

FRANKFURT, Germany — A German bishop’s proposal that the Catholic Church could provide blessing ceremonies for gay couples, as well as divorced-and-civilly-remarried couples, gained support at a Church conference in Frankfurt this weekend.
Earlier this month, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode suggested that the Church develop a ceremony for blessing same-sex unions during an interview with Neue Osnabrucker Zeitung.
“We need to think about how we can differentiate a relationship between two same-sex people,” said the bishop, who is deputy chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference: “Is not there so much that is positive, good and right that we have to be fairer?”
The bishop said that same-sex unions are a reality in the country. “We must therefore ask ourselves how we meet those who enter into this relationship and who are also partly involved in the Church,” he said.
“How do we accompany them pastorally and liturgically? How do we live up to them?”
On Jan. 20, Father Johannes Zu Eltz, the city dean of the Catholic Church in Frankfurt and a senior official in the Diocese of Limburg, said that the Church should consider “theologically founded blessing ceremonies” for couples who do not meet the requirements for marriage in the Church.
The suggestion was made during the “Frankfurt City Church Forum II,” attended by 170 Church leaders. Such forums are used to discuss reforms that can be made within the local Church.
The proposed blessings would be for same-sex couples “as well as [divorced and] civilly remarried people as well as people who, in their own estimation, do not consider themselves sufficiently worthy of the marriage sacrament,” according to Katholisch.de, the official website of the German Catholic bishops.
Couples seeking such a blessing would need to meet certain criteria, according to the priest’s proposal, such as “a state marriage in the registry office.” This would include same-sex couples, since Germany legalized same-sex “marriage” last year.
The ceremonies would also be made “different” than the marriage liturgy, the priest added, omitting things such as the exchanges of rings or vows, in order to avoid confusion with the marriage sacrament.
Rather, Father Zu Eltz said the proposed blessing ceremonies would be done “in respect of a binding partnership,” asking God’s blessing “for a successful future of something that already exists,” according to a report from the Diocese of Limburg.
The priest added that these blessings would fulfill a “primitive human need for ‘salvation, protection, happiness and fulfillment of his life’ linked to the request for God’s blessing.”
According to the bishops’ website, Bishop Felix Glenn of Münster forbade a “planned blessing for a homosexual couple” last year, in order to avoid confusion.
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is the lifelong union of a man and a woman.
Regarding those with same-sex attraction, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection” (2358-2359).
This recent proposal is not the first time that German clergy have suggested the Church bless same-sex unions or couples in irregular situations. In 2015, ahead of the Synod on the Family, Bishop Bode told German news agency KNA that while he understood that the Church could not consider these unions as marriages, the Church should consider the strengths as well as the weaknesses of such unions and perhaps provide a private blessing.
Bishop Bode was one of three German bishops elected by the German Church to attend the Synod on the Family in October 2015.
Following the publication of the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, Bishop Bode and other German prelates have been outspoken in their desire for the Church to change its practices regarding same-sex couples as well as divorced-and-remarried couples.
It has just occurred to me, how really horrible this is. Bishops, priests and other members of the Church hierarchy give the blessings; but they come from God.
The Bishop is giving God’s blessing to something God abhors—-to something even imperfect men and women abhor.
By Ruth Ruhl-LaMusga
Anyone in the Church instituted by Jesus Christ—- who wants to contradict—-work in opposition to God’s powerful judgment of the act called “sodomy” in the Old Testament should be given the option of repenting for leading others into temptation or be de-frocked. The Church cannot spend all its time trying to recover from scandals.
Don’t Bishops know “why” God condemned sodomy? The act casts the seed of God’s precious life into body waste. It is man’s rebellion against procreation and God’s Will—-just as contraception and abortion are women’s rebellion against procreation and God’s Will. Further, it is a male rejection of the female gender as an “equal” partner in marriage, sex and family—-which most people choose for a shared and happy life. Women are rejected as partners because they lack male sex organs—-and cannot perform the act of sodomy. It has nothing to do with genetics.
Don’t be deceived. Satan is offering the Church another apple.
This material has been written in my name. Ruth Ruhl-LaMusga
What amazes me is the lack of chastisement and correction that these bishops should be facing from other bishops and cardinals? This needs to happen and IN PUBLIC. We need fearless leaders in our Church.
