Gay activists outraged by Vatican cardinal's condemnation of homosexual acts
December 02, 2009
Italian gay-rights activists have unleashed a barrage of criticism on Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, after the Mexican-born prelate was quoted as saying that “transsexuals and gays will never enter the heavenly kingdom.”
In context Cardinal Barragan—who retired in April from his post as president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care—was clearly speaking about people who commit homosexual acts. He said that there are different causes for same-sex attraction, and those who feel homosexual impulses “perhaps aren't guilty, but by acting against the dignity of the body they will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven," he said. Thus his remarks were in keeping with the Church teaching that homosexual acts are gravely immoral. The cardinal indicated that he was offering not his own opinion, but the perennial teaching of the Church. After saying that homosexuals could not attain the Kingdom, he added: “It’s not me who says so; it’s St. Paul.”
Pressed for comment on the cardinal’s remarks—which first appeared on an Italian internet site—Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, said that the web site should not be considered an authoritative source of Church teaching.
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Further information:
- 'Gays won't go to heaven' (ANSA)
- Gays And Transsexuals Can't Enter Heaven: Cardinal (New York Times)
- Gays 'will never go to heaven': cardinal (AFP)
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Posted by: -
Dec. 04, 2009 12:06 AM ET USA
Father Lombardi always has a job with the Obama Administration.
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Posted by: thecrossreference8142 -
Dec. 03, 2009 11:21 AM ET USA
"the web site should not be considered an authoritative source of Church teaching" How about the Bible? Could the Bible "be considered an authoritative source of Church teaching"? Or the Catechism?
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Posted by: -
Dec. 03, 2009 9:33 AM ET USA
Speaking of trying to have it both ways, how about the doublespeak that disparages the source rather than affirming the teaching? *Sigh* Another missed opportunity to teach.
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Posted by: jeremiahjj -
Dec. 02, 2009 7:00 PM ET USA
The church should not back down from this firm position. People respect firm positions. They do not respect spineless statements or people who try to have things both ways. When it comes to sin and violations of moral turpitude, things are either right and godly or wrong and ungodly.
