Openly Gay Catholic Prit Discs Pope Francis' Appeal For LGBTQ Protectns : NPR

Contents:

• WHAT DO LOOK LIKE TO BE GAY – AND A PRACTICG CATHOLIC?
• WHAT’S LIKE TO BE GAY AND CATHOLIC? AN TERVIEW WH EVE TH
• WHAT SHOULD A GAY CATHOLIC DO?
• CAN SOMEONE BE GAY AND CHRISTIAN? IS POSSIBLE TO BE A GAY CHRISTIAN?
• INFORMATN FOR GAY & LBIAN CATHOLICS
• OPENLY GAY CATHOLIC PRIT DISCS POPE FRANCIS' APPEAL FOR LGBTQ PROTECTNS
• CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS IT’S OK TO BE GAY, SORT OFCHANGG TIMVATIN PRELAT CHANGE THEIR TONE, BUT NOT THE L WHEN TO GAY AND DIVORCED CATHOLICS. BARBIE LATZA NAUPDATED APR. 14, 2017 2:37PM EDT / PUBLISHED OCT. 17, 2014 5:43AM EDT FRAN ORIGLIA/GETTY,FRAN ORIGLIAVATICAN CITY — IN WHAT IS BEG SEEN AS A DRAMATIC SHIFT TONE ALONG THE L OF POPE FRANCIS’S “WHO AM I TO JUDGE?” MANTRA, THE 191 CATHOLIC PRELAT TAKG PART THE EXTRAORDARY SYNOD OF BISHOPS RELEASED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THEIR WORKG DOCUMENT ON MONDAY. GONE, AT LEAST FOR NOW, ARE JUDGMENTAL SCRIPTNS OF HOMOSEXUALY LIKE “TRSILLY DISORRED” AND “PRAVED.” THEY’RE STEAD REPLACED WH A MORE NTRAL TONE AND REFUL TROSPECTN ON THE MATTER. “HOMOSEXUALS HAVE GIFTS AND QUALI TO OFFER TO THE CHRISTIAN MUNY: ARE WE PABLE OF WELG THE PEOPLE, GUARANTEEG TO THEM A ATERNAL SPACE OUR MUNI?” THE THORS OF THE WORKG DOCUMENT LLED A RELAT POST DISCEPTATNEM ASK. “WHOUT NYG THE MORAL PROBLEMS NNECTED TO HOMOSEXUAL UNNS HAS TO BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE S WHICH MUTUAL AID TO THE POT OF SACRIFICE NSTUT A PREC SUPPORT THE LIFE OF THE PARTNERS.”THE THORS GO ON TO WARN THAT GAY MARRIAGE IS STILL FORBIDN, AND UTN THAT PRSURG THE CHURCH TO ACCEPT WHAT NNOT ACCEPT WILL ONLY BACKFIRE. “THE CHURCH FURTHERMORE AFFIRMS THAT UNNS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX NNOT BE NSIRED ON THE SAME FOOTG AS MATRIMONY BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN,” THE DOCUMENT STAT. “NOR IS ACCEPTABLE THAT PRSURE BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON PASTORS OR THAT TERNATNAL BODI MAKE FANCIAL AID PENNT ON THE TRODUCTN OF REGULATNS SPIRED BY GENR IOLOGY.”THE RELAT STOPS SHORT OF SUGGTG ANY DOCTRAL CHANGE LIKE ALLOWG DIVORCED AND REMARRIED CATHOLICS TO TAKE MUNN OR ALLOWG DIVORCED CATHOLICS TO REMARRY THE CHURCH WHOUT ANNULMENT, BUT DO TAKE A GALACTIC LEAP FORWARD TERMS OF ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT REFERRED TO AS “IRREGULAR SUATNS” AND “WOUND FAI.”IN PARTICULAR, THE SYNOD FATHERS SEEM TO REGNIZE THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED DRASTILLY SCE THE LAST TIME THEY FORMALLY DISCSED THE SEX LIV OF CATHOLIC FAI AND HOW THEY N MISTER TO THEM—EVEN REACHG OUT TO THOSE UPL HABATG OR MARRIED CIVIL UNNS THAT AREN’T REGNIZED BY THE CHURCH. “A NEW DIMENSN OF TODAY’S FAY PASTORAL NSISTS OF ACCEPTG THE REALY OF CIVIL MARRIAGE AND ALSO HABATN, TAKG TO ACUNT THE DUE DIFFERENC. INED, WHEN A UNN REACH A NOTABLE LEVEL OF STABILY THROUGH A PUBLIC BOND, IS CHARACTERIZED BY EP AFFECTN, RPONSIBILY WH REGARD TO OFFSPRG, AND PACY TO WHSTAND TTS, MAY BE SEEN AS A GERM TO BE ACPANIED VELOPMENT TOWARDS THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE,” THE THORS WRE. BUT THEY ALSO UTN: “VERY OFTEN, HOWEVER, HABATN IS TABLISHED NOT WH A VIEW TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE MARRIAGE, BUT RATHER WHOUT ANY TENTN OF TABLISHG AN STUTNALLY-REGNIZED RELATNSHIP.” VATIN EXPERTS HAVE CREDED THE SOFTER TONE TO THE “FRANCIS EFFECT.” JOHN THAVIS, THOR OF THE VATIN DIARI LLED THE DOCUMENT AN EARTHQUAKE. “IN PASTORAL TERMS, THE DOCUMENT PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS REPRENTS AN EARTHQUAKE, THE “BIG ONE” THAT H AFTER MONTHS OF SMALLER TREMORS,” THAVIS WROTE ON HIS POPULAR DEDG THE VATIN CATHOLIC BLOG. “THE DOCUMENT CLEARLY REFLECTS POPE FRANCIS’ SIRE TO ADOPT A MORE MERCIFUL PASTORAL APPROACH ON MARRIAGE AND FAY ISSU.”THROUGHOUT THE RELAT, THE THORS NOD TO WHAT IS CLEARLY A WI DIVISN BETWEEN TRADNAL AND PROGRSIVE PRELAT THE CHURCH, THOUGH THE DOCUMENT SEEMS TO ALWAYS SI WH FRANCIS’S MORE MERCIFUL STANCE. NO DOUBT, THIS IS AID BY FRANCIS’ APPOTMENT OF SIX HANDPICKED PRELAT TO HELP DRAFT THE FAL DOCUMENT ON FRIDAY, MUCH TO THE SURPRISE OF SYNOD ATTEN AND VATIN SPECIALISTS WHO READ TO THAT FRANCIS WANTED TO ENSURE HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THE FAL OUTE.ON THE DISCSN OF WHETHER OR NOT HABATG AND REMARRIED UPL ULD BE NSIRED VALID CATHOLICS—OBVLY A NTROVERSIAL TOPIC AMONG THE PRELAT—THEY SEEM AT LEAST TO AGREE THAT THERE ARE POSIVE ASPECTS OF THE RELATNSHIPS THAT UNTIL NOW THE CHURCH HAS OPENLY NMNED. “A NEW SENSIVY TODAY’S PASTORAL NSISTS GRASPG THE POSIVE REALY OF CIVIL WEDDGS AND, HAVG POTED OUT OUR DIFFERENC, OF HABATN,” THEY WRE. “IT IS NECSARY THAT THE ECCLIAL PROPOSAL, WHILE CLEARLY PRENTG THE IAL, WE ALSO DITE THE NSTCTIVE ELEMENTS THOSE SUATNS THAT DO NOT YET OR NO LONGER RRPOND TO THAT IAL.”THE BISHOPS ALSO SUGGT THEY NEED TO CHALLENGE THEMSELV TO TRY DIVORCE PREVENTN BY WORKG HARR TO PREPARE UPL DURG THE ENGAGEMENT STAGE, FOCG MORE ON THE CHALLENG THAT LIE AHEAD FOR THEM AND LS ON THE STRICTLY DOCTRAL REGULATNS OF TAKG THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY AGREE THEY NEED TO PROVI BETTER ADVICE ON WHAT MARRIAGE IS REAL LIFE RATHER THAN WHAT IS ON PAPER. AND THEY SUGGT THE DC EVEN PROVI A SORT OF FOLLOW-UP RE FOR NEWLY MARRIED UPL AFTER THE HONEYMOON, WHICH, THEY NCLU, IS BT DONE BY OTHER MARRIED UPL WH EXPERIENCE THAT CELIBATE CLERICS DON’T HAVE. “THE PLEX SOCIAL REALY AND THE CHANG THAT THE FAY IS LLED ON TODAY TO AL WH REQUIRE A GREATER UNRTAKG OM THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN MUNY FOR THE PREPARATN OF THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE MARRIED,” THE SYNOD FATHERS WRE. “THE EARLY YEARS OF MARRIAGE ARE A VAL AND LITE PERD DURG WHICH UPL GROW THE AWARENS OF THE CHALLENG AND MEANG OF MATRIMONY. TH, THE NEED FOR A PASTORAL ACPANIMENT THAT GO BEYOND THE CELEBRATN OF THE SACRAMENT. OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THIS PASTORAL IS THE PRENCE OF EXPERIENCED UPL.”AND WHEN MARRIAGE STILL FAILS, THE SYNOD FATHERS WRE THAT MANY OF THEIR CLERIL LLEAGU SUGGT THEY NEED TO MAKE ANNULMENT “MORE ACCSIBLE AND FLEXIBLE” TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY THE CHURCH FEEL WELE. THEY ALSO DRAW A CLEAR LE BETWEEN DIVORCED AND REMARRIED, AND SIMPLY THOSE WHO ARE DIVORCED. EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH DO NOT REGNIZE DIVORCE, WOULD SEEM THAT THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET REMARRIED