I cant believe that someone with the knowledge and understanding of a bishop would not see the serious heresies implicit within such a suggestion. I understand the German church is very wealthy. Is money more than compassion driving this?
You are most welcome, Alexander. And, I believe that God continually sends graces to draw people to Himself. It is our condition and deisres which help us receive them or refuse them. Else, I would not love Him as I do. God bless, C-Marie
C-Marie, Thank you for the correct website address of Espresso. I read the article and would agree that Victor Manuel Fernandez’ thoughts influenced Pope Francis. That doesn’t invalidate the content of “Amoris Laetitia” (AL). I agree with you that “...conscience does not trump what is objective immorality or intrinsic evil as far as what is sinful…”. AL is just allowing clergy to take all factors into account in order to extend patience and allow space for people to grow. In the private process of discernment, between these individuals and the clergy, it’s not for us to judge. I understand that it may be difficult, feel difficult, to hold two thoughts where there is some dissonance between them; at the same time, I know that ‘God is not mocked’ and ‘we will all stand before God’s judgment seat’. We can uphold the ‘objective morality’ while not judging the outcomes of the private process of discernment.
Much of “Amoris Laetitia” (AL) is a gathering of all the experiences and difficulties of families and individuals and the Church’s efforts to help them, advise them, guide them, and bring them into the fold; within the principles of the Catholic Church. I would like to quote from AL, Ch. 8, Sec. 307: “In order to avoid all misunderstanding, I would point out that in no way must the Church desist from proposing the full ideal of marriage…A lukewarm attitude, any kind of relativism, or an undue reticence in proposing that ideal, would be lack of fidelity to the Gospel…” With regard to the topic of the above article, it is fair game to question whether the blessing of gay couples in a same-sex union is a diminishing of God’s clear definition of marriage being between one man and one woman. Now to continue quoting from Sec. 307: “...To show understanding in the face of exceptional situations never implies dimming the light of the fuller ideal,” [in context, AL is contrasting sacramental marriage with civil marriages, stable co-habitation, and the divorced and remarried] “or proposing less than what Jesus offers to the human being. Today, more important than the pastoral care of failures is the pastoral effort to strengthen marriages and thus to prevent breakdown.” In Ch. 6, Sec 230, it says, “It is true that many couples, once married, drop out of the Christian community.” This statement alone speaks volumes. In my mind, it even raises the question of the validity of some of these marriages. In the end, what AL proposes is for the clergy to look at each case separately. For the rest of us, reserve judgment and go about our own business.
Insanity in the backyard of the so-called Reformation no less. If the good Bishop wants to leave the church so be it, but even Luther in his hubris, had the decency to at least (eventually) leave the church. My recommendation to his flock is to not follow him off the cliff.
I am sorry, Alexander. Here is the correct address from Espresso:
Subject: “Amoris Laetitia” Has a Ghostwriter. His Name Is Víctor Manuel Fernández
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1351303bdc4.html?eng=y
Also, Alexander, conscience does not trump objective immorality or intrinsic evil as far as what is sinful is determined. A person’s judgment before God is something else.
God bless, C-Marie
Where is it found in the Doctrine of the Catholic Church to conform to sinners demands? Sad commentary.
C-Marie, I went to the website address in your post and found only the actual document, “Amoris Laetitia”.
See this from Espresso….regarding the foundation of Amoris Laetitia…
https://w2.vatican.va/content/dam/francesco/pdf/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia_en.pdf
God bless, C-Marie
mathias, Whether the Pope is a leader or ruler, the principle is the same. It’s about having respect for his position as leader of the Church. I’m not suggesting any of the things you said. What I am saying is that those who are more traditional in their Catholicism can use “Amoris Laetitia” (AL), effectively, to prevent abuses of the document and it is worthwhile to read through AL. It does not change the moral teachings of the Church. In addition, there are a lot of good and helpful things in the document. Read it, use it, incorporate it, keep people and the clergy within it’s guiding principles, and maybe there will be an end to the divisions in the Church.
Should be interesting when they start blessing inter species relationships….
Bishop Franz-Josef Bode maintains his position in good standing while faithful priests and religious are consigned to the Bergoglian garbage heap.
