Translation error cited in Synod report's passage on homosexuality
October 15, 2014
An inaccurate translation in a key passage of an interim report has exacerbated concerns about the work of the Synod of Bishops, the Catholic News Agency notes.
In a passage regarding pastoral care for homosexuals, the relatio post disceptationem, in the English translation, read:
Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?
In the Italian original, the phrase translated as “accepting and valuing” is accettando e valutando, which would properly be translated as “accepting and evaluating” or “accepting and weighing.” The English translation appears to assume that homosexual identity should be considered as something of value, whereas the original document listed it neutrally, as something to be taken into consideration.
For all current news, visit our News home page.
Further information:
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: John J Plick -
Oct. 16, 2014 12:03 PM ET USA
"If not so, the Pope has an obligation to speak clearly" Exactly it! I believe the Holy Father has painted himself into a corner. It is affirmed throughout Catholic history that he of all people in the Church has the privilege & duty of clarification. Ironically, there is no other person more responsible for the existence & configuration of this Synod than he is. Let us hope that "exhaustively" he will discharge his duty. Ave...
-
Posted by: -
Oct. 16, 2014 10:30 AM ET USA
Discipline can be accomplished in at least 2 ways. Most of us prefer a swift and decisive smackdown of an adversary or opponent. It's very satisfying to our basic fallen nature. But another way to discipline is simply to give the offender lots of rope, lots of freedom, so that the offender can feel himself becoming distant from the truth and come back on his own, or end up hanging himself. The latter approach doesn't satisfy in our gut, but it can be effective nonetheless.
-
Posted by: feedback -
Oct. 15, 2014 11:39 PM ET USA
But this attempt at backpedaling continues to be accepting and evaluating of the emperor's new clothes.
-
Posted by: bernie4871 -
Oct. 15, 2014 8:57 PM ET USA
And elsewhere he says the Pope agrees with him. If that is true, our Church really does have a PROBLEM. If not so, the Pope has an obligation to speak clearly. This fiasco is starting to have grave consequences for the credibility of The Church and family life in general. Loose talk is not a favored genre for Popes and true leaders. We have right to expect more. This isn't the middle ages. This is the day of instant communication.
-
Posted by: jg23753479 -
Oct. 15, 2014 6:27 PM ET USA
Dover Beachcomber has it exactly right. The explanation given by the CNA is -- let me put this charitably -- strained. The sentence makes no sense at all if we accept the CNA's suggested translation. No, there is evil afoot here all right, but it doesn't emanate from the office of some lowly translator. And wasn't it Pope Francis himself who opted for Italian over Latin?
-
Posted by: Gil125 -
Oct. 15, 2014 5:30 PM ET USA
Then this is a real case of traduttore traditore.
-
Posted by: Defender -
Oct. 15, 2014 5:22 PM ET USA
The synod chose not to use Latin...
-
Posted by: dover beachcomber -
Oct. 15, 2014 5:21 PM ET USA
The sentence still doesn't make sense. First, we're now told, the homosexual orientation is to be "accepted," (with all of that term's strong built-in connotation of approval) and then "weighed" or "evaluated." But with the starting line moved semantically so close to approval, what's the likely outcome of the "weighing" or "evaluation?" Gibberish before, gibberish after, deceitful throughout.