SHOULD FEEL EE TO TAKE MUNN, WH THE SYNOD FATHERS SEEMGLY MAKG THE GENERAL ASSUMPTN THAT DIVORCED PEOPLE WHO AREN’T REMARRIED ARE OBVLY ALONE AND NOT HAVG SEX OR HABATG. “DIVORCED PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT REMARRIED SHOULD BE VED TO FD THE EUCHARIST THE NOURISHMENT THEY NEED TO STA THEM THEIR STATE,” THEY WRE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO IMPLY THAT THE CHURCH IS WILLG TO TURN A BLD EYE TO SOME ASPECTS OF THE DIVORCE QUTN.MANY DIVORCED AND REMARRIED CATHOLICS WILL FEEL ENURAGED BY THE DRAFT DOCUMENT, WHICH DO NOT PAVE THE WAY TO TAKG MUNN, BUT NEHER SLAMS THE DOOR ON THE IA. “IN THE SAME WAY THE SUATN OF THE DIVORCED WHO HAVE REMARRIED MANDS A REFUL DISCERNMENT AND AN ACPANIMENT FULL OF RPECT, AVOIDG ANY LANGUAGE OR BEHAVR THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM FEEL DISCRIMATED AGAST,” THEY WRE. THOUGH THERE IS STILL NO CLEAR ANSWER, SOME SYNOD FATHERS APPARENTLY SUGGTED THAT DIVORCED AND REMARRIED ULD BE OFFERED A “SPIRUAL MUNN” RATHER THAN THE SACRAMENT SELF. “SUGGTG LIMG THEMSELV TO ONLY “SPIRUAL MUNN” WAS QUTNED BY MORE THAN A FEW SYNODAL FATHERS: IF SPIRUAL MUNN IS POSSIBLE, WHY NOT ALLOW THEM TO PARTAKE THE SACRAMENT?” THEY WROTE. “AS A RULT A GREATER THEOLOGIL STUDY WAS REQUTED STARTG WH THE LKS BETWEEN THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE AND THE EUCHARIST RELATN TO THE CHURCH-SACRAMENT.”LISTENG, ACPANYG, RPECTG, VALUG, DISCERNG, WELG, DIALOGUE ARE WORDS REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE NEW DOCUMENT BEG DISCSED BY THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS ROME THIS WEEK, WR FATHER THOMAS REE THE NATNAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. “WORDS OF NMNATN AND MARGALIZATN WERE AVOID,” HE SAYS. “HOWEVER THE DISCSNS VELOP, IS CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH IS EMBARKG ON THEM WH A NEW PASTORAL STYLE THAT IS MORE PASSNATE AND AFFIRMG.”THIS WEEK THE SYNOD FATHERS WILL MEET SMALL GROUPS TO DISCS FURTHER EACH OF THE RELAT POTS. SEVERAL BISHOPS WHO PRENTED THE DOCUMENT TO THE PRS POTED OUT THAT NOT ALL SYNOD FATHERS ARE HAPPY WH THE SOFTER TONE. CARDAL PETER ERDO TOLD REPORTERS THAT SOME (PRUMABLY MORE TRADNALIST) BISHOPS WANT THE WORDS “SOME UNNS ARE DISORRED” TO BE ADD BACK TO THE TEXT WHEN TO HOMOSEXUAL UNNS, WHICH IS A DISTCT POSSIBILY THE FAL DRAFT. ANOTHER BISHOP WAS APPARENTLY DISHEARTENED TO FD THE WORD “S” APPEAR ONLY ONCE THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT.ONCE THE BISHOPS HAMMER OUT THEIR DIFFERENC, THEY WILL THEN SUBM REVISN REMENDATNS TO THE THORS FOR A FAL DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE RELEASED AFTER THE SYNOD NCLUS NEXT WEEKEND. THAT DOCUMENT WILL BE ED AS A BASIS FOR DISCSN AT THE MUCH LARGER AND MORE FIVE ORDARY SYNOD ON THE FAY SET FOR OCTOBER 2015. POPE FRANCIS HAS ALSO LLED FOR DIALOGUE AND NTUED DISCSN PARISH ACROSS THE WORLD LEADG UP TO THE FAL SYNOD WHERE ANY OF ANY REAL CHANG WILL BE MA.THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE DOCUMENT IS PROMISG BUT IS FAR OM FAL, ACRDG TO CARDAL LUIS ANTON TAGLE OF THE PHILIPP WHO HELPED PRENT THE DOCUMENT TO THE PRS ON MONDAY. “SO,” HE SAID SG. “THE DRAMA NTU.” BARBIE LATZA NA
• POPE FRANCIS LLS FOR END TO ANTI-GAY LAWS AND LGBTQ+ WELE OM CHURCH