Actions speak louder than words. Inaction as well. The noise emanating from Rome is a hideous screech indeed, but our bishops keep their ears plugged and their mouths shut. For what purpose but self preservation?
Souls appear to be of little consequence to those who have relativized their belief in Jesus Christ who offered His life to save souls.
We are pastored by cowards when not by bold secular materialists who long ago abandoned the faith for a stab at personal relevancy.
Utter hubris.
Alexander speaking the truth is not evil.The pope is a leader not a ruler. Christ is the ruler.Paul had to correct Peter for his confusion.Maybe you think no one should criticize the ruler for protecting molesters.Being a puppet helps no one.
The concession granted the divorced and remarried comes with the expectation that they will continue to move to the ‘Christian ideal’. Marriage is still indissoluble. If they cannot obtain an annulment, they will need to separate from their current spouse and remain celibate or return to their valid spouse. “Amoris Laetitia” (AL) does not authorize anything else. In fact, it reconfirms the indissolubility of marriage, and on the topic of the above article, it reconfirms that homosexuality is sinful and in no way whatsoever comparable to marriage between one man and one woman. To go back to my original point, if you give the liberals sole claim to AL, some of them will run with it and go beyond its guiding principles. At the same time, I am sure that for many it’s an uncomfortable position to criticize Pope Francis, because he sits in the Apostle Peter’s chair. The Scripture says, ‘You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people.’ We don’t have to agree with everything Pope Francis says. As I have learned, everything in a papal document is not infallible, but we must still show respect.
Eric Beregerud, Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. In 2 Pet. 3 v.3, 7, 9 it says, “Know this first of all, that in the last days scoffers will come [to] scoff, living according to their own desires…the present heavens and earth have been reserved…for fire, kept for the day of judgment, and of destruction of the godless…The Lord does not delay his promise, as some regard ‘delay’, but he is patient with you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” “Amoris Laetitia” (AL) is extending some patience to them, but within certain parameters. If you use AL to keep everyone within those parameters it will extend patience to them, allow them some space to grow, and no moral teaching of the Church is compromised. I will say that if I were in the position of the divorced and remarried and my conscience told me that I am in God’s grace and therefore might consider receiving Communion, I would still abstain. However, my conscience is not your conscience, and your conscience is not someone else’s either. This concession does not have to wreak havoc on the Church; just need to keep everyone within the guiding principles of AL.
I would ADD that anyone who thinks “Pastoral Practices” can be contrary to THE WORD OF THE LORD in the 6TH and 9TH COMMANDMENTS is walking on very shaky ground!!! St. Paul tells us: “DO NOT BE DECEIVED, GOD IS NOT MOCKED.” (Galations 6:7) I know, I know: lately, in the name of “mercy” there has been some allowance for a divorced/re-married parent (unable to obtain an annulment) with small children, ....BUT, the couple are supposed to live together as “brother and sister,” if they want to receive the Sacraments (Holy Eucharist, Confession, etc….)
“We need to think about how we can differentiate a relationship between two same-sex people,” said the bishop, who is deputy chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference: “Is not there so much that is positive, good and right that we have to be fairer?”....The bishop said that same-sex unions are a reality in the country. “We must therefore ask ourselves how we meet those who enter into this relationship and who are also partly involved in the Church,” he said. “How do we accompany them pastorally and liturgically? How do we live up to them?”
I CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH—-at the Level of BISHOPS (and even our POPE…)! Have they ever heard of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS? Here is the 6th COMMANDMENT: “THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.” AND THE 9TH COMMANDMENT: THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR’S WIFE. And in 1 CORINTHIANS, CH 6.v.9, ST. PAUL SAYS: “Do not be deceived: neither the immoral, nor idolators, nor adulterers, NOR HOMOSEXUALS WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD….SHUN IMMORALITY. Every other sin which a man [or woman] commits is outside the body, but the immoral man [and/or woman] sins against his [her] own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from GOD? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. [The Crucifixion and Death of JESUS!] So glorify GOD in your body.” Folks, “THE WORD OF THE LORD STANDS FOREVER.” (1Peter 1:25)
Jan. 27, 2018: The problem is not with homosexual men and women who may desire a blessing on their relationship, it is with the Bishops who do not have the courage to gently and clearly explain why this cannot happen which could perhaps clear a way for healing and hope. So many on this comment page are throwing stones…all sin is vile and stands against God and His plan for us. I do not believe that most ‘choose’ to be homosexual, often it is something that happened in their childhood that caused a block to their natural emotional growth. And all homosexuals are not like those who march in the gay pride parades acting out in obscene ways. Most are quiet men and women who just want to live their lives as best they can, who struggle and fall and get up and fall and get up and keep trying as best they can. They do not ask for special dispensations - I have worked with men and women who are trying to live good and even holy lives but who feel they are caught between two dimensions of life - the male and the female and belong to neither. Our culture seems to glorify homosexuality - but that is not the case among those who live with this cross. So let’s be merciful and look at our own sins and failing and pray for those who bear heavy crosses, not of their own making for the most part, but which they must bear for the rest of their lives…let us pray for them, let us pray for each other for we are all guilty of sin. As we judge others, so will we be judged.
Luther was German wasn’t he? Enough said
Ken, Thanks for your positive comment. I hope the Church will find some peace and common ground using all the documents of the Catholic Church, including those of Pope Francis. I think it can be done if everyone looks to do it respectfully, and stay within the general principles outlined in each. May God grant this to the Church, because I think continued divisions can harm the faith of the people.
We MUST entrust these priests and bishops to Divine Mercy.
They are fools who have fallen for the enemy’s snare. Let’s PRAY! PRAY for them!
Let’s face it, we Catholics are soft these days. Very few of us pray as much as we ought. Very few of us go to daily Mass, frequent confession, FAST from meat or make other penances on Fridays, make the First Saturday devotion, and pray the family rosary.
As easy as it is to point fingers at these clergymen (and that would be legitimate), maybe we should start build up the Church in the best way possible. Pray, do penance, fast. Let’s make it stronger the right way.
“Using AL instead of condemning it” as suggested by Alexander is a frightful error. What is disturbing about AL is not the alteration of pastoral practice toward the divorced - it’s clear that Cardinal Kasper got his wish. Had the synod been just about that issue, Francis, or Kasper could have appealed for a revision of Church teaching: the Roman Church is the only denomination that does not recognize divorce. What is alarming is how the issue was handled. You had 300 pages of praise for traditional marriage. You have one chapter and a couple of footnotes that discuss the “unique situations” that might call for “mercy” on the sacraments. What Francis created is a template that could be used to change any pastoral practice found in the Church. Mass produced heresy ushered in through the back door - a sobering prospect. The “liberal” wing of the Church has long called for an accommodation with the decadent secularism of our day that has been shaped by the “sexual revolution.” With AL they have the means to complete the accommodation - or capitulation if care. Pray for the Church.
Good suggestion Alexander. I don’t think this is all about AL although it may in some way have emboldened some. Many of the German Bishops have been out of control for quite some time now.
While we’re at it, how about blessing my excommunications and anathemata? I mean, I’m not really a bishop, and I don’t really have jurisdiction, but it would fulfill my “primitive human need for protection, happiness and fulfillment of my life [sic]”, if my solemn judgments in matters of spiritual medicine were honored and validated by the Church.
The BIBLE is the source of the CATHOLIC FAITH. No POPE has the authority to over-ride Biblical Teaching. Cf, Genesis 19:1-29 and St. Paul is very clear in Romans 1:24-27; 1Corinthians 6:10, and 1Timothy 1:10. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Ed., in #2357, #2358, and #2359 summarizes the above Biblical Teaching, as follows: “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that homosexual acts are always intrinsically disordered. They close the sexual act to to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complimentarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved. In #2358 in the Catechism we read: “....These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.” 2359 continues: “Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resoluteky approach Christian perfection.” The reason God made the human race “male and female” was for the propagation of the human race. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE between two people of the SAME sex. The fact that our US Supreme Court has in recent years “okayed” homosexual “marriage” is very SAD because it is totally contrary to the 4th, 6th and 9th COMMANDMENTS of GOD—-that are displayed in front of the US Supreme Court in Washington D.C.!
Does anybody really care that the church does?
