Chicago Tribune: Bishops may OK new guidelines on gay Catholics

[DeepModem Mom]

Bishops may OK new guidelines on gay Catholics
By Manya A. Brachear, Chicago Tribune
November 13, 2006

Though continuing to stress that same-sex relationships are immoral, America's Roman Catholic bishops may approve new guidelines this week that would absolve gay Catholics of any obligation to try to alter their sexual orientation.

The guidelines for ministering to homosexuals, to be reviewed when bishops convene today in Baltimore for their annual fall meeting, also will urge clergy to baptize the adopted children of same-sex couples who agree to raise them Catholic.

"We are trying to find a language that does not betray the teaching of the church, but will perhaps express it in ways that are not so offensive," Cardinal Francis George, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in an interview.

The bishops also will vote on a document on the reception of Communion, which could lay a foundation that would make it easier for clergy to deny the sacrament to Catholics at odds with the church, including politicians.

The issue surfaced during the 2004 presidential campaign when some bishops threatened to deny Communion to the Democratic candidate, Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, a Catholic who supports abortion rights.

"That started a conversation that wasn't resolved, but brought up this other thing — worthiness to receive Communion on everybody's part," George said. "It shouldn't be automatic. There's personal scrutiny and examination of conscience that should take place."

Missing from the meeting's agenda is any mention of the Iraq war, an absence that irks parishioners who believe the bishops should focus on that issue rather than homosexuality....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bishops13nov13,0,7789917.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[MADem]

1. Well, a very slight shift to the left. Ain't this gonna bother those hate-filled

homophobes who LIKE the hardnosed stance?

Gee, that infallibility thing is problematic, when they keep moving those goalposts!

I know a person whose only argument against equal rights for gay folk is "the CHUUUUUUUUUUURCH says NOOOOOOOOOOOO." I'm not a meanspirited person as a rule, but this tiny little tidbit of change needs to be rubbed in the nose of a certain self-righteous asshole, with a commentary about how once upon a time, if you ate a hotdog on Friday you were going to hell.

Of course, it's a small crumb from them, and I'm guessing that plenty of gay people will say "Thanks but no thanks." The only one who constantly seems to be begging for love from the Catholic Church is Andrew Sullivan...he's slow to believe that they aren't likely to change much in his lifetime.

That communion thing, though, looks to be problematic. Hell, anyone could tell a priest that someone wasn't worthy; but only public persons would face the greater scruitiny. If they were smart, they'd pass on that horseshit totally, or risk a HUGE exodus of parishoners, many of them with MONEY.

Times change, and they're likely to change even more in future.....

[Demit]

4. At no time, if you ate meat on Friday, were you ever going to hell.

And bishops do not ever speak from a position of infallibility. The Pope does that, and only at times that he specifies.

It's hard to tell whether you knew these things or not and were just being sarcastic. If not, you should be made aware of the facts.

[MADem]

5. I was being sarcastic. Jeez....

[closeupready]

2. For those of us who (for some strange reason)

continue to feel that they are Catholic AND gay, this development is something (i.e., better than nothing), but there is still no way you can tell me that God created me gay and also intend for me to live as a sexually frustrated person. That would be cruel and God is not cruel.

[Sapere aude]

3. I never doubt my decision to reject the Catholic faith. My brother is a priest and we came from the

same household and family which makes me wonder why I feel the way I do. I think it is because when I use my reason and intellect to find out how I think about life it always leads me to reject Catholic teaching. I also wonder why people stay with the church even when they disagree with it's teachings. God, if there is one, will not send you to hell, if there is one, for rejecting that faith that teaches you must conform or be ostracized.

[damntexdem]

6. Hmm: "It shouldn't be automatic. There's personal scrutiny and examination of conscience ...

that should take place." Is the priest going to say he's sorry but the attempted communicant hasn't properly undergone 'personal scrutiny'? Where are they going to get enough mind readers to become priests?

[cboy4]

7. All I have to say America's Roman Catholic bishops:

:popcorn:

[VegasWolf]

8. New Guideline: Priests don't have to hide their homosexuality! nt

[SaveElmer]

9. Still a bigoted position as far as I am concerned...

No substance to this new policy...just putting lipstick on a pig!