Roman Catholic Blog

Benedict XVI: Homosexuals Destroy Themselves

Dante and Virgil in Hell by William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1850)

Here's the story: Pope: Homosexuals destroy themselves

Here's a quote:

In his most powerful statements to date on issues involving sexual morality, Pope Benedict XVI said homosexuals end up destroying themselves so the Church has a duty to speak out on moral issues that affect the very spiritual and physical lives of man.

"In seeking to emancipate himself from his body (from the 'biological sphere'), [man] ends up by destroying himself," the pope told cardinals, archbishops, bishops and members of the Roman Curia last week in a traditional meeting overlooked by most of the world's press. "Against those who say that 'the Church should not involve herself in these matters,' we can only respond: does man not concern us too? The church and believers must raise their voices to defend man, the creature who, in the inseparable unity of body and spirit, is the image of God."

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

2357 Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It has taken a great variety of forms through the centuries and in different cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered." They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.

2358 The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359 Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.

Any thoughts?

Saddam Hussein, 1937-2006

A description of the event is here: Saddam's Hanging - Uncut

Now he's in God's hands.

Here's the story: Saddam Hussein's Brutal Reign Ends in the Gallows

In a Newsweek exclusive, the man hired to videotape Saddam Hussein’s execution recalls the brutal dictator’s humble final moments: ‘I Saw Fear, He Was Afraid’

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28)

Any thoughts?

Pope Benedict's Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" Address

Pope Benedict XVI delivered his Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi address with a clarion, always-needed reminder that man's technoligical acheivements have not freed him from the need of a Savior:

“Salvator noster natus est in mundo” (Roman missal).

"Our Saviour is born to the world!" During the night, in our churches, we again heard this message that, notwithstanding the passage of the centuries, remains ever new. It is the heavenly message that tells us to fear not, for "a great joy" has come "to all the people" (Lk 1:10). It is a message of hope, for it tells us that, on that night over two thousand years ago, there "was born in the city of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:11). The angel of Christmas announced it then to the shepherds out on the hills of Bethlehem; today the angel repeats it to us, to all who dwell in our world: "The savior is born; he is born for you! Come, come, let us adore him!"

But does a "savior" still have any value and meaning for the men and women of the third millennium ? Is a "savior" still needed by a humanity which has reached the moon and Mars and is prepared to conquer the universe; for a humanity which knows no limits in its pursuit of nature’s secrets and which has succeeded even in deciphering the marvelous codes of the human genome? Is a savior needed by a humanity which has invented interactive communication, which navigates in the virtual ocean of the Internet and, thanks to the most advanced modern communications technologies, has now made the Earth, our great common home, a global village? This humanity of the 21st century appears as a sure and self-sufficient master of its own destiny, the avid proponent of uncontested triumphs.

Feast Of The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him."

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, "Out of Egypt have I called my son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men.

Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: "A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more." (Matthew 2:13-18)

Please pray for an end to legal abortion.

Share this website with people you know: Just the facts

A Local Fox News Segment On The Rising Interest In The Mass Of The 1962 Missal

The segment may be viewed here: More Catholic Churches Return To Latin Mass

From the description on the FOX News site:

Catholic churches around the country are seeing a return to a more traditional way of prayer. Traditional Latin masses, which were banned for almost two decades, are now becoming a popular alternative to English masses for younger families.

Thanks to Shaw Tribe at The New Liturgical Movement for pointing out the segment.

This entry by Shawn Tribe is also worth reading: A call for a shift away from a vocabulary of polemic and inaccuracy

What are your thoughts?

Video: Illegal Immigrant Apologist Justifies Identity Theft

The above video is also available here: Michelle Malkin: Illegal Immigrant Apologist Justifies Identity Theft

I have all the respect in the world for hard working people who want a better life and work through legal channels to achieve their goals. The fact that the United States doesn't have an open border and many people from other countries would like things to be otherwise does not entitle people to disregard the law, especially at an unbelievably enormous expense to law-abiding, tax-paying, American citizens.

Moreover, it is not acceptable to lie, cheat, and steal in order to get a better life – such behavior violates the teaching of Christ that we are to treat others as we would wish to be treated. Identity theft can ruin a persons life for years. Wanting a better way of life is no excuse or ruining other people's lives.

Any thoughts?

Pope Benedict's Christmas Homily: "The Child of Bethlehem Directs Our Gaze Towards All Children Who Suffer And Are Abused In The World, The Born And The Unborn."

