Bishops insist homosexuality still a sin as Vatican plays down opening to gays

bishopsCatholic bishops said Tuesday that they remain fundamentally opposed to homosexual relationships, tempering the message of a landmark Vatican report calling for a more positive approach to gay believers.

Amid signs of a conservative backlash against the reform agenda being pushed by Vatican liberals supported by Pope Francis, bishops attending a special synod on the family called for “appropriate prudence” in the signals sent to the gay community.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

31 Comments

  1. October 15, 2014

    The Vatican began by dishing out small doses of pro-gay propaganda to prepare the faithful for the acceptance of homosexuality but they went too far this time and caused a backlash. It was a mistake of too much too soon. We are hearing of many people preparing to leave the church.

    I hope they will turn to their Bibles for light. Let them read the Gospel of St John. Then The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Romans. It was from the pages of this holy Epistle that the light of salvation shone into the heart of a German priest by the name of Martin Luther those many years ago and shook Europe to its Catholic foundations.

    Now the Vatican is in damage control.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

  2. Freethinker
    October 15, 2014

    Religion poisons everything, as Christopher Hitchens rightly said.

    • October 16, 2014

      Religion has built orphanages, schools, hospitals, dug wells for clean water, established clinics, rescued thousands of young girls from the sex trade, preached a life changing gospel around the world, and much more.

      It is not atheists who are doing these things. I have been in many poverty stricken under privileged nations. Wherever I
      have seen any of these good works been done it is a church or Christian ministry that is doing it. Let me tell you why. It is not because of a theological system or a philosophy. There is a living Spirit from heaven that transcends all human thinking and man made organizations that is inspiring, energizing, motivating, and driving people of faith who love Jesus Christ and love others to serve in His name! It is the HOLY SPIRIT :!: It is the third Person of the blessed and undivided Trinity :!: True to His promise when Jesus returned to heaven He sent the Spirit until the work on earth was done :!:

      I challenge you to show me a clinic for lepers run by an organization of atheists. A rich cigar smoking atheistic business man visiting a leper clinic in India. A little nun was washing the sores of a leper. He said *I would not do that for a million dollars.* The nun said, *Neither would I.*

      Russia is an example of a nation that thought it could do well without God. Before the fall of atheistic communism when the head of the communist party, the KGB, and the secret police committed suicide the same day, the store shelves were often bare.

      Millions of people of faith and others who did not support the revolution were murdered under communism. But praise be to God! Just as the poisoned vine of communism was spreading into the universities of the Western world, and Christians were praying, God struck it down. The cross was seen to be mightier than the hammer and cycle.

      Hitchens, Marx, and Lennon left no legacy. But the Lamb prevailed! At the name of Jesus very knee will bow! After more than 2,000 years it is still highly exalted above every name! And His gospel remains the sweetest story ever told!

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

      • Too Hard Too Long
        October 16, 2014

        Amen!

  3. Francis Chicago
    October 15, 2014

    Here is something radically wrong you know,which not even person can see,which Father God alone can understand.The emotional feelings which encourages the Devil, Catholic comes under Christianity you can not be in homosexuality Relationship and call your self a Christian.In Ephesians 6-11 -24 talks about how to live and walks with God.This gay thing is not human nature its Spiritual.

    • October 15, 2014

      Homosexuality is a spiritual force. This is why it is so difficult to break away from it.

      When homosexuals say they cannot change they are often telling the truth. This is why even much therapy fails. The Bible says *… God gave them over to a reprobate mind,…* in Romans 1:28. What is needed is a genuine conversion to Christ and an anointed deliverance ministry followed by pastoral counseling to help them put together a whole new lifestyle.

      God is able to deliver them because of the power in the name of Jesus and the merits of His blood.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

      .

  4. October 15, 2014

    Mahaut talk roro..
    Being gay is not only a black people thing,it’s not only a white people thing,it’s not only a rich people thing,it’s not only a poor people thing,it’s not only an European thing,it’s not only a Caribbean thing.It is all over the globe.
    In other words look at it as the disease we call cancer.Cancer does not only strike the poor,it also strikes the rich.It does not only strike the blacks,it also strikes the whites.It does not only strike in the Caribbean,it strikes in Europe,in Africa,in Asia. It strikes people all over the globe.
    One thing we do know is that it does not strike every person.And so, we have no idea as to who it’s going to take down or who it’s not going to touch.
    However, cancer is not the only monster out there,there are many others.To a person it might be cancer,to another it might be Ebola,to another it might be something else.And chilling in the Bronx,as you would know in America you lost track of the monsters names,for there are so many.
    Being gay it the same.To one person,being gay is his monster whilst to another being gay is not his monster but rest assured that he is battling some other monster in his life.
    The sad part about it is that,some now calls it a life style whereas it a sin,no different from fornication,adultery,lying,stealing,which all have to be judged.
    Thank GOD it is not the unpardonable sin and there is a
    way out of it and any other sinful deed, if only the sinner believes and is willing to turn it over to the HOLY SPIRIT and HE will deliver him or her from it/them.

