the bubble gum. He said that he got gum in his K-rations but it wasn’t bubble gum. My dad spent 6 months in Berlin at the end of WWII. He said that they got ration cards for more beer than one person could drink. From what he has told me, the German people were mostly nice to him. He said that Germany is a clean country.
Father Karl,
What bishops? Do you include O’Malley who is one of Pope Francis’s advisors, or how about Weakland, or Dolan?
May God have mercy on us!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
DISOBEDIENT and unfaithful Bishops (and their Priests) who refuse to do their job help spread: SACRILEGE, SCANDAL, HERESY, SCHISM and RELATIVISM within the Church.
They are complicit in these sins.
I agree MIKE & Fr. Karl.
Even Bishops and their Conferences must adhere to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”, and they sin when they do not do their job per the Code of Canon Law 915 & 1399.
CCC: ” 1868 Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them: . . . . .
– by not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
– by protecting evil-doers. “
When a bishop is so bad that he cannot even “adhere” to the CCC or canon law, then you’re dealing with one pathetic bishop. The Popes have called bishops to holiness, which is not a legal thing but a divine thing. Bishops who are holy do not have to be concerned with adhering to anything other than Jesus. Legalism does not make the Catholic Church function; holiness does.
In other words, it’s pointless to teach the law of the Church if there is no holiness. Interpretation of the law is empty without holiness. What you end up with can be exemplified today by looking at radical Islam, a legalist religion with sparse input of compassion, or Judaism and Catholic in name only politics with their abortion agendas, or Hinduism with its lack of social empathy due to total animistic confusion, or the far east with its man centered worship. In modern times it may even seem that the Protestants developed a more holy infused society than the Catholics, even though the Catholics have the Sacrment which unites man and God. And this would explain why so many Catholic bloggers opt for legalism instead of holiness, because there is not much holiness among the teachers of holiness, namely the bishops. Why would Popes be calling bishops to holiness if the situation were not dire? Abortion rampant, sodomy institutionalizing, large scale war on civilians underway, industrialized nations running into increasing energy scarcities. In the midst of all this global turmoil we hear or read the “small quiet voice of the Lord” commanding bishops to become holy … the response at best being historically weak and almost non existent.
I am reminded of this wonderful verse from John 21:25
“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.”
Abeca, thank you. The Bible verse you quoted is exactly why God gave His Church (the Magisterium) the authority to print Holy Scripture and author the CCC, GIRM, Code of Canon Law, etc.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven”. Mt 16:18-19.
Very Powerful. And all Catholics must obey in matters of Faith and Morals.
To guard against false teaching (wolves in sheeps clothing), the Magisterium has printed the Bible and the CCC.
The CCC is not magisterial, Paul.
Paul your comments from June 16, 2013 at 6:41 am. I thank you. Paul faith is not a book, it is not an instruction or how it must act or feel. The books are great tools and the word of God is far greater. I am on your side on being faithful but I get concerned on somethings on how those who preach the CCC and judging many as wolves in sheep’s clothing). I get concerned that some may be like the Jews who yelled “crucify him”…..after all the Jews thought Jesus was not following their law and preached heresies etc…..He came to save and many did not understand this but the humble of heart did.
But I do agree if one see’s then instead of reading foolish books..they should read the CCC and the bible. I can bet that God will give us saints who have faith, humility and goodness in their hearts that some will not have studied the CCC but are so close to Jesus heart that His love/graces move them.
You can not adhere to the teachings of Jesus and His Church unless you have read them, (or someone accurately reads them all to you on a regular basis).
Skai, someone has to teach you.
And teach Bishops so they can accurately pass on the Faith.
Since none of the Bishops or rest of us were around at the time of Jesus where do you think we get this knowledge?
Its from the written words in the Bible and the CCC.
What is your problem?
More than one US Bishop does not adhere to the Bible and the CCC.
“In this Year of Faith let us ask ourselves if we have actually taken a few steps to get to know Christ and the truths of faith more, by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, studying the Catechism, steadily approaching the Sacraments.” – Pope Francis, May 15, 2013.
” Being Christian is not just obeying orders but means being in Christ, thinking like him, acting like him, loving like him; it means letting him take possession of our life and change it, transform it and free it from the darkness of evil and sin. ” Pope Francis, General Audience, April 10, 2013.
If you do not remember what Christ said and did – you can not immitate Him, which is being Holy.