WHAT DO LOOK LIKE TO BE GAY – AND A PRACTICG CATHOLIC?

However, to receive this gift, we mt reject s, cludg homosexual behavr—that is, acts tend to aroe or stimulate a sexual rponse regardg a person of the same sex. People tempted by homosexual sir, like people tempted by improper heterosexual sir, are not sng until they act upon those sir some manner.

Throughout history, Jewish and Christian scholars have regnized that one of the chief ss volved God’s stctn of Sodom was s people’s homosexual behavr. Although hospaly is a s, is clearly the homosexual behavr of the Sodom that is sgled out for special cricism the acunt of their cy’s stctn. Lot even offered his two virg dghters place of his guts, but the men of Sodom rejected the offer, preferrg homosexual sex over heterosexual sex (Gen.

WHAT’S LIKE TO BE GAY AND CATHOLIC? AN TERVIEW WH EVE TH

To disunt this, some homosexual activists have argued that moral imperativ om the Old Ttament n be dismissed sce there were certa ceremonial requirements at the time—such as not eatg pork, or circumcisg male babi—that are no longer bdg. Elsewhere Pl aga warns that homosexual behavr is one of the ss that will prive one of heaven: “Do you not know that the wicked will not her the kgdom of God? Do not be ceived: Neher the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostut nor homosexual offenrs nor thiev nor the greedy nor dnkards nor slanrers nor swdlers will her the kgdom of God” (1 Cor.

Many homosexuals argue that they have not chosen their ndn, but that they were born that way, makg homosexual behavr natural for them. Jt as one n acquire alholic sir (by repeatedly beg toxited) whout nscly choosg them, so one may acquire homosexual sir (by engagg homosexual fantasi or behavr) whout nscly choosg them.

Even if there is a geic predisposn toward homosexualy (and studi on this pot are nclive), the behavr remas unnatural bee homosexualy is still not part of the natural sign of humany. Homosexual activists often jtify homosexualy by claimg that ten percent of the populatn is homosexual, meang that is a mon and th acceptable behavr.

WHAT SHOULD A GAY CATHOLIC DO?

But not all mon behavrs are acceptable, and even if ten percent of the populatn were born homosexual, this would prove nothg.

If those sir manift themselv a homosexual fashn ten percent of the populatn, all that do is give rmatn about the mographics of origal s.

CAN SOMEONE BE GAY AND CHRISTIAN? IS POSSIBLE TO BE A GAY CHRISTIAN?

Furthermore, the ten percent figure clus people who are not exclively homosexual but who only engaged  some homosexual behavr for a perd of time and then stopped—people who had gone through a fully or partially homosexual “phase” but who were not long-term homosexuals. Recent and more scientifilly accurate studi have shown that only around one to two percent of the populatn is homosexual.

Those opposed to homosexual behavr are often charged wh “homophobia”—that they hold the posn they do bee they are “aaid” of homosexuals. Sometim the charge is even ma that the same people are perhaps homosexuals themselv and are overpensatg to hi this fact, even om themselv, by nmng other homosexuals.

The morn arguments favor of homosexualy have th been sufficient to overe the evince that homosexual behavr is agast dive and natural law, as the Bible and the Church, as well as the wir circle of Jewish and Christian (not to mentn Mlim) wrers, have always held. “Basg self on sacred Scripture, which prents homosexual acts as acts of grave pravy, tradn has always clared that homosexual acts are trsilly disorred.

