(8i) Roman Catholic Church, its Pope and homosexuality

The Roman Catholic Church (RCC), always thinking about sex, and certainly about gay sex as if they need to tell themselves not to engage in something they want and therefore, punishing those who love someone from their own sex. In effect, it is similar with many religious leaders who claim women are evil as those people have to fight against their desire and blame the women when they fail. Remember Pope John Paul II, non-stop he spoke about gay sex, an obsession with disastrous consequences up to today such as LGBT+ free areas in his homeland Poland where the Pope was admired although the EU does not agree.

Although Pope Francis I seemed to be a moderate, saying "who am I to judge" LGBT+ people, in the end his surroundings convinced him that he, the Pope, should tell LGBT+ people that they are sinners, and thus he judges them. Still, in each Church a division is seen between people who live in today's world and conservatives.

But, what to expect from a religion whereby clergy fear God to be themselves and as a result, and throughout history, religious leaders condemn those who accept their sexuality. Because, accepting your own sexuality liberates you from fear to burn in hell so people can live a normal life for as much as society in which they live allows this. However, those who fear themselves often do things the light cannot see and then condemn others to hid their own weaknesses. As a result, sometimes people are killed by people who claim they had to protect themselves from sexual advances made by their victim such as in Matthew Shepard's case while religious maniacs tell the parents their murdered child will burn in hell. Similarly with women who are told they are prostitutes, even when they deny sex.

Below some posts I published at Facebook, although here are more extended version.

21/10/2020 - Pope Francis and same-sex unions

Let us hope the words Pope Francis I spoke in a documentary about accepting same-sex unions are also the words he will speak in public. It seems he finally understands the story of the Fallen Angel. If these words are real, than this means a lot to the current younger generation of families in which sons and daughters but also (grand)parents struggle to accept their sexuality, although, for others who are already open about being LGBT+ but also for those who are convinced homosexuals are evil, it may change nothing. 

Will this be enough for older generations who suffered the hardship of often gay priests who told them it is wrong but were abused by priests who were protected by their hierarchy or were abandoned by their religious parents or know people who committed suicide or were killed for their sexuality? Likely not. Even an official apology will not heal the emotional damage of many LGBTs. 

Religion, a past institution that good people joined to help people in schools or hospitals while few reached higher positions as that meant accepting dogmas. In contrast, bad people joined it to become powerful and control the masses. Today, good people don't need religion and become teacher or nurse/doctor. 

What will be the response of conservative Christians? May they find comfort with Pope Benedict XVI or does he agree with Pope Francis I? A power struggle about the right teaching can be expected. Even President Trump talks more about God lately as he needs the support of America's Christian right-wingers.

16/03/2021 - Pope Francis and homosexuality - sex, the obsession of the Catholic and other Church

At last, Pope Francis has proven he is as his predecessors: someone who condemns love between people although the wording is softer: "It is "impossible" for God to "bless sin", the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) said on Monday. But the CDF did note the "positive elements" in same-sex relationships". What was to be expected? If he disagreed that it is a sin, he would have left priesthood long ago to become a nurse, doctor, teacher or whatever other profession whereby he could help people without questioning their love. 

Nevertheless, many priests preach against their own nature; who has not met priests in gay places such as saunas - is this to wash away their sins? And those who don't go to those places as it is risky among adults use children. 

Still, can this not be considered as LGBT discrimination that is now illegal in many societies as it can encourage certain people to act against sinners and attack LGBTs? 

But, I also don't understand LGBTs who want to be married by men who should officially condemn them to hell. Still, as many churches are maintained by society, it should be possible that LGBTs can have a civil marriage in the beautiful surrounding of a church. Priests who don't agree can always escape to the Vatican where they are not silenced and can continue to spread their hate.

18/03/2021 - Belgian bishops do not agree

The Bishop of Antwerp and his Belgian colleagues apologise for their bosses, Pope Francis I and the gang around him. The bishops apologise for the continuing homophobia in the Vatican that can be used by some people to justify when they attack and sometimes kill people of the LGBT community, or when families are ripped apart when LGBT sons and daughters are thrown out their parents house. The Bishop of Antwerp even compared the reasoning to continue this hate as not better than the reasoning of someone in the third secondary school. 

