www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News InfoVaticana---homosexuality!!

At the pope's request, the Pontifical Biblical Commission, the highest technical ecclesial body in interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, has issued a report on the anthropological vision in the Bible that radically reviews the concept of homosexuality.

"A new and more adequate understanding of the human person imposes a radical reservation on the exclusive appreciation of heterosexual union in favour of a similar acceptance of homosexuality and homosexual unions," can be read in the study commissioned by His Holiness to the Pontifical Biblical Commission on the anthropological vision of the Bible, which includes extensive attention to the subject of homosexuality, the expression of which is conceived as "a legitimate and worthy expression of the human being".

Will 2020 be the year of the great revision of the Catholic conception of homosexuality and homosexual relations? In principle, it doesn't seem to take a special insight to see it probable. Although this report remains that, a report, without any doctrinal or pastoral value until the Pope makes some decision on this matter, the fact adds to dozens of indications over the past year that persistently point in that direction.

The issue is twofold: on the one hand, the very concept of homosexuality which, while in no case would have a moral assessment in itself, does condition the doctrinal response to its specific expressions. Until now, the Catechism of the Catholic Church regards homosexual orientation as "objectively disordered", within the framework of a conception of sex aimed at both reproduction - co-creative cooperation with God on the part of man - and a complementarity that will be an image and figure of Christ's relationship with his Church. If, on the other hand, a "new and more adequate understanding of the human person" is imposed, to quote words from the report, and it is concluded, in the manner of some German bishops, that homosexuality is as 'adequate' as heterosexuality, the conclusions for moral doctrine are potentially seismic.

I doubt it. I am posting a link to Rorate Caeli (a trad site). I often disagree with their interpretation of current ecclesiastical affairs but I am sharing the link because it provides background on this document. They note that bits and pieces are being taken out of context of the document that is only available in Italian.

https://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2019/12/on-pontifical-biblical-commission.html

Christ is in our midst!!

While this thread leads me to stray into "areas too great for me," let me make a cautionary comment or two.

First of all, science is not a solid basis for evaluation of mankind. Science is always testing new theories and coming to new conclusions. It's like shifting sand. So to shift the entire understanding that has come to us through Revelation by science and science's latest theories seems to me to be a faulty way to go.

Secondly, we are not in the business of evaluating Scripture, Tradition, or the whole of Revelation in light of this world, which passes so quickly away, by this world's every shifting ideas, insights, studies, or fashions. We are in the business of saving souls and getting them into right relationships with God through Jesus Christ. St. Paul writes that "practicing homosexuals will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Need we say more? Need we add more? Should we not seriously step back and ponder?

My argument to those with this inclination is that we all have some cross, some weakness to combat. We all have something to master. And that is precisely the point. Every religion and every philosophy that has ever come into human culture of any type and anywhere has spoken of the need to control ourselves--to become better by this self-mastery. Unfortunately, since the last half of the 20th century in Western Culture the idea has become "if it feels good, we do it," "there is no shame," "there is no objective behavior that is good for everyone at all times," etc. This latter attitude flies in the face of all the self control ideas ever put forward by religion or philosophy. But it is not a movement forward. In reality, it is the beginning of the end of the country or culture which adopts such an attitude. And we can see parallels in other countries and cultures that are now just part of historical memory.

Bob

And, it's not just a small subset of priests.....it's the majority!

Unless you have some facts to back that up, I find that an astounding assumption and accusation. Be careful.

Are you saying that a homosexual priesthood isn't a problem?

I'm saying you need facts to back up your assertion, and you have not provided any. Conservative estimates do not count, nor do books published by Catholic priests. As I said, "Be careful". Whatever the case, if they are of the Latin tradition, they are all held to a celibate, chaste life.

Christ is in our midst!!

Wait a minute. How did a document about the idea of updating the Church's approach and/or attitude toward homosexuality in general get moved to a discussion about homosexuality in the priesthood of the Latin Catholic Church?

It seems tome that these are two distinctly different topics, though they may be related distantly.

Bob