INFORMATN FOR GAY & LBIAN CATHOLICS

Homosexuals who want to live chastely n ntact Courage, a natnal, Church-approved support group for help liverance om the homosexual liftyle. More than 10 years ago, Joseph Prever found himself surg the ter for anythg that might help him: he was gay, Catholic, and nfed.

Google the words "gay Catholic" and one of the top s to appear will be Prever's own blog, a blog wh the tagle: "Catholic, Gay, and Feelg Fe. The blog is about what 's like to be a gay Catholic – a gay Catholic who is of urse, celibate – and I say 'of urse' bee that seems to me like the only optn if you're gog to be both gay and Catholic.

My iends and I joke that there's a gay Catholic renaissance on, or actually a gay Christian renaissance on, and we're proud to be at the foreont of – or at least we tell ourselv that we're at the foreont. It was hard the sense that I'd actually always said that people shouldn't be public about beg gay, bee was not anybody's bs and I felt that would lend legimacy to this ia that beg gay is a sort of a sgle way to intify yourself: I actually still sort of hold that posn – kd of.

OPENLY GAY CATHOLIC PRIT DISCS POPE FRANCIS' APPEAL FOR LGBTQ PROTECTNS

It's hard to scribe: I don't thk that beg gay is as sential of a way to intify yourself as say, beg male is, or beg Catholic, or beg human.

' I ed to joke that the only reason I ed the word 'gay' was so that I would tend to show up more on Google, which is only partially a joke, bee you know if you're gog to e the tools of technology to evangelize, then you have to be savvy about what Google is gog to fd and what isn't.

But I gus the shift maly happened as I began to approach beg more public about , bee as I beme more public I also me to ntact more openly wh people who intified as gay or who stggled wh same-sex attractn, or whatever.