Funny how they try using certain interpretations of Amoris Laetitia to justify this. Here’s what Amoris Laetitia has to say on the matter:
“There 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” (251).
“Amoris Laetitia” (AL), the document that is causing division is the same document that can bring more unity. Read AL. Within it are limits and principles to guide. Use it to curb the actions of those who want to abuse it. AL does not change the objective morals of the Church, which include its teachings that homosexuality is sinful and a valid marriage in the Catholic Church is indissoluble. It does allow individual conscience to play a role and allows people some space to grow without being too heavy-handed. At the same time, Ch. 6 of AL states, “...the Synod Fathers observed that, ‘...there 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.’” Use AL instead of condemning it.
No wonder the church is disappearing. Satan has truly been successful in polluting the minds of clergymen. I hope the next Pope really cleans house because it needs it.
Posted by C. Lee :
“The Church in north Europe really is on its deathbed. Thank God for Italy and Spain.”
***************
Have you checked the demographics/birthrates for Italy & Spain recently though? Even if Spanish & Italian hierarchy are more orthodox, sans immigration they’ll soon have very few folks of any age in their pews.
A German bishop’s proposal that the Catholic Church could provide blessing ceremonies for gay couples, as well as divorced-and-civilly-remarried couples, gained support at a Church conference in Frankfurt this weekend.——
AND another ‘CATHOLIC’ Bishop passes on the words of CHRIST ! How very Sad !
The German Church and much of its leadership are a rich, dying and stinking corpse.
Perhaps the College of Cardinals needs to address this obvious heresy. This is a ‘bridge too far’ and needs to be immediately condemned as such!
Same sex “marriages” strongly imply active homosexual behavior which is a mortal sin. Why in the world would any logical church leader ever even think of “blessing” this type of immoral behavior. Come on papa francis - wake up - act! Straighten these foolish bishops out. Their soul and yours are in deep jeopardy if you stay silent.
Blessing of same sex “unions”? Same sex individuals are physically incapable of union.
Two weeks into the first Synod on the family, someone leaked an internal memo of the participants to the press. It said the main topics of discussion were to be communion for the divorced and remarried and homosexuality. Of course, the powers that be denied that was the case; but the leak served its purpose—the public was put on notice that the Synod on the family was not about the family but those in “irregular situations”. It is amazing how soon after AL, a bishop conference would even consider blessing gay unions considering the Catholic Church’s 2000-year-old teaching against homosexuality.
It is no longer the church clergy saving souls we have to save their souls.
“How do we live up to them?”
The question should be, “how do they live up to the church of God?”
This is not a social club. There are protestant and Unitarian Universalist churches who will welcome homosexuals, marry them and bless their relationship. The Catholic Church is where they should return when they feel called to carry their cross and be obedient to our Lord, Jesus Christ. As part of the body of Christ it is our job to admonish and call them back to a life of obedience. According to Jesus, not all are called to marriage. Sex is of the world unless used to procreate within the restraints of a marriage. If you choose to be in a homosexual relationship within the Catholic church you will be living in sin and this behavior should not be blessed. If you are committing adultery this behavior should not be blessed. These German Bishops needs to find a faith that conforms to THEIR beliefs since they no longer wishes to conform to the faith of the Catholic church. God have mercy on them. The sheep should not have to direct the shepherds…what on earth will become of us?
Remember the old saying: “Give someone an inch and they’ll take a mile?” Just what is happening today. Stick with the church teaching (traditional) and quit trying make a wrong become a right. We have already ventured too far down this road to Hell.
And their explanation to God is??? ....For if this comes to pass….How many people will be having their salvation endangered by the hierarchy who support these plans?? How have they come to believe such could possibly honor God??
Also, marriage is undertaken for better, for worse, in sickness, in health, in good times, in bad times….diseases..HIV…etc..mariage is until death do they part. And so is living for God!!
God bless, C-Marie
It’s okay - God will soon punish disobedient Northern Europe. I travel to Frankfurt and Amsterdam frequently for business. Many of their churches have been closed or converted to museums or secular entertainment complexes. The ones that are left are sparsely filled at Mass, even on Sunday. When I can find one I’m often the youngest in the pews by two decades, and I’m not a young man. The Church in north Europe really is on its deathbed. Thank God for Italy and Spain.
