Saving the world from homosexuality

Really? Hmmmm.......not sure I agree. Nope. In fact really really not agreeing!

Maybe views like that are one of the reasons the Catholic church are struggling to keep believers?

Almost as bad as the belief that the Hokey Cokey is a sectarian song!!! and that any Rangers fans singing this on Saturday will be fined!

Waaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! to your post Nick and also to mine lol

Speechless.

How on earth can he be allowed to say that? I know, he's the Pope, he can say what he likes but surely that is creating problems within the human race?

I was brought up as a catholic, although i parted company with the church intellectually while i was still in primary school. is the pope still infallible?

And that is why as a Catholic I no longer attend mass. I nearly got up and walked out one day as the priest in his sermon preached hell, fire & brimstone towards all homosexuals.

It doesn't exactly sit with the other love thy neighbour type tenants of the faith.

The other blinding one is the teaching about contraception, AIDS and condoms.

Once this pope is dead and we get a more modern-thinking and forward-looking pope (there are 2 or 3 candidates out there) I hope the Church will update its thinking and teachings.

In the meantime, a lot of us sensible, moderate Catholics will continue to be non-practising. I usually describe myself as Christian these days.

What happened to goodwill to mankind?

Obviously this doesn't extend to the gay community (at least if you're the pope).

I just hope everyone of note comes out (fnar) and condemns this lunatic for what he is. all it does is encourage bigotry and prejudice, and it makes me sick. why is religion a sacred cow? how can he say things like this and get away with it? why does the fact that he is the head of the catholic church make him immune to prosecution for incitement etc?

When I heard this on the news this morning , first thing I thought of was my Daughters R/C school motto 'Love one & other'.

I'm far from text book R/C, but feel his views/teachings are wrong - Could it be the case that his comments has been taken out of context? (not justifying it)

I understood the Catholic faith does not see being homosexual as a sin, but the act of is.

The thing is, this pope whilst still cardinal was known as "the pope's rottweiler" as his views were even more hardline than the previous pope (JP2).

I know there was a lot of surprise when he was elected because he was so hardline - there does seem to be recognition within the church that they need to adapt and move forward.

Because he isn't inciting anyone to violence (if that's what you mean), or even hatred if you look at what he says. I agree that it encourages bigotry and prejudice, but that isn't illegal. I completely disagree with what he says but I don't think you can ban homophobia.

To whoever asked - according to official Catholic doctrine, the Pope is infallible when speaking ex cathedra, which basically means on matters of church doctrine/theology from his throne in the Vatican.

ah yes, the old "love the sinner, hate the sin" bollocks which they trot out. its just a way of being able to say "ah but its not that we dont like the person, we just dont like what they do". what they fail to realise is that sexuality of any kind of part of what makes the person, so the line is ridiculous.

how can any catholic endorse what this twat is saying in relation to this?

but effectively he is endorsing bigorty, which in its extreme form leads to violence. its irresponsible, stupid, outrageous and utterly wrong. youre right, you cant ban homophobia, but for someone in a position of such power, it seems that he isnt accountable to anyone, and if there was a god (which i doubt), i m pretty sure that that god wouldnt exactly be thrilled with old benedict right now.

Yes, bigotry can certainly lead to violence, but you can't ban something because it 'could' lead to something (you would have to criminalise the Daily Mail for a start ?)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending what he is saying, but I thought the suggestion that anyone could or even should be prosecuted for saying these things was way off.

My major problems with Catholic teaching are to do with homosexuality, contraception, and the role of women.

What the Catechism says is that we should show compassion to those afflicted by homosexuality. Homosexual practice is sinful only as much as any other type of unmarried sex or sex without the possibility of conception. I'm not saying it's right, but that's the wording of the official teachings.

As already said, this guy was known for being extremely hardline. I was surprised and disappointed when the college of cardinals elected him.

What the Church seems to forget is that for many years any boys families thought might be a bit "odd" (read gay) were sent to the seminary to become priests or monks. ?

I was suppressing rants in my pillow this morning when I heard the news.

And some stupid woman R4 kept going on and on about females being female and males being male in nature and gender being clear and that we're dying [out] in the West because we're confused about gender now - she clearly hasn't a clue about biology because gender is not 100% clear in lots of species, homosexuality isn't unknown in the animal kingdom and there is genetic influence on gender and sexuality ?

I do wish people wouldn't bend facts to suit their faith, it makes them look ridiculous.

What makes it all the more ridiculius is the high number of gay priests, not to mention the massive out of court settlements made to many people who were victims of sexual abuse by priests and nuns. this has really annoyed me, i d like to give him a really good slap.

That's the thing though - the doctrine means that being a priest is perfect for any gay Catholic male because they have to be celibate. It's inevitable!

I think that's why I really dislike about the doctrine - "love the sinner, hate the sin" only works because the doctrine makes it impossible for anyone to be actively gay within the church and therefore they don't have to face up to any of the "sin". Makes it much easier to demonise people if you don't have to actually interact with them...

I don't understand why he says homosexuality is such a big threat. I mean, even if a fair proportion of the population is homosexual, that still leaves a large number who aren't, and a large number of those are presumably still going to be having children.

And being homosexual doesn't prevent someone from having children, anyway - even if someone isn't willing or able to have sex with someone for procreation, there are ways around it (artificial insemination or possibly IVF, probably).

The problem with that is for him (and many other Catholics) IVF babies are an abomination caused by people trying to play God.

I didn't realise that - you can tell I'm not Catholic. What an awful thing to think, though.

I wish I was a full believing Christian, if only for the knowledge that this evil *** will spend eternity enjoying the very worst hell has to offer.

The teaching is that sex and procreation are intrinsically linked snd should not be separated (hence the no contraception thing) but I have seen that belief in practice. When I was teaching in a Catholic school we had a speaker from the arch diocese and she actually used the word abomination. Unfortunately, one of our year 12 students was at IVF baby and she and her friends were extremely hurt and upset by this. We refused to have the speaker back.

So much for the Catholic church being in the real world. I also hope people speak out against his attitude, it's shocking to say something like that in this day and age.

I d like to shove his stick up his arse, followed by his pointy hat. and then make him the star attraction at a gay bukkake party.

I find it scary how [some] strict followers of religion, simply accept anything their head of church says. Without question.

less children, less Catholics babies (IMHO Their real problem with contraception)

Does the Pope have a pointy hat? It's always been flat and round when I've seen him. ?

Well, its quite pointy. still stick it up his arse though, and that staff thing he carries

Oh I've not seen him with a proper mitre before. ?

Thanks for the education NickJ!

What an absolute wanker. Just one of many areas on which the Catholic church spout complete and utter offensive and dangerous sh1te, sadly (IMO). Hence why the last time I was forced into going to a Catholic mass by my H's family I got up and walked out in the middle of it and I won't be going back to any more.

What is really sad is the amount of people who just assume everything the Pope says is right and go along with it without really thinking for themselves. Eg my H's family.

I just love it when that depressing old Nazi comes out with bilge like this. The more he says it, the more he's going to turn people with more than a few brain cells to rub together away from religion. The more he does that, the quicker religion withers on the vine and people turn to more creative, compassionate, rational ways to engage with the wonder of the universe we live in. Hurrah! Keep talking, Joe, keep talking ?

I wonder if the pope wanks? or indeed if priests do. i bet they do. and nuns.