We learn about Christ through reading the Bible and the CCC.
Whether you like it or not Skai, Jesus gave tremendous power to His Church – Mt 16:18-19.
The Magisterium uses the Holy Scripture, the CCC and Code of Canon Law to teach. Even wonderful Bishops can not teach us all in person and individually.
We have a responsibility to read.
You don’t get it, MIKE. There were Catholics before the CCC. Catholics follow Jesus, Who is not a book. You evidently have read the CCC but do it an injustice by failing to understand the most basic doctrine of Catholicis, that Jesus is God. The CCC is not God, MIKE. I hope you’ve got someone to comfort you when it dawns on you, if it ever does.
Skai, of course Jesus is not a book. Not one person on this site has ever said that the CCC is GOD or is JESUS.
Why are you LYING?
Why are you committing calumny against me ?
Why are you disobedient to the instruction of Popes John Paul II, Benedict and Francis you have told us to study the CCC, so that we will know Christ better?
What is wrong with you, and why do you hate Holy Scripture and the CCC so much?
Why do you try to discourage others from studying the Bible and the CCC ?
Just answer all the questions and don’t play silly games.
Please learn to read prior to opening your big mouth.
What do you think about this quote from Pope Francis?
“In this Year of Faith let us ask ourselves if we have actually taken a few steps to get to know Christ and the truths of faith more, by reading and meditating on the Scriptures, studying the Catechism, steadily approaching the Sacraments.” – Pope Francis, May 15, 2013.
Skai, people have quoted our Popes to you, have told you over and over that we have been told by them to read Holy Scripture and the CCC, yet you do not listen.
YOU CAN NOT PROVE ONE PERSON EVER SAID the CCC ‘is’ JESUS.
I’m sure people are tired of explaining it to you. No one has ever said any book is God. It’s time you talk to a Priest you trust so he can explain what you do not understand. I’m sorry if I sound harsh, if you have a learning disability.
CCC: ” 81 Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.
And [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching.”
CCC: ” 95 “It is clear therefore that, in the supremely wise arrangement of God, sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium of the Church are so connected and associated that one of them cannot stand without the others. Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the one Holy Spirit, they all contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.”
Skai, please put your money where your lies are – show us one poster who said the CCC is God on this site.
Stop posting until you tell the truth, and never lie about anyone again.
PETE, you and OSCAR are doing what the Protestants do which is to presume that the way you interpret the Bible or in your case the CCC is exactly what Jesus is saying. This is the protestant error of denying the pope. If each of us could read the CCC and come up with the same interpretation, then we would not need a pope, would we? I’ve explained this issue a number of times, and neither one of you has risen to the occasion of engaging my argument … because you simply do not know how. Too bad.
Skai your comments from June 16, 2013 at 10:38 pm…I understand your frustrations. I wish they would engage with you more a fair charitable dialogue. Maybe then they may understand what you mean. I do admit though skai sometimes what you tried to convey did come off anti CCC but I tried to over look that because I know that you didn’t mean it that way…
This goes back to my thoughts, I knew that there were saints whom where persecuted by even their bishops or higher up because they felt that they weren’t living the law of the Catholic book….but what made them saints was that they did not always fit in to the hypocrisy of many in the church. They truly were close to Christ more than anyone can ever understand. The faith is never re-invented but it is raw and beautiful in Christ, always the same but shown to us in the way our Lord chooses.
We can’t deny though that those tools used in helping the student grow(we the students)…we can’t deny that it is important but not all the books can help if ones does not have a personal relationship with our Lord. We must live His passion in our own level, we must seek Him daily, invite Him daily in our lives, converse with Him, remain silent with Him etc etc….it is then when the CCC, the Holy scriptures etc will mean anything to us. Of course there are those who need to first discover Jesus through these tools and then grow from them.
There are many paths leading to the same, one and only and unchanging truth!
It’s time we all formed a brigade – we’ll call it “Stop Skai’s Lies Brigade”.
Every time he lies about someone, we’ll just have to stop him.
Now Skai, go stand in the corner, and say 50 times –
“No one has said or believes a book is Jesus. Pope Francis has instructed us to meditate on the Bible and study the CCC.”
It is really getting old that folks have to keep correcting you, and explaining the same things over and over and over.
OSCAR, you have yet to show that I have lied. What are you waiting for, darkness?
