Pope condemns homosexual behaviour
by Jennifer Gold
Posted: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 11:24 (GMT)
Saving mankind from homosexual and transsexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction, said Pope Benedict on Monday.
In an end-of-year address to Vatican officials, the Pope said the Catholic Church “should also protect man from the destruction of himself”.
A “sort of ecology of man is needed”, he said.
The Catholic Church strongly opposes homosexual relationships and same-sex unions.
“The tropical forests do deserve our protection. But man, as a creature, does not deserve any less,” he said in the address, which was later released to the media.
In an attack on transsexuals, the Pope said, “It is not man who decides who is a man or woman but God.”
Non-heterosexual behaviour was “a destruction of God’s work”, he said, adding that humanity needed to “listen to the language of creation” to properly define the roles of man and woman.
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Added: Tuesday, January 6, 2009, 19:03 (GMT)
Other than a whole lot of emotive language and the repetition of an un-supported claim that homosexual relations are against the teachings of the Bible, there have not been any reasons why the Pope was right to verbally assault homosexuals in this way.
Gay people do not harm Christians in any way and yet the Pope still cannot just leave them alone. He is unable to live in peace with and love his neighbour.
The spirit of Christmas is unity, peace and love: Christ died FOR ALL MEN. The spirit of Christmas is not exclusion, victimisation and inciting violence. That, however, is what this speech will do. It will allow homophobes to think that their actions are, in fact, God's will and will lead to varbal abuse and physical beatings handed out to innocent people based upon nothing more than their sexual orientation.
People could even be killed because of these words (there are already enough murders caused by homophobic intolerance) and even if not physically murdered, then the bullying which could easily result from these words, along with the words themselves, could result in many homosexual people feeling so isolated, so hated and so worthless that they kill themselves. If this is the message that the Pope brings this Christmas, then I wonder what happenned to the days when "Fear not, for I bring you good news of great joy for all people." was the real Christmas message.
Furthermore, I wish to add that there is not really anything wrong with homosexuals. Morality requires a choice, and, since there is no aspect of choice surrounding sexuality (of any kind, even heterosexuality - how many people reading this could willingly choose to genuinely find a member of the same gender truly physically and sexually attractive? None, because this is not something which we have the power to choose).
With increasing scientific evidence for the theory that sexuality is determined by the balance of hormones present during certain phases of pregnancy, not even At Thomas Aquinas' Natural Law can stand against homosexuals, because the thing which really stops that person from being able to fulfil the Primary Precept of reproduction (the levels of these hormones at these times) cannot be the foetus' fault when it is still being formed. And it is arguable that since the person will not truly be able to enter into a long-term, loving relationship with a member of the opposite sex, then the sperm cells of a gay man are not in fact potential for human life, after all.
actually intelligent person, Torbay, UK
Added: Friday, January 2, 2009, 0:33 (GMT)
I just keep wondering why The Pope seems to take such an interest in homosexuality. After all, it is not (unless committed as an act of adultery) against any of the 10 commandments nor is it contrary to any of the teachings of Christ.
With all of the problems in the world today why can't the Roman Catholic church find something else to get worked up over?
In fact if more people were homosexual the world population would not be so great as it is today and, consequently, the rainforests not at such a risk.
Andy Brown, London, UK
Added: Monday, December 29, 2008, 10:10 (GMT)
I strongly agree with the statement of the Pope. People are forgetting that we have a God that has created us in his own likeness and has established a destiny for each one of us even before we were conceived in our mothers womb. If we then decide to change Gods work, How do we fulfil Gods vision for our lives and become all that God has created us to be.
The world does not end with us alone we also have generations and children that we are answerable to. Please always remember that are lives could either be a blessing or a curse. The choice is ours.
Ade , Britain
Added: Friday, December 26, 2008, 2:39 (GMT)
Many regimes entrench their power by putting up a minority to hate. The Nazis did it, Mugabe does it. The Catholic Church has done it for years (burning witches, the inquisition...on and on). What is the surprise? You don't have power unless you exercise it. What's new? They've been at it for centuries! The Pope's obsession with homosexuality has a real political reason, have no doubts about that.
So much for universal love and charity! Always press hype that.
scott, brisbane, australia
Added: Thursday, December 25, 2008, 20:15 (GMT)
it is clearly stated in the bible that homosexuality is a sin. however i'm unsure of the Catholic church's stance on this, aren't there Catholic gay ministers?
neharah, nyc
Added: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 19:48 (GMT)
If this hasn't been mistranslated in the process, and this is what is being said, God help us all. It's a disgrace and someone should shut this man up!
Samantha, London
Added: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 18:27 (GMT)
i agree with the Pope on this occasion. The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is against God, we only have to look what happend at Sodom and Gormorah. All these homosexuals and all non-believers will be going to a lost eternity, this also applies to those who call themselves gay christians, this terms is anti bible. A person who is born-again will not go against the teaching of the bible. We all need to repent and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ is returning soon to judge the living and the dead.
Michael Whitehead, Rotherham
Added: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 16:59 (GMT)
Bless the beasts...and the heterosexuals.....???
Gayman, California US
Added: Tuesday, December 23, 2008, 15:40 (GMT)
May God bless and protect those who have the courage to stand against the lost children of Satan and their foolish, filthy, deviant homosexual behavior.
Wayne, North Carolina