Following is the homily delivered by Pope Benedict XVI at Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have just heard in the Gospel the message given by the angels to the shepherds during that Holy Night, a message which the Church now proclaims to us: "To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger" (Lk 2:11-12). Nothing miraculous, nothing extraordinary, nothing magnificent is given to the shepherds as a sign. All they will see is a child wrapped in swaddling clothes, one who, like all children, needs a mother’s care; a child born in a stable, who therefore lies not in a cradle but in a manger. God ’s sign is the baby in need of help and in poverty. Only in their hearts will the shepherds be able to see that this baby fulfils the promise of the prophet Isaiah, which we heard in the first reading: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder" (Is 9:5). Exactly the same sign has been given to us. We too are invited by the angel of God, through the message of the Gospel, to set out in our hearts to see the child lying in the manger.

Merry Christmas From Roman Catholic Blog

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

Luke 2:8-14

Merry Christmas from Roman Catholic Blog!

Pope Benedict's World-In-Review

The Pope delivered an address to the Roman Curia today, a traditional exchange of Christmas greetings. The Pontiff reviewed the year past and commented on the lessons and challenges. I'll post the complete address as soon as the vatican webiste posts the English translations. Judging from the coverage on Zenit and Catholic World News, it looks like yet another Pope Benedict XVI worth a read or two.

Click here for Catholic World News's report, and here is Zenit's:

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 22, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI says that peace, the family and interreligious dialogue were the major themes of his pontificate in 2006.

The Pope said this today when he met with cardinals, archbishops, bishops and members of the Roman Curia, for the exchange of Christmas greetings in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

The Holy Father said that the year that is ending "remains in our memory with the profound imprint of the horrors of the war that took place in the surroundings of the Holy Land, as well as, in general, of the danger of a clash between cultures and religions, a danger that still threatens this historic moment."

"The problem of paths for peace has become a challenge of the first importance for all those concerned about the human being," the Pontiff added.

Recalling the angel's greeting to the shepherds on Christmas night, the Bishop of Rome noted "the inseparable bond between man's relationship with God and their mutual relationship."

"Peace on earth cannot be found without reconciliation with God," Benedict XVI said in his lengthy address delivered in Italian.

Study Finds That Most Americans Have Had Premarital Sex

Center panel from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Dutch painter, Hieronymus Bosch. (Painted circa 1504)

The latest report from the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the supposedly scientific research division of Planned Parenthood, says most Americans have been having premarital sex for decades.

Here's the story: Most Americans have had premarital sex, study finds

As LifeSite News has reported in the past on The Guttmacher Institute:

It’s true that the institute does not really hide its bias. “The institute's mission is to protect the reproductive choices of all women and men in the United States and throughout the world,” it says. “It is to support their ability to obtain the information and services needed to achieve their full human rights, safeguard their health and exercise their individual responsibilities in regard to sexual behavior and relationships, reproduction and family formation.” It doesn’t say so explicitly, but that clearly means that the institute is pro-abortion, pro-contraception, and pro-homosexual. And it is accurately described as pro-abortion, not pro-choice, because it advocates taxing Americans to pay for abortion.

Here's a shocker: Based on the results of their study, The Guttmacher Institute concludes that encouraging abstinence is 'unrealistic'

Quote:

Almost all Americans have premarital sex, says a report published Tuesday that analyzes federal data over time and suggests programs focusing on sexual abstinence until marriage may be unrealistic

One has to wonder if the conclusions of this research aren't rooted in skewed data. Especially in the light of what's known about other sexual research studies: Kinsey's Flawed Research

It's no surprise that associates of Planned Parenthood hate any attempt to focus on sexual abstinence, but it is sad that people want to listen to the illogical effluence exuding from the mouths of those who denigrate chastity, continence, and sexual abstinence because they preach a mythical gospel where all unpleasant consequences can be avoided through education and unnatural methods of contraception which denigrate human dignity and reduce an act designed for marriage into an act of mutual self-gratification involving synthetic chemicals and friction and fueled by lust. It is much easier to fantasize that all unpleasant consequences can be happily avoided by taking precautions that everyone acknowledges aren't 100% effective and which provide zero protection from emotional and spiritual damage (to say nothing of potential damnation) and which, when they fail, as they sometimes do, can spread fatal and/or life altering diseases or bring about new life that will potentially consign a child to a life of poverty, an unstable upbringing, or worst of all, be a source of temptation to consider abortion for the sake of convenience (because the "right" to abortion exists to facilitate the ability for women to have casual sex with men with whom they don't want to have children) rather than to endure any of the inconvenient difficulties required of self-control.

Why listen to the Lord, Who said:

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23-25)

And Who promised:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

One thing is certain, people will not be able to say they were never warned:

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. "Not every one who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:13-21)

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:17-21)

...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who by their wickedness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; for although they knew God they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all (kinds of) unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, and malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips, backbiters, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, implacable, unmerciful. Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them. (Romans 1:18-32)

Which leads one to reflect upon the right panel in The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch:

Any thoughts?