OSCAR says, “No one has said or believes a book is Jesus”: This claim shows that OSCAR has very little knowledge of what people do or say, and very little understanding of human nature. OSCAR is angry because he cannot come to terms with my arguments. OSCAR, you need to learn how to argue instead of posing sound bites and tantrums.
Skai,
So why did the Pope appoint the Kennedy apologist and canonizer to his commission?
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
I don’t know, Kenneth, but I would suspect it to be hostile pressure, intimidation. Pope Francis has called all the faithful to help rid the gay corruption from the Church including the curia. Pope Francis does not reside in the papal chambers, where an unusual death and spy activities have taken place. If he were English he might think it were haunted; if American he might think it to be wired. If Italian, a pope might think it to be less than a secure place to reside. Jesus often ducked the crowds and hid out, whether fully hid or partially hid. Popes are not required to live where custom would insist. But we have the committee published, curia supervised CCC just in case the popes and bishops are taken from us; for which OSCAR and MIKE can heartily rejoice. Gets me to wondering if the CCC committees published it just in case the popes were somehow isolated from the faithful; interesting plot for all the conspiracy theorists out there, huh? Coup d’tat: book replaces pope. After all, that is what the Protestants did, they replaced the pope with the Bible. But not to worry, because OSCAR and MIKE will step up and tell us what the CCC really says.
A Diocese Bishop’s job is to teach including by correcting and disciplining those who are obstinate in grave sin.
Any Bishop who wonders why the Church and society in the USA is so full of relativism (no true right or wrong) – should look examine his own conscience first – to find out if he has been doing his job.
1 Cor 5:9-13
No, they do not.
The Church is full of Relativism becouse its leadership is relativist and does not want to speak the truth.
Exactly what Pope Francis just said the other day, that the gay mafia is entrenched in the curia, and we need to get rid of them. Pope Francis is asking the faithful to help to this. Historically popes have asked the laity to help solve some desparate problem confronting the Church and the laity has always stepped up to the call, as it will this time. The days of sodomite bullying are coming to an end, just like they did in Sodom and Gomorrah when they attempted to gang rape the Angels of God.
Skai, Pope Francis has also told us to meditate on Holy Scripture, and study the CCC.
Dottie, are you aware that there is a difference between studying the CCC and worshiping it? Apparently, when I criticize people for placing the CCC higher than God, they take offence, and accuse me of dissing the CCC. As far as credibility of the CCC vs the Bible, know that the Bible is authored by people who started the Catholic Church; whereas, the CCC was written by committees, and the Pope has told us clearly that the curia is packed with the gay mafia. How many Bible writers would you say were gay or heretics, Dottie? Is there some reason that the Bible has not been periodically changed or updated? The CCC is a recent publication and the previous version had to be changed because of errors. The CCC has references to Saints, Doctors of the Church and Holy Scripture … that is what it is good for. The rest of it is a study in bureaucratic committee speak. If that educates you, fine, but committee speak does not hold a candle to the references in the CCC. The other thing I keep harping on is the authority level of the CCC: the reader interprets it as he or she reads it or studies it. There are some sections which cannot conclude some questions; however, I’ve never seen this problem with the Bible or with the writings of Doctors of the Church. If you prefer a gloss which contains some good material, then the CCC might do you good. But if you want to know all that God has taught us, then there are much better sources … which take more work from the reader, though. You get what you pay for.
Nan,
You certainly go that right!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Part of doing a Bishop’s job includes correcting and disciplining those in obstinate and public Mortal Sin.
Canon 915 and Canon 1399.
This may save the Soul of the sinner, and will certainly save the Souls of those Scandalized.
It helps to protect society from Relativism.
Almost one hundred years ago, Our Lady of Fatima told us that Russia would spread her errors across the world. I believe we can now safely say that the United States has taken over this notorious position, replaced Russia, and is now the instrument of the devil in spreading falsehood, immorality, and evil throughout the world. Ave Maria Purrissima!
The Russian Orthodox Church has survived even the thirties when its bishops and abbots were replaced by Soviet agents. The western bishops have all they can do to survive luxury, and most of them are not surviving it.