CATHOLIC CHURCH SAYS IT’S OK TO BE GAY, SORT OFCHANGG TIMVATIN PRELAT CHANGE THEIR TONE, BUT NOT THE L WHEN TO GAY AND DIVORCED CATHOLICS. BARBIE LATZA NAUPDATED APR. 14, 2017 2:37PM EDT / PUBLISHED OCT. 17, 2014 5:43AM EDT FRAN ORIGLIA/GETTY,FRAN ORIGLIAVATICAN CITY — IN WHAT IS BEG SEEN AS A DRAMATIC SHIFT TONE ALONG THE L OF POPE FRANCIS’S “WHO AM I TO JUDGE?” MANTRA, THE 191 CATHOLIC PRELAT TAKG PART THE EXTRAORDARY SYNOD OF BISHOPS RELEASED THE FIRST DRAFT OF THEIR WORKG DOCUMENT ON MONDAY. GONE, AT LEAST FOR NOW, ARE JUDGMENTAL SCRIPTNS OF HOMOSEXUALY LIKE “TRSILLY DISORRED” AND “PRAVED.” THEY’RE STEAD REPLACED WH A MORE NTRAL TONE AND REFUL TROSPECTN ON THE MATTER. “HOMOSEXUALS HAVE GIFTS AND QUALI TO OFFER TO THE CHRISTIAN MUNY: ARE WE PABLE OF WELG THE PEOPLE, GUARANTEEG TO THEM A ATERNAL SPACE OUR MUNI?” THE THORS OF THE WORKG DOCUMENT LLED A RELAT POST DISCEPTATNEM ASK. “WHOUT NYG THE MORAL PROBLEMS NNECTED TO HOMOSEXUAL UNNS HAS TO BE NOTED THAT THERE ARE S WHICH MUTUAL AID TO THE POT OF SACRIFICE NSTUT A PREC SUPPORT THE LIFE OF THE PARTNERS.”THE THORS GO ON TO WARN THAT GAY MARRIAGE IS STILL FORBIDN, AND UTN THAT PRSURG THE CHURCH TO ACCEPT WHAT NNOT ACCEPT WILL ONLY BACKFIRE. “THE CHURCH FURTHERMORE AFFIRMS THAT UNNS BETWEEN PEOPLE OF THE SAME SEX NNOT BE NSIRED ON THE SAME FOOTG AS MATRIMONY BETWEEN MAN AND WOMAN,” THE DOCUMENT STAT. “NOR IS ACCEPTABLE THAT PRSURE BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON PASTORS OR THAT TERNATNAL BODI MAKE FANCIAL AID PENNT ON THE TRODUCTN OF REGULATNS SPIRED BY GENR IOLOGY.”THE RELAT STOPS SHORT OF SUGGTG ANY DOCTRAL CHANGE LIKE ALLOWG DIVORCED AND REMARRIED CATHOLICS TO TAKE MUNN OR ALLOWG DIVORCED CATHOLICS TO REMARRY THE CHURCH WHOUT ANNULMENT, BUT DO TAKE A GALACTIC LEAP FORWARD TERMS OF ACCEPTANCE OF WHAT REFERRED TO AS “IRREGULAR SUATNS” AND “WOUND FAI.”IN PARTICULAR, THE SYNOD FATHERS SEEM TO REGNIZE THAT THE WORLD HAS CHANGED DRASTILLY SCE THE LAST TIME THEY FORMALLY DISCSED THE SEX LIV OF CATHOLIC FAI AND HOW THEY N MISTER TO THEM—EVEN REACHG OUT TO THOSE UPL HABATG OR MARRIED CIVIL UNNS THAT AREN’T REGNIZED BY THE CHURCH. “A NEW DIMENSN OF TODAY’S FAY PASTORAL NSISTS OF ACCEPTG THE REALY OF CIVIL MARRIAGE AND ALSO HABATN, TAKG TO ACUNT THE DUE DIFFERENC. INED, WHEN A UNN REACH A NOTABLE LEVEL OF STABILY THROUGH A PUBLIC BOND, IS CHARACTERIZED BY EP AFFECTN, RPONSIBILY WH REGARD TO OFFSPRG, AND PACY TO WHSTAND TTS, MAY BE SEEN AS A GERM TO BE ACPANIED VELOPMENT TOWARDS THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE,” THE THORS WRE. BUT THEY ALSO UTN: “VERY OFTEN, HOWEVER, HABATN IS TABLISHED NOT WH A VIEW TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE MARRIAGE, BUT RATHER WHOUT ANY TENTN OF TABLISHG AN STUTNALLY-REGNIZED RELATNSHIP.” VATIN EXPERTS HAVE CREDED THE SOFTER TONE TO THE “FRANCIS EFFECT.” JOHN THAVIS, THOR OF THE VATIN DIARI LLED THE DOCUMENT AN EARTHQUAKE. “IN PASTORAL TERMS, THE DOCUMENT PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS REPRENTS AN EARTHQUAKE, THE “BIG ONE” THAT H AFTER MONTHS OF SMALLER TREMORS,” THAVIS WROTE ON HIS POPULAR DEDG THE VATIN CATHOLIC BLOG. “THE DOCUMENT CLEARLY REFLECTS POPE FRANCIS’ SIRE TO ADOPT A MORE MERCIFUL PASTORAL APPROACH ON MARRIAGE AND FAY ISSU.”THROUGHOUT THE RELAT, THE THORS NOD TO WHAT IS CLEARLY A WI DIVISN BETWEEN TRADNAL AND PROGRSIVE PRELAT THE CHURCH, THOUGH THE DOCUMENT SEEMS TO ALWAYS SI WH FRANCIS’S MORE MERCIFUL STANCE. NO DOUBT, THIS IS AID BY FRANCIS’ APPOTMENT OF SIX HANDPICKED PRELAT TO HELP DRAFT THE FAL DOCUMENT ON FRIDAY, MUCH TO THE SURPRISE OF SYNOD ATTEN AND VATIN SPECIALISTS WHO READ TO THAT FRANCIS WANTED TO ENSURE HIS STAMP OF APPROVAL ON THE FAL OUTE.ON THE DISCSN OF WHETHER OR NOT HABATG AND REMARRIED UPL ULD BE NSIRED VALID CATHOLICS—OBVLY A NTROVERSIAL TOPIC AMONG THE PRELAT—THEY SEEM AT LEAST TO AGREE THAT THERE ARE POSIVE ASPECTS OF THE RELATNSHIPS THAT UNTIL NOW THE CHURCH HAS OPENLY NMNED. “A NEW SENSIVY TODAY’S PASTORAL NSISTS GRASPG THE POSIVE REALY OF CIVIL WEDDGS AND, HAVG POTED OUT OUR DIFFERENC, OF HABATN,” THEY WRE. “IT IS NECSARY THAT THE ECCLIAL PROPOSAL, WHILE CLEARLY PRENTG THE IAL, WE ALSO DITE THE NSTCTIVE ELEMENTS THOSE SUATNS THAT DO NOT YET OR NO LONGER RRPOND TO THAT IAL.”THE BISHOPS ALSO SUGGT THEY NEED TO CHALLENGE THEMSELV TO TRY DIVORCE PREVENTN BY WORKG HARR TO PREPARE UPL DURG THE ENGAGEMENT STAGE, FOCG MORE ON THE CHALLENG THAT LIE AHEAD FOR THEM AND LS ON THE STRICTLY DOCTRAL REGULATNS OF TAKG THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY AGREE THEY NEED TO PROVI BETTER ADVICE ON WHAT MARRIAGE IS REAL LIFE RATHER THAN WHAT IS ON PAPER. AND THEY SUGGT THE DC EVEN PROVI A SORT OF FOLLOW-UP RE FOR NEWLY MARRIED UPL AFTER THE HONEYMOON, WHICH, THEY NCLU, IS BT DONE BY OTHER MARRIED UPL WH EXPERIENCE THAT CELIBATE CLERICS DON’T HAVE. “THE PLEX SOCIAL REALY AND THE CHANG THAT THE FAY IS LLED ON TODAY TO AL WH REQUIRE A GREATER UNRTAKG OM THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN MUNY FOR THE PREPARATN OF THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO BE MARRIED,” THE SYNOD FATHERS WRE. “THE EARLY YEARS OF MARRIAGE ARE A VAL AND LITE PERD DURG WHICH UPL GROW THE AWARENS OF THE CHALLENG AND MEANG OF MATRIMONY. TH, THE NEED FOR A PASTORAL ACPANIMENT THAT GO BEYOND THE CELEBRATN OF THE SACRAMENT. OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THIS PASTORAL IS THE PRENCE OF EXPERIENCED UPL.”AND WHEN MARRIAGE STILL FAILS, THE SYNOD FATHERS WRE THAT MANY OF THEIR CLERIL LLEAGU SUGGT THEY NEED TO MAKE ANNULMENT “MORE ACCSIBLE AND FLEXIBLE” TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANT TO STAY THE CHURCH FEEL WELE. THEY ALSO DRAW A CLEAR LE BETWEEN DIVORCED AND REMARRIED, AND SIMPLY THOSE WHO ARE DIVORCED. EVEN THOUGH THE CHURCH DO NOT REGNIZE DIVORCE, WOULD SEEM THAT THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET REMARRIED SHOULD FEEL EE TO TAKE MUNN, WH THE SYNOD FATHERS SEEMGLY MAKG THE GENERAL ASSUMPTN THAT DIVORCED PEOPLE WHO AREN’T REMARRIED ARE OBVLY ALONE AND NOT HAVG SEX OR HABATG. “DIVORCED PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT REMARRIED SHOULD BE VED TO FD THE EUCHARIST THE NOURISHMENT THEY NEED TO STA THEM THEIR STATE,” THEY WRE, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO IMPLY THAT THE CHURCH IS WILLG TO TURN A BLD EYE TO SOME ASPECTS OF THE DIVORCE QUTN.MANY DIVORCED AND REMARRIED CATHOLICS WILL FEEL ENURAGED BY THE DRAFT DOCUMENT, WHICH DO NOT PAVE THE WAY TO TAKG MUNN, BUT NEHER SLAMS THE DOOR ON THE IA. “IN THE SAME WAY THE SUATN OF THE DIVORCED WHO HAVE REMARRIED MANDS A REFUL DISCERNMENT AND AN ACPANIMENT FULL OF RPECT, AVOIDG ANY LANGUAGE OR BEHAVR THAT MIGHT MAKE THEM FEEL DISCRIMATED AGAST,” THEY WRE. THOUGH THERE IS STILL NO CLEAR ANSWER, SOME SYNOD FATHERS APPARENTLY SUGGTED THAT DIVORCED AND REMARRIED ULD BE OFFERED A “SPIRUAL MUNN” RATHER THAN THE SACRAMENT SELF. “SUGGTG LIMG THEMSELV TO ONLY “SPIRUAL MUNN” WAS QUTNED BY MORE THAN A FEW SYNODAL FATHERS: IF SPIRUAL MUNN IS POSSIBLE, WHY NOT ALLOW THEM TO PARTAKE THE SACRAMENT?” THEY WROTE. “AS A RULT A GREATER THEOLOGIL STUDY WAS REQUTED STARTG WH THE LKS BETWEEN THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE AND THE EUCHARIST RELATN TO THE CHURCH-SACRAMENT.”LISTENG, ACPANYG, RPECTG, VALUG, DISCERNG, WELG, DIALOGUE ARE WORDS REPEATED THROUGHOUT THE NEW DOCUMENT BEG DISCSED BY THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS ROME THIS WEEK, WR FATHER THOMAS REE THE NATNAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. “WORDS OF NMNATN AND MARGALIZATN WERE AVOID,” HE SAYS. “HOWEVER THE DISCSNS VELOP, IS CLEAR THAT THE CHURCH IS EMBARKG ON THEM WH A NEW PASTORAL STYLE THAT IS MORE PASSNATE AND AFFIRMG.”THIS WEEK THE SYNOD FATHERS WILL MEET SMALL GROUPS TO DISCS FURTHER EACH OF THE RELAT POTS. SEVERAL BISHOPS WHO PRENTED THE DOCUMENT TO THE PRS POTED OUT THAT NOT ALL SYNOD FATHERS ARE HAPPY WH THE SOFTER TONE. CARDAL PETER ERDO TOLD REPORTERS THAT SOME (PRUMABLY MORE TRADNALIST) BISHOPS WANT THE WORDS “SOME UNNS ARE DISORRED” TO BE ADD BACK TO THE TEXT WHEN TO HOMOSEXUAL UNNS, WHICH IS A DISTCT POSSIBILY THE FAL DRAFT. ANOTHER BISHOP WAS APPARENTLY DISHEARTENED TO FD THE WORD “S” APPEAR ONLY ONCE THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT.ONCE THE BISHOPS HAMMER OUT THEIR DIFFERENC, THEY WILL THEN SUBM REVISN REMENDATNS TO THE THORS FOR A FAL DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE RELEASED AFTER THE SYNOD NCLUS NEXT WEEKEND. THAT DOCUMENT WILL BE ED AS A BASIS FOR DISCSN AT THE MUCH LARGER AND MORE FIVE ORDARY SYNOD ON THE FAY SET FOR OCTOBER 2015. POPE FRANCIS HAS ALSO LLED FOR DIALOGUE AND NTUED DISCSN PARISH ACROSS THE WORLD LEADG UP TO THE FAL SYNOD WHERE ANY OF ANY REAL CHANG WILL BE MA.THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE DOCUMENT IS PROMISG BUT IS FAR OM FAL, ACRDG TO CARDAL LUIS ANTON TAGLE OF THE PHILIPP WHO HELPED PRENT THE DOCUMENT TO THE PRS ON MONDAY. “SO,” HE SAID SG. “THE DRAMA NTU.” BARBIE LATZA NA

