Pope Benedict XVI held a powwow for visiting American bishops Friday in Vatican City, where he encouraged them to go home and rail against sex outside wedlock and the “powerful” gay marriage lobby, reports the Washington Post.
The 84-year-old pope acknowledged his comments might sound anachronistic or “countercultural,” particularly to the young. But he told bishops to not back down in the face of “powerful political and cultural currents seeking to alter the legal definition of marriage.”
“Sexual differences cannot be dismissed as irrelevant to the definition of marriage,” he said.
Benedict also chided priests for not reminding their flocks about core Catholic values like chastity and that co-habitating was “gravely sinful.”
Benedict said a weakened appreciation for traditional marriage and the widespread rejection of responsible sexuality had led to “grave social problems bearing an immense human and economic cost.” He didn’t elaborate on what the cost was.
You gotta love it when an 84-year-old who’s never married or, in theory, even had sex tells people how to conduct their sexual lives.
Photo: Kancelaria Prezydenta RP
Chad
The church need to stop worrying about what goes in my life and tend to their own business, which is making money and molesting young boys.
GaySam
loads of pastors are pedophiles…….church love to trake orphans so they could work for them and use the word CHARITY to get money from people…..good business huh
Jim Hlavac
Since the pope is the head of state (a president-for-life, even, of a dictatorship,) annd his priests, bishops and cardinals all work for him, then they are unregistered lobbyists of a foreign government – which is illegal. Therefore all the pope’s minions should be required to register as paid lobbyists of a foreign government.
Robert in NYC
In another time, citizens (American clergy) taking orders and pledging primary allegiance to a foreign potentate (the Pope is actually a monarch in the Vatican state) this would have been construed as treason, punishable by death.
Riker
I love how he says that there is an economic cost, but doesn’t tell us what that cost is. In reality, every single study i’ve ever seen demonstrates that legalizing gay marriage is a net benefit to the economy of a state.
Belize
He looks like Emperor Palpatine.
“Something something something dark side. Something something something complete.”
Timothy
The Catholic Church, like everyone else, is entitled to their opinion and you don’t have to agree with it, which is your right. Regardless of whether or not you think the Pope is right or wrong in his statements, he is standing up for what he believes is right and I give him credit for stating it publicly. So many people of many faiths don’t stand up for what they believe, so they end up losing ground to people that believe differently. Whether or not you think what the Pope said is right or wrong, there is still a vast number of people that agree with him.
WillBFair
When I think that they still have possession of the Pieta, it just frys my mellon.
Huh ...
@Timothy: When I run your post through the Idiotspeak-to-English translator, I get:
“The Pope said some things. The things he said may be right. Or they may be wrong. I’m too stupid to know which. But I do know he said things. Hooray for saying things!”
Abel
By raising a big stink over same-sex marriage, His Evilness hopes to take the focus away from the ongoing pedophile scandals of the Church. Those severely damaged their “moral authority” in the eyes of millions and now, by trying to appeal to bigotry and hatred, they are attempting to reassert this seriously damaged “moral authority.” I’m hoping a few more scandals will erupt. The sooner people realize that the Church is primarily a rich, moneymaking organization with only a minor interest in charity and good works, the better off we’ll be.
Les
GOTTA WONDER IF HE IS A BOTTOM OR A TOP. ?
Christopher Banks
I actually wonder if he’s depressed. Everything he says is always so miserable. When he gave his Easter message of “hope” last year, I decided to write something alternative:
http://bipolarbear.co.nz/2011/04/25/you-are-here/
I was then attacked by a heterosexual woman on my Facebook page for discriminating against Germans. Funny world we live in.
KyleW
@Timothy: Timothy, believing in something, standing up for that belief, and having lots of others who believe likewise is no basis for respect unless that belief is respectworthy. You could apply your criteria for respect to Hitler, the chairman of NAMBLA, and the grand wizard of the ku klux klan.
Yes, being steadfast in the face of massive opposition MAY be a noble trait, although let’s be honest, it’s the meal-ticket to his life of opulence, so not as noble as say, Ghandi.
No, the pope and the entire Catholic hierarchy are reprehensible scumbags, and the planet would be immeasurably enriched if they all exploded tonight. It’s on a par with Islam for ruling by threats and fear, and there is no need for it in the modern world.
Michael
As I would agree the Pope is entitled to his opinion, in this case however, it’s not opinion but an edict he is pushing down to his subordinates.
Michael
RELIGION: A man-made Support Group for those that struggle with the definition of Right & Wrong.
Ragmatical
Just throwing this out there: Not all god lovers are homo haters. (I’m not religious or anything..) Let’s all remember this is coming from an older single gentlemen that wears a cape.
KyleW
@Ragmatical: I’m sure you’re correct, but by obeying the commands of a book that preaches homophobia, they are all guilty by association as far as I’m concerned.
Evji108
This old self-loathing Queen of the church is a deeply sexually repressed man who could never admit to himself that he is gay. He is as twisted and deeply toxic as Rick Santorum.