Jesusita,
Have you read how the Russian Duma is taking steps against the LGBT sickos in Russia! Your correct, they probably are now better than us!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
The only thing that concerns men and women such as Kerry is spreading “population control” anyway they can — by artificial contraceptives such as the Birth Control Pill that acts as an abortifacient many times and destroys women’s bodies by cancer or bone destruction in the young; by sodomy which also destroys the body with STD’s and cancer of the anal passage and often the mouth and by encouraging every vice that causes the population to decrease instead of teaching Catholic and other approved Natural Family Planning among the married if and when necessary, only because it requires some self control. The Russians have finally caught on to the horrible consequences to all this after their and other populations have decreased so much that they cannot even replace their own. Even the more orthodox Anglican and Catholic Africans see the evil in all this, and some dare call them “backward” or “barbarians”. Many others have been affected in the same way, such as Japan, Italy and many European countries. Wake up people! these vices save no one but only serve to destroy both body and spirit.
Anne T. great comments! Basically Kerry and his ilk, who say they are supporters of equality, should stand up and declare “Sterile Sex Pride” month! Why should any of the participants of purposeful sterile sexual activity be left out?!!! I mean how is it right that only those practicing sterile homosexual sex be singled out for recognition?
I wonder if all of this sterile sexual activity is part of “evolution”?
We could also call it Homicidal and Suicidal Sex, Tracy, but of course those practicing it would want the more euphemistic term.
Tracy,
“Evolution” No, it is more like “Recrucifixion”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Our deist and masonic nation nakedly exporting its satanic abortion and other pet sins. Oh yes, we are that city on a hill…
Brad,
A Dung Hill!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
So when are all Bishops going to enforce Code of Canon Law 915 or 1399?
What are many American Bishops afraid of – God or the opinions of unfaithful, and rich/powerful Catholics ? Who do these Bishops ultimately worship and serve ?
JoAnn,
Re. the bishops, “By their actions ye shall know them”!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Most bishops of the United States and Canada are proud and stubborn and will never stand up for pro-life issues, but will sit on the fence. They are the main ones responsible for the terrible apostacy which has been destroying the Catholic faith in North America. With the Winnipeg conference several years ago, all but two of the Canadian bishops agreed to promote birth control. In the diocese of London (Ontario), over 75% of the priests do not believe in transubstantiation .With leadership like this, is there any wonder why the Catholic Church in North America is dying. Until the bishops once again become loyal, and promote the teachings of Christ, and discipline heretics and those who dissent from the magisterium Satan will continue to dismantle the Church. It is what Sister Lucia of Fatima termed the diabolical disorientation in the Catholic Church.,
These types together with Elitist Bishops laugh at poor people who ‘cling to’ the old faith.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God.
UPSET with the Bishops in the Magesterium doing nothing about these evil politicians like Kerry spreading and pushing Satan’s strategy around for the loss of souls ? Oh there is even more to be upset about. Read the article below: Pope Francis: `Gay lobby’ exists inside Vatican
By Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor
(CNN) – Pope Francis said a “gay lobby” exists inside the Vatican, a surprising disclosure from a pope who has already delivered his share of stunners, and a resurrection of church conflicts that had bedeviled his predecessor’s papacy.
“In the Curia,” Francis said, referring to Catholicism’s central bureaucracy, “there are holy people. But there is also a stream of corruption.”
“The ‘gay lobby’ is mentioned, and it is true, it is there,” Francis continued. “We need to see what we can do.”
Hints that the Holy See contained a network of gay clergy surfaced last year in reports about a series of embarrassing leaks to Italian journalists.
The “Vatileaks” scandal factored in Pope Emeritus Benedict XIV’s shocking decision to resign earlier this year, according to some church experts, as it impressed upon the 86-year-old pontiff that the modern papacy requires a vigorous and watchful presence.
Francis’ enigmatic comments came during a meeting Sunday with CLAR, the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women, who head Catholic communities of priests, sisters and monks. The Chilean website Reflection and Liberation, which focuses on liberation theology, first reported Francis’ remarks.
A Vatican spokesman told CNN, “The Holy See Press Office has no official comment on the private meeting.”
Gay and lesbian Catholic groups did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests said, “structure, not sexuality, is the real issue.”
“The church is a monarchy. Monarchs are unaccountable. So many monarchs are corrupt. This is true in both secular and religious institutions,” SNAP said in a statement.
Other Catholics counseled caution about reading too much into the pope’s remarks.
“We don’t have any explanation of what ‘gay lobby’ means,” said Rocco Palmo, a Vatican watcher who runs Whispers in the Loggia, a website on Catholic news and church politics.
