Ahead of synod, prominent prelates publish on ‘LGBTQ issues’

[Michie]

Just days after organizers of the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October said topics were not the focus of discussions, two prominent participants have publicly weighed in on the question of Catholics identifying as LGBTQ.

Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe and Jesuit Father James Martin on Sept. 19 published personal reflections on pastoral approaches to Catholics experiencing same-sex attraction.

Radcliffe, who served as a spiritual assistant at the 2023 synod assembly, has courted controversy in the past with statements on same-sex attraction. He wrote in the Sept. 19 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See, about being on “the synodal path with gay Catholics.”

The 79-year-old Dominican wrote that same-sex “desires,” like all desires, are “God-given” and need to be “educated” rather than denied. Radcliffe praised “mature gay Catholics” in “committed relationships.”

“Church teaching is already developing as it is refreshed by lived experience: gay people are no longer seen only in terms of sexual acts but as our brothers and sisters who, according to Pope Francis, can be blessed,” Radcliffe added.

Strong opposition at the synod​

Continued below.

Ahead of synod, prominent prelates publish on ‘LGBTQ issues’

Father Timothy Radcliffe and Father James Martin weigh in on same-sex attraction before the synod.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

 

[KathrynAragon]

They've always been able to be blessed. The rest is a bunch of brouhaha that seems timely.

 

[chevyontheriver]

Just days after organizers of the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October said topics were not the focus of discussions, two prominent participants have publicly weighed in on the question of Catholics identifying as LGBTQ.

Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe and Jesuit Father James Martin on Sept. 19 published personal reflections on pastoral approaches to Catholics experiencing same-sex attraction.

Radcliffe, who served as a spiritual assistant at the 2023 synod assembly, has courted controversy in the past with statements on same-sex attraction. He wrote in the Sept. 19 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Holy See, about being on “the synodal path with gay Catholics.”

The 79-year-old Dominican wrote that same-sex “desires,” like all desires, are “God-given” and need to be “educated” rather than denied. Radcliffe praised “mature gay Catholics” in “committed relationships.”

“Church teaching is already developing as it is refreshed by lived experience: gay people are no longer seen only in terms of sexual acts but as our brothers and sisters who, according to Pope Francis, can be blessed,” Radcliffe added.

Strong opposition at the synod​

Continued below.

Ahead of synod, prominent prelates publish on ‘LGBTQ issues’

Father Timothy Radcliffe and Father James Martin weigh in on same-sex attraction before the synod.

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Face palming again.

 

[KathrynAragon]

Hey, when I went to the Methodist church, the church split because of LGBTQ stuff. Oh well.

 

[RileyG]

Sigh, I will offer prayers for them because that’s all I can do.

 

[RileyG]

Hey, when I went to the Methodist church, the church split because of LGBTQ stuff. Oh well.

I don’t think the Global Methodist Church is too large though, I think many conservative bishops in the UMC, especially in Africa, are opposed to LGBT.

 

[Wolseley]

The 79-year-old Dominican wrote that same-sex “desires,” like all desires, are “God-given” and need to be “educated” rather than denied.

Lust is also a desire. So is pedophilia. So is rage. So is megalomania. Should we consider all those to be "God-given" as well?

Just another waffling old prelate from the Pepsi Generation that is allowing the voice of the Author of Confusion to usurp the sound teaching of the Church that our Dominican friend should be adhering to instead of attempting to be trendy.

“Church teaching is already developing as it is refreshed by lived experience: gay people are no longer seen only in terms of sexual acts but as our brothers and sisters who, according to Pope Francis, can be blessed,” Radcliffe added.

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
---2 Timothy 4: 3-4

 

[RileyG]

Lust is also a desire. So is pedophilia. So is rage. So is megalomania. Should we consider all those to be "God-given" as well?

Just another waffling old prelate from the Pepsi Generation that is allowing the voice of the Author of Confusion to usurp the sound teaching of the Church that our Dominican friend should be adhering to instead of attempting to be trendy.

"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."
---2 Timothy 4: 3-4

Well said.

Hopefully he repents and recants his statements.

 

[RileyG]

They've always been able to be blessed. The rest is a bunch of brouhaha that seems timely.

Be blessed? No. I don't think so.

Most gays and lesbians were well into the closet until the 2000s. Even in the 90s it was taboo.

Reminds me when Ellen came out, I think Wendy's stopped showing commercials during her sitcom because they didn't approve.

I'm too young, so I don't know for sure.

 

[KathrynAragon]

All I can tell you is that was YOUR hangup, not the church's hangup. Gays have been allowed to be blessed for many, many years, probably decades and decades.

 

[KathrynAragon]

I will say this though - recently there was a homily (sermon) given in a very left leaning town and it was DEFINITELY anti gay so...

 

[Michie]

All I can tell you is that was YOUR hangup, not the church's hangup. Gays have been allowed to be blessed for many, many years, probably decades and decades.

How so? Blessing gay couples is recent.

 

[KathrynAragon]

How so? Blessing gay couples is recent.

No it's not, which is what the stink was about. It's been going on for decades.

 

[Michie]

No it's not, which is what the stink was about. It's been going on for decades.

Post your proof. Of course gay church going Catholics were blessed as we all are. But blessing couples in irregular situations is a new thing. That’s why Fiducia Supplicans came out.

 

[KathrynAragon]

Post your proof. Of course gay church going Catholics were blessed as we all are. But blessing couples in irregular situations is a new thing. That’s why Fiducia Supplicans came out.

Well, I personally feel it was a superfluous document that affirmed what we already know about marriage but you do you. In other parts of the world, the blessings of same sex couples has been going on for many years.

 

[Michie]

Well, I personally feel it was a superfluous document that affirmed what we already know about marriage but you do you. In other parts of the world, the blessings of same sex couples has been going on for many years.

I’d like proof of that approved from the RCC. I’ll wait.

 

[chevyontheriver]

All I can tell you is that was YOUR hangup, not the church's hangup. Gays have been allowed to be blessed for many, many years, probably decades and decades.

As individuals, yes, of course.

 

[Wolseley]

I’d like proof of that approved from the RCC. I’ll wait.

I suspect you're going to be waiting for a long time, Michie.

 

[chevyontheriver]

No it's not, which is what the stink was about. It's been going on for decades.

It's been going on for years outside of the Catholic Church I'll grant you that. For example Robert Sirico did gay marriages in Washington state and Colorado in the 1970's as part of the Metropolitan Community Church. He has since reverted to the Catholic faith and become a faithful priest and no longer does those things. He was an author and initial signer of the Manhattan Declaration, which I have also signed.

 

[RileyG]

All I can tell you is that was YOUR hangup, not the church's hangup. Gays have been allowed to be blessed for many, many years, probably decades and decades.

I don’t see any official documents.