Philippine prelate: greater outreach to homosexuals, remarried is needed
October 23, 2014
Following the Synod of Bishops, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines called upon pastors to reach out to those with homosexual attractions in order to help them live chastely.
“Through honest dialogue and pastoral accompaniment, it should be our goal to assist them to respond to the demands of chastity and that purity of body and heart that Jesus, in the Gospels, calls ‘blessed,’” said Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
“Persons with homosexual orientation are sons and daughters of God; no less than any of us is,” he added. “Discrimination against them is contrary to the Gospel spirit … When they wish to make an offering to the life of the Church according to their talents, abilities and gifts, the Church as mother provides for them.”
“To the legislators who consider giving legal recognition to same sex unions, the Church declares there is no equivalence or even any remote analogy whatsoever between marriage between a man and woman as planned by God and the so-called same sex unions,” he continued.
Speaking about those who have divorced and remarried, he said:
We cannot presume to judge and condemn. Rather, the presumption should be that there is a genuine effort on their part to live according to the demands of our faith.
The danger of scandal should never stand in the way of genuine charity, and the Catholic faithful must be reminded that much of what Jesus did was scandalous to the ‘righteous’ of his time.
Where, however, in the pastoral assessment of bishops and priests, the full and unqualified admission of persons in irregular unions to the life of the Church causes charitable and sincere Catholics to doubt and misunderstand the teaching of the Church, then some prudent arrangement must be worked out that will be beneficial to all.
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Posted by: bernie4871 -
Oct. 24, 2014 3:13 PM ET USA
loumiamo7154 / feedback - Both well said. May I add: - Has anyone ever questioned that, “Persons with homosexual orientation are sons and daughters of God; no less than any of us is,” Many of us quietly feel there is evidence to suspect that "gays" already compose a large portion even of our clergy. So who is putting roadblocks in their way? The lay people, who have to put up with the mess and pay the billions of $ in bills? They've been silent till now as they open their wallets.
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Oct. 24, 2014 1:03 AM ET USA
I think he strikes just the right tone on homosexuality and SSM, but there should be no question of admission of divorced and remarried Catholics to the Eucharist, unless a cause for nullity is opened and the first marriage is found to have been truly invalid. This is what each of these couples should have done prior to remarriage, and it's not too late--and is very helpful and healing, as well.
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Posted by: skall391825 -
Oct. 24, 2014 12:16 AM ET USA
Well, I certainly am going to tape that speach to my wall.
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Posted by: christhavemercy821235 -
Oct. 23, 2014 8:11 PM ET USA
"The danger of scandal should never stand in the way of genuine charity, and the Catholic faithful must be reminded that much of what Jesus did was scandalous to the ‘righteous’ of his time. " It seems a priest in my parish said the same thing, he said that is the "true Gospels" not to admonish sinners or distance from them in imitation of Christ. If that is the case should the Church just erase the sins of Scandal in the Catechism? I am confused!
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Posted by: Ken -
Oct. 23, 2014 6:22 PM ET USA
Reads like something Pres Obama would say - distract from the real issue (read feedback's comment) but sound very concerned.
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Posted by: feedback -
Oct. 23, 2014 11:52 AM ET USA
Another voice that misses the point completely and adds to confusion. The problem is not the lack of charity of the Church towards any specific group (homosexuals, civilly remarried). The real problem is the pressure to change completely the Church's teaching on sin, on human sexuality, on the permanence of Marriage, and on the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It is not about lack of charity; it is rather undermining the faith under the disguise of yearning for a "greater charity."
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Posted by: -
Oct. 23, 2014 8:36 AM ET USA
I haven't been in every Church, but in those I have attended I have never seen a sign that said Homosexuals Not Allowed. I have never heard of an usher or sergeant of arms whose duty it is to keep out homosexuals. So just what avenues are open to bishops and priests that would allow them to be more pastoral toward homosexuals, except the denial of doctrine?