What fools these mortals be!
Excuse me, but Bishop Franz-Josef Bode is ignorant of truth. God have mercy on the Church, especially in Deutschland
Give me a break..
Martin Luther….......Germany needs you!!
In reality, the off beat promotors and participants
condemn themselves before God and are living in fantasy land
and illustrate a severe lack of faith and an overwhelming
attraction to that calibre of adamant sin against the Holy Spirit
that Jesus has told us is therefore unforgivable.
Martin Luther who was also German, said we are saved by faith
but the modern day ratbag ideas oozing from Germany, deny
faith and would make even Martin Luther blush.
Modern day scandals coming from Germany are designed to do what
they were designed to do in the time of Martin Luther, that is
to divide the Church by placing self interest in place of self
sacrifice. People who live in their sins and love their sins
more than God and truth delight in their false sense of security.
When you have the Church funded by money from the state as in
Germany, you have a situation whereby the state dictates the terms.
It seems though that many are easily led astray as we have seen
in the days of Hitler.
No doubt there are many good Christians in the Church in Germany
who are caught up in this ridiculousness and they consequently have
a burden on their shoulders as they have an obligations to not
accept it and to do something to reverse the situation.
It seems that if they do though, they will be become martyrs.
But when you have a state funded church, you have a church open to
dictatorship; and——Fascism did not die with Hitler.
Both the bishops “blessing” these fraud marriages and those Catholics in such fraud marriages need to be excommunicated. Cut the “pastoral” crapola…...sin is being celebrated and the devil is dancing with delight. Souls could and will be lost over this. Repent or face eternal hell, it’s that simple.
One thing you can be absolutely sure about: Pope Francis will not say a single word against this proposal. He is using and permitting his cronies to push the homosexual agenda as hard as he can. People need to wake up and realize what is going on.
Martin Luther is alive and well and living in Germany.
Heresies almost always start with a priest or bishop. They all eventually get squashed by the truth. I expect to see some saints rising up soon to squash this one. It may take a while though. It took hundreds of years to deal with the Arians so buckle up. The ride for the next century or two, if Western Civilization survives that long, may be rough. Read up on St. Athanasius for some encouragement. Nothing we are going through today is really new.
It is so weird to me that bishops don’t get excommunicated on the regular.
“The bishop said that same-sex unions are a reality in the country. “
**********
Well, if Germany’s anything like Canada or the US, polygamous unions are a reality, too. Does the bishop have a special blessing for those also?
Hey, why not. The Church says that divorced and civilly “remarried” couples are just fine to stay together and receive Communion as long as they do not engage in sex. Why should homosexual couples be any different? What proof is there that they are engaging in immoral sexual activities?
.
Uh, Rome, now that you’ve reduced marriage and adultery to sexual activity (by allowing divorced/civilly “remarried” couple to stay together and be Catholics in good standing if they abstain from sex) you’ve got a problem. A big one.
.
Ch. 8 of “Amoris Laetitia” (AL) calls for a ‘gradualness in pastoral care’ and for integrating people in ‘irregular situations’ into the “liturgical, pastoral, educational framework”, so long as it doesn’t cause scandal. In these difficult cases, people may very well be “living in God’s grace”. Speaking of these “complicated situations”, AL says, “They may not always encounter in them a confirmation of their own ideas or desires, but they will surely receive some light to help better understand their situation and discover a path to personal growth.” “It is a matter of reaching out to everyone, of needing to help each person find his or her proper way of participating in the ecclesial community…No one can be condemned for ever, because that is not the logic of the Gospel! ...not speaking only of the divorced and remarried, but of everyone, in whatever situation they find themselves. Naturally, if someone flaunts an objective sin as if it were part of the Christian ideal…this is a case of something which separates from the community”. From Ch. 6 of AL, section 251: “In discussing the dignity and mission of the family, the Synod Fathers observed that, ‘as for proposals to place unions between homosexual persons on the same level as marriage, there 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 question then is as follows: Do the “blessing ceremonies for gay couples” indicate an endorsement of such a union and will it cause scandal? If so, according to AL, it is wrong.
