LGBT foundation aims to counter Vatican family synod
Source: Catholic News Agency
LGBT foundation aims to counter Vatican family synod
By Kevin J. Jones
Denver, Colo., Jul 30, 2014
An LGBT activist foundation headed by a former Obama White House staffer gave a $200,000 grant to a dissenting Catholic coalition to target the upcoming Synod on the Family and World Youth Day.
The Michigan-based Arcus Foundation gave the 2014 grant to Dignity USA to support pro-LGBT faith advocates to influence and counter the narrative of the Catholic Church and its ultra-conservative affiliates....
...According to the foundation, the funding was part of an effort to engage open-minded religious leaders who can use their influence to shift public views away from prejudice....
...The Arcus Foundation has close ties to the Obama administration, contributing $1 million to the State Departments Global Equality Fund. The LGBT advocacy fund has spent about $12 million worldwide, the Associated Press reported in June....
Read more: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/lgbt-foundation-aims-to-counter-vatican-family-synod-18006/
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)110. On unions of persons of the same sex, the responses of the bishops' conferences refer to Church teaching. 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. [...] Nonetheless, according to the teaching of the Church, men and women with homosexual tendencies must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided (CDF, Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons, 4). The responses indicate that the recognition in civil law of unions between persons of the same sex largely depends on the socio-cultural, religious and political context. In this regard, the episcopal conferences describe three instances: the first exists when repressive and punitive measures are taken in reaction to the phenomenon of homosexuality in all its aspects, especially when the public manifestation of homosexuality is prohibited by civil law. Some responses indicate that, in this context, the Church provides different forms of spiritual care for single, homosexual people who seek the Churchs assistance.
111. A second context is one where the phenomenon of homosexuality is fluid. Homosexual behavior is not punished, but simply tolerated until it becomes visible or public. In this context, legislation on civil unions between persons of the same sex does not usually exist. In political circles, especially in the West, however, the increasing tendency is to adopt laws providing for registered partnerships or so-called marriage between persons of the same sex. People argue non-discrimination to give support to this idea, an approach which is perceived by believers and a good part of the public, in central and eastern Europe, as an imposition by a political and foreign culture.
112. The responses describe a third context, one where States have introduced legislation recognizing civil unions or so-called marriages between homosexual persons. In some countries, the situation reflects a real redefining of marriage, where the couple is viewed only in legal terms, with such references as equal rights and non-discrimination without any thought to a constructive dialogue in the matter based on the deeper anthropological issues involved and the centrality of the integral well-being of the human person, especially the integral well-being of the children in these unions. When legal equality is given to heterosexual and homosexual marriage, the State often allows the adoption of children (biological children of either partner or children born through artificial fertilization). Such is the case, particularly in English-speaking countries and central Europe.
113. Every bishops conference voiced opposition to redefining marriage between a man and a woman through the introduction of legislation permitting a union between two people of the same sex. The episcopal conferences amply demonstrate that they are trying to find a balance between the Church's teaching on the family and a respectful, non-judgmental attitude towards people living in such unions. On the whole, the extreme reactions to these unions, whether compromising or uncompromising, do not seem to have facilitated the development of an effective pastoral programme which is consistent with the Magisterium and compassionate towards the persons concerned
Zorra
(27,670 posts)damage to enormous numbers of human beings throughout history.
Every effort should be made to contain them, and prevent them from continuing to harm others.
rug
(82,333 posts)I'm surprised to see you endorse it.
http://www.dignityusa.org/purpose
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)Catholic parishioners are speaking up more and more for equal rights and demanding their leaders do the same. I posted such an article to LGBT just yesterday:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/113739489
It's when religious institutions and their leaders try to legislate bigoted and/or oppressive dogmas into law that I have a real problem.
rug
(82,333 posts)I do apologize if I mistook you for one of the many who despise all things Catholic. It often goes way beyond church/state issues and is a revulsion for the beliefs themselves. Few will actually state it extends also to the believers.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)As long as the religious institution to which they belong doesn't try to impose their belief system onto others via legislation that would deny the human rights of others. There are courageous lay persons of many faiths, including Catholics, who are working for equality in resistance to their leadership. That I can admire and that's where I believe the real hope for change will be found.
Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)anti-choice and homophobic beliefs of the leadership of the Catholic Church and there attempts at imposing them on the rest of us.
I do view the rest of it as superstitious twaddle, but mostly harmless.
rug
(82,333 posts)Assuming you accurately and not simplistically described them.
Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)Generally speaking, I don't care about the Catholic Church's teachings about philosophical and theological ideas. My criticism stems from its influence and attempts to influence public policy in both this country and others, guided by the beliefs and doctrine of the Church that target people and behaviors.
In addition, if the belief or practice in question is something that doesn't affect those outside the Church, I frankly don't care about it. Hence why I'm silent on the whole women priest/bishop thing. I view it as irrelevant for non-Catholics to have an opinion about. The Church can organize itself as it sees fit.
But where Church, politics and civil rights intersect, that's where I simply explode. In this instance, the Church is no different than any other PAC, whether its on contraception, LGBT rights, choice, etc.
That's also why I have no problem calling the Church, its leaderships, and its doctrine(where it applies) by the appropriate labels, whether its homophobic, misogynistic, authoritarian, etc.
Please note that none of this applies to lay Catholics, from my experience, most of them are ethically better than their Church.
Humanist_Activist
(7,670 posts)within the Church.
I'll be honest and say that their attempts at reform within the Church will fall on deaf ears, but they are welcome to try.
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)But I fear that unless the leadership becomes more inclusive, you may very well be right. I think the Synod this fall will be a good indicator of which way the winds of reform are blowing, if they are at all. In the meanwhile, the battle for equality and reproductive rights wages on with scores of lawsuits still to be settled.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)nt
theHandpuppet
(19,964 posts)This is the kind of crap we have to deal with day after day after day...
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-135.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-126.cfm
http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2014/07/hobby-lobby-and-enda.html
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/o-malley-and-lori-to-senate-oppose-bill-that-attacks-religious-freedom.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-124.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/hhs-mandate/usccb-hobby-lobby-case-statement-june-2014.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/news/2014/14-037.cfm
http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/united-states-v-windsor.pdf
http://www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/amicus-briefs/upload/hollingsworth-v-perry.pdf
http://www.becketfund.org/hhsinformationcentral/