Indeed, when you love Jesus who broke with the past, you accept people as they are. The Belgian bishops understand while those in the Vatican still rely on the old testament but also thinkers who came after Jesus. Yes, you Pope and others in the Vatican, you as leaders of Catholics, are directly responsible for the bad treatment and sometimes murder of LGBTs. For this, let us hope your institution that keeps you in power at the expense of a happy life of many innocent people, will collapse so humanity can live in peace. A pity that with your evil teaching of condemning innocent people, you bring shame on the name of Jesus who understood that people should be able to live their life as they wish as long as it doesn't hurt others. But we know, he was killed by his religious leaders for breaking with the past. 

Someone wrote a comment during the interview that was read after the interview as it was moving: after he came out to his family, his grandmother was very sad. So she went to see a priest to talk about it. Afterwards, she was able to accept her grandson. Indeed, some priests understand Jesus' message of love but the majority of religious people continue to rely on old explanations that still cause much suffering around the world. Any hope of change you, as Pope, brought after your election evaporated in one day. Are you man enough to understand your mistake and apologise? But I understand, it is hard work to turn nearly 2000 years of history or you will be condemned by religious people as being the anti-Pope. An issue that continues to divide.

19/03/2021 - The KVHV-Antwerp don't agree with their Bishop

The KVHV (Katholiek Vlaams Hoogstudentenverbond) posted a text on Facebook that they don't agree with their Bishop and go even as far as writing that what the Bishops say goes again Jesus' teaching and when Bishops do not agree they can leave "the club" (i.e. the Church). I post the English translation as translated by Google Translate. You have to know, these are young people who study higher education.

KVHV-Antwerp feels vicarious shame for its bishop

The Catholic Flemish High Student Union (KVHV-Antwerp) sees itself forced for the umpteenth time to stand up for Catholic doctrine where our bishop goes beyond his mark.

For days the media reported about homophobia. The reason was the reprehensible gay bashing in Beveren and the associated political recuperation by various parties. Everywhere appeared "powerful" signals like profile photos with a rainbow or streets covered with LGBTQ flags.

As if God wanted it for Flanders, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published its reposium on the question of whether same-sex sexuality is sinful. That this question keeps popping up in ecclesiastical ranks is an example of the liberal spirit that has crept into the highest ranks in the Church. The adaptation to the spirit of the times detracts from the greatness that the Church once was.

Truth is absolute and unchanging over time. The answer is clearly and clearly found in Holy Scripture: Jesus Christ says irrefutably that a Catholic marriage is between a man and a woman. The purpose of Catholic marriage is to form a family and to have the children honor God for His greater honor and glory. Nature provides this possibility only between man and woman. Outside of marriage - the sole purpose of which is to produce children - sexual intercourse is prohibited for both heterosexuals and gays. So no discrimination.

That the bishops of Belgium, under the leadership of the Antwerp Bishop, are going directly against the Teaching of Christ is extremely bad. If you are dissatisfied with the rules of the 'club', do not hesitate, dear Monseigneurs. This spread position is not healthy for you; it is downright harmful to the Church. What you say is not Catholic. Now several politicians believe they also have to give their opinion on the Vatican statement. "Gays are a sin," is the misunderstood paraphrase. Nevertheless, a difference is always made between sin and the sinner.

The Church embraces sinners, but never sin. That's Catholic.

KVHV-Antwerp

My response towards this; indeed, I refer to the past and find it difficult to believe that we still refer to millennium old books to justify exclusion. Not only that, but read the sentence "Outside of marriage - the sole purpose of which is to produce children - sexual intercourse is prohibited for both heterosexuals and gays. So no discrimination". Again the hypocrisy of those who feel the need to defend discrimination as few heterosexual couples will only have sex to produce children and many have sex before marriage. Thus, Heaven really must be empty unless full with sinners and hypocrites.

You know, the prophecy states that after thousands of years of the same message of hatred, there comes a time when even God is fed up with the hate propagators because they don't want to change and cause damage to innocent people, after which a long peace is possible.

But then again, bad people say that hating others is a kind of goodness. So, President Putin is good because he accepts homophobia? And, don't forget, Isis also threw gays off the rooftops because they say God hates gays. Yes, they too say they are good as they do what God wants; we know better.

The fallen angel, an angel who did not accept himself because he wanted to establish a dynasty so that his posterity could continue to rule.

I mean, many evil persons such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao and many popes over the past centuries tried to destroy LGBT+ people. Today, we call them mad; in the past they were admired but more often feared as mostly not only LGBT+ people were victims but people from every group in society, from the poor up to the rich.