It’s unclear to me why they need a blessing for something that is against Church teaching. Do they want a special ceremony now before the whole congregation so that a sin can somehow become sacramentalized?
Let them have their blessing during mass like everyone else gets.
Maybe the Church could develop a ceremony to bless prostitutes in the Netherlands since prostitution is legal there and they feel so bad the Church is so “judgmental” on prostitution. Perhaps a blessing for those in group marriages (we won’t call them marriages so people don’t think they are the same as marriages) might be a way of people living in mortal sin to feel better about losing their souls while they are here on earth. In fact, why don’t we get rid of the Bible so nobody feels bad about anything so we can all go to you no where without anyone judging us? The Lord must have tremendous patience.
The intention of the German Bishops to rationalize in order to recognize their version of same sex unions(I cannot come to call this a “marriage”)and acceptance of remarrieds to receive Communion is scandal. In what way is the Catechism’s clear teaching on the sensitivity of homosexual lifestyle not acceptable? The Catholic Church is the only bastion against illicit moral behaviours which this very sexually deviant world demands. The Church exists to save souls. How are souls in Germany to be saved when some of its hierarchy want to distort Universal Church teachings, twist the true Biblical teachings in order to appease the homosexual and remarried. German Bishops, stop dancing to the chorus of immorality, have the courage to unite and defend what the Church has always taught! Christ will hold you individually accountable for perverting His teachings on these matters. Rather give counsel towards saving souls, to abide by the Church’s moral teachings. Or are you determined to contribute to a serious Catholic Church schism? To my mind this will spell big disaster and chaos.
Seems like the bishop has things reversed. He is supposed to be providing the moral leadership; the populace is not in the business of providing moral demands. Believe I detect the odor of Sulphur in the German church.
“We need to think about how we can differentiate a relationship between two same-sex people,” said the bishop, who is deputy chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference: “Is not there so much that is positive, good and right” - this is a Catholic bishop saying this!!!
What is holding back the hand of God? It is not going to be pretty.
thank you pope Francis.
When I said this would happen, Francis fans said never. I told you so.
When I said that they really don’t care as long as you don’t call it marriage, Francis fan rolled their eyes and called me names. I told you so.
We will soon be right up to date with the rest of the world, Thanks to the pope we will have Catholic divorce and Catholic gay marriage and probably even Catholic contraception.
“How do we accompany them pastorally and liturgically? How do we live up to them?”
I have to adamantly disagree. The question should be “How does a same sex marriage live up to God?” Their lives are in disagreement with the church liturgy and we are supposed to accompany them? Is this in the hope that they will change? Or is it such a liberal philosophy to just accept everything? Do we bless abortion next?? Good grief. Do people really want to accept this ludicracy?
“Bishop Bode was one of three German bishops elected by the German Church to attend the Synod on the Family in October 2015.”
Bishop Bode’s views on the family are obviously skewed. Surely this was known when he was chosen. Why, then, was he chosen to attend a synod on the family? Was it in fact to promote an entirely new understanding the word, “family?” Of course it was. “Family,” needs no new definition, however; we only need a renewed commitment in this—and every other area of our lives—to fully love and be committed to God and all that HE says is good.
May the Lord help us all.
What this bishop and this priest are proposing is HERESI! You cannot bless MORTAL SIN! They want to send these people to hell with a blessing? Shameful, disgraceful and ANTI-CATHOLIC! All this garbage is now finding a voice after AL. ENOUGH! This sounds more like Satan’s church not the Holy Catholic Church, the Immaculate Bride of Christ!
I bring this thought up just for discussion. At one point in the article it quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that “homosexual persons are called to chastity”(2359). In providing a “blessing” of same-sex (and divorced and civilly remarried) couples could there be an inference of condoning ongoing sexual behavior?
Couples may not consider themselves worthy of the sacrament of communion, but they continue to live an unchaste life?
Just some questions that came to me from reading the article.
I would like to know who appointed these men bishops who supposedly speak with authority?
This is what happens when a door opens through discussions on Amoris Laetitia. It is open season for interpretation and misinterpretation, the later being more prevalent and I’m not even sure I understand this apostolic exhortation. But in the end I to go with the catechism. At least I can be assured it was written with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The anti-Gospel
This is the FRANCIS EFFECT.