The Pope – save humanity from the gays!
As a liberal I simply cannot let the homophobic comments of the Pope pass without comment, not least because they have absolutely incensed me.
“The Pope has told members of his Vatican staff that saving humanity from homosexual or transexual behaviour is just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2008/12/081223_pope_gay_forest_sl.shtml)
His words are reproduced below – they contain a message that homosexuality and the transgendered are to be despised and that the human race must be saved from them or face destruction. He’s called for an ecology of humanity whereby this can be achieved. In a little bit of semantic sophistry the Pope parallels a statement that homosexuality should be destroyed with an implication that people behave as homosexuals rather than that they are homosexuals, which is frankly utter nonsense used to justify his bigotry.
Various people have spoken out that his comments are ‘hurtful’ or that they are ‘irresponsible and unacceptable’, ‘gay bashing’, or ‘discriminatory’ – I’d go a damn site further than that. The Pope’s words are hateful, extremely homophobic, and carry echoes of fascism. If he could just stop being so hung up on sex and get busy trying to end war, famine and poverty I’m sure the world would be a better place.
From the papal address:
“The Church speaks of human nature as ‘man’ or ‘woman’ and asks that this order is respected.
“This is not out-of-date metaphysics. It comes from the faith in the Creator and from listening to the language of creation, despising which would mean self-destruction for humans and therefore a destruction of the work itself of God.”
“… Rain forests deserve, yes, our protection but the human being – as a creature which contains a message that is not in contradiction with his freedom but is the condition of his freedom – does not deserve it less.” (Benedict XVI (my emphasis))
1:07 pm on December 24th, 2008
I agree with the Pope – homosexuality is an evil perversion which must be crushed and destroyed in the best interests of a sound and civilised society. [And homosexuals need our help and support to leave their perverted lifestyle choice behind and start living normal, healthy heterosexual lives instead.] Sorry Steve, we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one!
1:17 pm on December 24th, 2008
To be fair to him, this story shows that he wants gays to be gay but not put in into practice, while he professes to be a devotee of Christ’s teachings (love, non-judgementalism, respect, helping your neighbour regardless of who or what they may be, etc) without putting them into practice in his life. Gotta give him points for consistency.
And a wise soul has pointed out to me that in equating the two issues perhaps he just meant “ach, screw the rainforests”.
2:59 pm on December 24th, 2008
The Pope’s position is logically incoherent though Jen. On the one hand he says that it’s ok to criticise homosexuals because homosexuality is a behavioral choice (and one which is a direct attack agains the Creator), which is how I read the content of his address. On the other hand he’s also said that it’s ok to be homosexual so long as you don’t practice your homosexuality. Now either you are homosexual or you practice, through choice, homosexual behavior. His latest address calls for the eradication of homosexual behaviour in order to save humanity and follow God’s will, and yet his previous statements have suggested that homosexuality is a matter of being not doing and thus his call could be interpreted as requiring the extermination of homsexuals. He needs to make his mind up (and keep his mouth shut).
3:33 pm on December 24th, 2008
Steve, if you really want to get it straight just what the Catholic Church’s attitude is to towards homosexuality, homosexuals – and why – can I make a suggestion… why not get in touch with the Catholic Church locally and ask to meet up with a priest who can go over it all with you in the sort of depth that will satisfy your enquiring mind? I’m sure that somebody within the Salford Diocese would be more than willing to sit down with you and discuss the subject: http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk
3:56 pm on December 24th, 2008
Richard – my concern is whith what the Pope has said (although it is the case that what he says represents the formal position of the Church) – I hardly need to speak to a priest when I’ve just listened direct to the words of the Pope himself. And secondly, for your information, I spent five of my formative years being taught Catholicism by priests at a Christian Brothers school – I have a reasonable basic grasp of its tenents.
4:37 pm on December 24th, 2008
Oh right, didn’t know your background Steve. Well, I’m sure the door of the local Catholic Church is always open to you if you ever want to talk over anything in person…
I don’t doubt that many members of the Catholic Church in your area are grateful to you for the good work that you do in serving Swinton as a councillor and I would like to join with them and the Bishop and Salford Diocese in wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas.
4:59 pm on December 24th, 2008
Thanks for the sentiment Richard – though I’m not Christian myself – I nevertheless share it in wishing you and the rest of my readers a happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.