“Naturally, some in the church will try to polarize or interpret this, but as the rest of us aren’t pope, we still have to get further explanation,” Palmo added.
Church experts say the Chilean report rings true since the wide-ranging conversation centers on concerns that Francis has made touchstones of his nascent papacy.
In contrast to the buttoned-up Benedict, Francis has earned an early reputation for speaking off the cuff, often ditching prepared remarks in favor of more informal conversations.
On Friday, Francis nixed his “boring” speech and instead took questions from young Catholic students. Asked by a little girl if he wanted to be pope, Francis laughed and said that only someone who “doesn’t love himself” would want the position.
“He has said some things that would turn Benedict whiter than the papal vestments,” Palmo joked.
Francis told the Catholic leaders on Sunday to focus on the poor, that the Vatican must be reformed, and joked that whoever wagered on his long-shot election as pope “won a lot, of course.”
But his comments on the “gay lobby” are likely to gain the most attention, especially in the West, where Catholic leaders have been mounting a fierce fight against same-sex marriage.
After Benedict announced his resignation in February, reports circulated that a “gay lobby” had forced his hand.
Cardinals appointed by the former pope to find the source of the leaks investigated high-level Vatican clergy involved in homosexual affairs who might have been vulnerable to blackmail, according to La Repubblica, a leading Italian newspaper.
La Repubblica reported that the cardinals found evidence of a “gay lobby” within the Vatican but gave few details about it.
“Some high level clergy are exposed to the `external influence’ – what we would call blackmail – of lay people to whom they are connected through ties of a `worldly nature,’” La Repubblica wrote.
The Vatican blasted the newspaper reports as “unverified, unverifiable and completely false.”
Francis is one of the few Catholic leaders to have seen the Vatican report.
The so-called Vatileaks scandal led to Benedict’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, being convicted on charges last year of leaking private papers from the the pope’s private office. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
‘Gay lobby’ behind pope’s resignation? Not likely
John Allen, CNN’s senior Vatican analyst, has said it would have been odd if the Vatican report had not considered the possibility that “insiders leading a double life,” including sexually active clergy, might be vulnerable to pressure to betray the pope.
“It seems a stretch, however, to suggest this is the real reason,” behind Benedict’s resignation, Allen said.
In one of his first actions as pope, Francis created a council of eight cardinals, including Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, to offer suggestions on reforming the Vatican.
“The reform of the Roman Curia is something that almost all Cardinals asked for in the congregations preceding the Conclave,” Francis said, referring to the meetings that led up to his election in March. “I also asked for it.”
But Francis said that he cannot promote the reform himself. “I am very disorganized,” he said “I have never been good at this.”
Instead, the pope said, he is relying on his eight appointed cardinals to move the reforms forward.
The bottom line is do you really think these modern Bishops, if they were true and holy Roman Catholic bishops would conduct themselves this sinful way? No, I don’t think so, in fact our Lord warned us to beware of wolves in sheeps clothing. What do you think our Lord would do to them if He were walking on this earth? Based on their sinful record, how then can these men truly be true Roman Catholic? My guess is our Lord would treat them in a manner similar to what He treated the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin. This is only part of the reasons traditional Roman Catholics have left the modern Vatican II Church due to these wolves public and private performances. They are not true bishops, only counterfeits, especially since the Vatican II Council changed all of the Sacraments, especially Holy Orders. These modern counterfiets publically wear the robes, erroneously hold the titles, and fill the offices in the Vatican and the Dioceses, but they do not have the true Roman Catholic faith, vales, and morals, nor do they have the power nor training to confer the 7 Holy Sacraments given to us by God. Pray that God will lead us all back to His true Roman Catholic Church which does exist today in the traditional Parishes throughout the world. It has come out of the modern catacombs and growing today, just like it did in the early Roman Catholic Church history when it was likewise under persecution.
If you have left the Catholic Church, what’s it to you?
Daniel we understand your frustrations. It’s always been that way, even in Biblical times. Unfortunately….in God’s church we always have those Judases or worst…
O’MALLEY! The fox is assigned to protect the chickens!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Catholics must “watch their tongues” and resist the temptation to resolve disputes with “insults, slander, and defamation,” Pope Francis has said.