And fact, I rarely feel strongly about whether I should e the word gay or not, but the one time I do feel strongly about is when somebody starts upbraidg me for . It's the sort of thg where people feel, and I thk rightly, that they have been nstraed to keep silent for most of their liv – and a lot of people have, whether 's nstraed by actual explic homophobia among the people that they love and/or are related to, or whether 's jt sort of a general culture unrstandg that you don't talk about this sort of thg. ' This is tratg and across as very patronizg bee the are people who don't have any sight to the experience of what is to be gay tellg you what is or is not ok to talk about, and what is and is not ok to ll yourself.

This is reason that I haven't yet e to a solid opn on this qutn – bee the problem is that secular people and Christian people mean two different thgs by the word 'gay. Now I thk that one reason Christians tend to dislike the word 'gay' is bee if somebody says that they are gay, then they are ually implyg that is an unchangeable aspect of their personaly. I'll start first by sayg that I'm extremely grateful for the anizatn People Can Change, which is an anizatn found precisely on the ia that radil change wh rpect to homosexualy is possible.

I'm grateful for them not bee they 'ma me straight' or somethg, but bee they gave me a space which to work out some of my issu, many of which turned out not to be related precisely to homosexualy particular, but were jt sort of emotnal issu that need alg wh.

POPE FRANCIS LLS FOR END TO ANTI-GAY LAWS AND LGBTQ+ WELE OM CHURCH

I thk a lot of gay men and women do have emotnal issu that aren't gog to be alt wh if they're told that everythg is already ok. But on the other hand, this is dangero bee you have a lot of Christian people already assumg om the get-go that if somebody is homosexual, then they mt have var and many emotnal issu that need workg on, and that's not necsarily the se.

If the unrstandg the Christian world is that homosexualy is a "disorr, " and homosexual activy is a s, then logilly would seem like as Christians, we would want to help our fellow Christians who are "dis-orred" to be "orred. The Church has to be clear wh rpect to 'what is the nature of homosexualy self, ' but n't make a pronouncement on whether is a mental disorr, for example.