Delivering a homily at morning Mass on Thursday, which was attended by men and women who work at Argentina’s embassies and consulates to Italy and the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation in Rome, the Pope said: “There is no need to go to a psychologist to know that when we denigrates another person it is because we are unable to grow up and need to belittle others, to feel more important.
“Jesus, with all the simplicity says: ‘Do not speak ill of one another. Do not denigrate one another. Do not belittle one another’.”
The Pope went to say that “in the end we are all travelling on the same road that will take us to the very end,” before adding, “if we do not choose a fraternal path, it will end badly, for the person who insults and the insulted. If we are not able to keep our tongues in check, we lose.”
Pope Francis concluded: “I would ask the Lord to give us all the grace to watch our tongues, to watch what we say about others. It is a small penance, but it bears a lot of fruit.”
The homily was delivered by Pope Francis in Spanish for the first time since he was elected Pontiff. He said: “It’s the first time I have celebrated Mass in Spanish since February 26th, and it feels good!”
One does not need to speak ill, just by their actions they are already cursing others. This man Kerry with his promotion of un-natural unions is also the great insult and his actions and words to promote are already cursing mankind. We are not to take them lightly. Suppressing people’s ability to react justly when there is clearly an area of concern on morality is truly wrong!
We are not to confuse what our Pope is preaching, he is not discounting what Jesus has always done and that is to admonish the sinner. The faith is Jesus! Richard Your need to post this comment on this very article in regards a man who is promoting Sodom and Gomorrah all over again in these modern times, is an abuse of what our Holy Pope is truly trying to accomplish. This very act of you misusing what our pope said is insulting to the natural law and distorting the true mission of the faith. Using it’s leadership to sound off more confusion and to silent or desensitize real feelings of concern, is truly disturbing to me.
Richard – read your CCC from the Magisterium – about TRUTH, then about SCANDAL.
Then read the Code of Canon Law:
” THE OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS OF THE LAY CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL ”
“Can 212 §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church
and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful,
without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. ”
Never misquote our Pope. He clearly is talking to specific audiences about specific problems which relate to them. Not to the world-wide Church.
We should respect all people, but never Tolerate Sin.
Admonishing Sinners, Instructing the Uniformed, and Counseling the Doubtful are 3 of the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Thank you PETE! Read that Richard?
I often feel trapped today in the way people view respect. I often find that homosexuals use the CCC to their own benefit. It’s like poking at the Christian conscience for discerning how sinful homosexual acts really are. The CCC is being used from that particular teaching the wrong way to use it to condone and have false compassion.
If Jesus came and no respect was given to Him, how are people expecting better than Him. Our Lord didn’t sin and yet not once has he ordered respect for Himself, I just know that it is a given. To love Him, all of Him. But many today with sinful agenda’s expect and fight for secular respect. It is truly heartbreaking.
They want the respect while they disrespect others to get it.
Notice a humble person suffering with same sex attraction never expects respect but instead feels lonely and sad inside, they keep their suffering to themselves and offer it up to the Lord, all while leaning towards our Lord and trusting in Him to help him endure and to stay away from sin, those are a few but the proud wicked want respect and use that word and twist it to their theology just so they can receive acceptance. They forget that while they forgo their activism, they are doing more harm and are now stepping on others just to get their way. It is a dog eat dog world, don”t think that homosexuals with gay driven agenda’s are having any mercy on you nor your values.
Remember they feel that they can not sin…but they point out the sins of the ones who are objecting to their lifestyles at all costs. Calling you a bully, bigot, a homophobia, a hater etc. Suppress and shut down..that is their take.
I think that respect is lacking a whole more towards those who hold to morals. There is a growing need to admonish the error many are embracing today. Even in the CCC, it can’t give out graces to people to embrace what it says and it even doesn’t cover it all. I am reminded of this wonderful verse from John 21:25
“But there are also many other things which Jesus did; which, if they were written every one, the world itself, I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.” Which many here forget and tend to misunderstand what Skai is trying to convey many times. God bless you Skai, you have a special kind of ability to discern that many lack today. Like a good wine, one can taste the distinctive flavors and our faith has many wonderful gifts/graces/virtues that come with. To some it is just like any wine, they all taste the same but to some they can actually discern the different distinctive elements that make each wine special.
Has Pope Francis read some of the statements of Canonized Doctors of the Church regarding bad priests and bishops? I think it was St. Francis De Sales who called them “Monsters devouring their sheep” or something like that. St. Pope Pius X had a few strong words as well. For that matter so did St. Paul!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher
Good point Mr. Fisher : ) God bless you!
The Novus Ordo continues to be the Lutheran service it has always been since its introduction in 1969, and the practice of false ecumenism continues to spritually poison so many modern Catholics. It will be truly unfortunate; however, if these token changes of the Moto Propio or adding latin responses to the Novus Ordo service mislead naive souls with the false hope that the Conciliar Church of Vatican II will return to tradition. No, the changes in the Mass and sacraments, along with the practice of interfaith implemented after the Vatican II Council is nothing less than the Great Apostasy foretold by Our Lord and St. Paul. And Our Lord also foretold that “Satan will deceive, if possible, even the elect.” The modern sacraments are fraudulent and filled with errors, making them null and void. Is it any wonder that the modern Church is imploding and the clergy sinful with no graces coming from these modern washed down rituals. I met an evangelical Christian on the golf course today telling me he was a professional musician about to release his first evangelical rock and roll album. I mentioned that I was Roman Catholic and he replied he was raised a modern Catholic but when he met his Southern Baptist wife, they compromised as she was keen about ritual, wanting instead to have a more personal experience with Jesus Christ. Is it any wonder 2/3rds of modern Catholics don’t believe in the Divine Presence in the Eucharist? How then can they have a personal experience with Jesus Christ if He is not in the tabernacle body, soul, blood and divinity? Sadly, there is a reason for the lack in faith, and that is the modern tabernacles are empty, encasing only bread as the modern sacraments are null and void because of the Vatican II changes. No valid priests and no valid consecration at the Novus Ordo Lutheran-like service. Fortunately truly Roman Catholic parishes are growing, the Bishops and Priests are valid having been ordained with the Sacrament of Holy Orders kept intact since St. Peter, the Tridentine Latin Mass is valid so Jesus Christ is truly present body, blood, soul, and divinity in the traditional Roman Catholic tabernacles, converts are being received into the Faith, and our youth, who are the future of the Church, are receiving a Roman Catholic education in our parish schools. Pray the rosary for the conversion of all sinners and pagans, especially muslims.
Both FORMS of the MASS are HOLY – Body and Blood of Christ.
Any Catholic who says otherwise is a heretic and a schismatic.
James, I’ve been to the traditional Latin masses and liked them, but I prefer to regular mass at my parish. Are you saying that the TLM is the “real” mass and the Novus Ordo doesn’t count? Am I not fufilling my Sunday Mass obligation by going to a non-TLM mass? Just asking. Also, what do masses have to do with Secretary Kerry working for gay rights in places like Uganda and Russia?
C&H thankfully Mother Russia with the might of the Holy Orthodox Church is standing up to gay mafia and crushes it whenever it rears its evil head….gay rights? error has no rights…..
“Modern tabernacles are empty, encasing only bread as the modern sacraments are null and void because of Vatican II changes.” “No valid priests and no valid consecration at the Novus Ordo Lutheran like service.” EDITORS: Why don’t you comment on comments such as these? Do you support people who seemingly are trying to get people to leave the Catholic Church? It amazes me that some of the people who seem to claim to be more Catholic than others here are strangely silent when posts appear that deny the validity of the Catholic Church under the authority of the Pope.
This person is obviously “sede” and it has been my experience that this no sense in talking to them, almost as bad as trying to convince you to see the error of your ways
Well, Canisius, you may be right. I noticed that Mr. Fisher is strangely silent about this. Another quote, “The modern sacraments are fraudulent and filled with errors, making them null and void.” Where is your condemnation here, Mr. Fisher? My error may be in my biology but the error in that post is in denial of Catholic dogma and the holiness of the Church as in “One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.”
Did Hillary Clinton start this Prideful celebration? Homosexuals have been particularly destructive for our Church and so many other institutions. Oh, when will we ever learn, when will we ever learn.
Anomynoous, You have obviously missed the point with your very-likely pro-ecumenism point of view. That man compromised his Catholic faith, that is to say, he has lost his faith in the Catholic Church. He is just one of millions of examples of what has happened to modern Catholics in the last 50 years and it is the worst catastrophy of all, a castrophy that will very likely lead to many millions of souls judged and sent to the eternal flames of hell for eternity. Jesus made it very clear in many of His teachings that few (relatively speaking) will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You can bet the devil is a happy serpent devouring more and more souls.