  5. The Facts
    October 14, 2014

    There you have it. The Church will not change its doctrines on homosexuality. As a Christian Catholic, I knew it all along. I was not swayed by what I read. I also hear the information, the full truth from Catholic TV and Radio – EWTN and also on http://www.ewtn.com
    Some people read the News and they automatically assume that it will be the opposite, getting angry, threatening to leave the Church without even asking the Lord in prayer to enlighten them on this matter which they heard and read. They make a grave mistake.
    The Bishops were only discussing the matter of, in my words, to encourage them into the fold. Later, they may, hopefully repent and become full-fledged practicing Catholics. They will not be coerced nor aggressively but will voluntarily submit to God and His Commandments as also contained in Holy Scripture. This is all the Church can do for them. The rest is up to them. God who knows hears, will assist those who are willing.
    Those who know the doctrines of the Catholic Church and “its religious teaching” should know better. This is why Catholics of all should know their faith, defend their faith, pass it along and correct others when they err.
    As Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Who has ears ought to hear.”
    The Bishops have much more to discuss on this matter. Pope Francis has the last say.

  6. A Voice
    October 14, 2014

    The catholic church was just testing the waters man. It is just a matter of time.

    If there wasn’t a big backlash then it would have been law. The gays got their champion in that new pope.

    But this is what happens when there is no godliness and holiness in an institution; slowly but surely the fruits start to bare.

    Evil cannot correct evil. Anyone looking for the history of the catholic belief and its papacy, check this documentary on Youtube; A Lamp in the Dark.

    • October 16, 2014

      This is exactly what is happening.

      Very few people seem to understand it. You do and I thank you for expressing it.

      If this most resent news release from the Vatican had not created such a backlash the Roman Catholic Church would likely be well on its way to a total acceptance of homosexuality. Instead they find themselves doing damage control.

      Be aware. The institution is in trouble. Let Catholics look now for a new spiritual home.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

    • Twissted
      October 16, 2014

      A Voice, I wish that you were speaking from a well informed mind but clearly you are not. Just another miss informed, biased, prejudiced , Very slanted perspective.
      If you were looking for truth you would not be where you are. Here is a hint: Start with a prayer, then read Matthew 16:18, and find some historical documents/books on the history of early church to read. Don’t be a voice from the dark. God bless.

  7. man
    October 14, 2014

    the bible speaks about gays and what god did to the cities because of it and more. no church who accept and agrees to same sex marriage (gay) I shall not follow
    it is not a church of god because it would not be following his teachings.
    bible “it is an abominable sin” no matter which way one puts it. it is wrong. there should be no discussion about it no matter who you are I am a god fearing man.
    the end is really near.

  8. Mahaut talk roro
    October 14, 2014

    People listen to me a man from mahaut chilling in the Bronx…ok If gay was a black thing the world would watch it as nasty maybe there would be laws as weed smoking to arrest. Well it’s a white thing walls street people with money. But ohhhh Jesus is that hard for man to know u must sick for two grown men to lay in bed nasty nasty….

  9. 1979
    October 14, 2014

    the church has disintegrated into nothing more than another tool for the state to use, to brainwash and subdue a populate.

    woe to those who surrender their spirituality to Rome. enlightenment is within…

    the kingdom of god is inside us and all around us, lift a rock and you will find him. split a piece of wood and he is there…

    • out of south city
      October 15, 2014

      I agree with you 100%. There is no one up in the heavens that is going to save us. Our heads have been up in the clouds ever since our oppressors forced religion on our foreparents and has been perpetuated down to us. The catholic church has such a stronghold on our minds that it’s not funny. It has boiled down to killing in the name of religion. Look at all the wars going on in the so-called Middle-East which is really Northeast Africa. These foreigners are there because of the wealth, mainly oil. All we have to do is to research. It is said by Jomo Kenyata, “when the Europeans came to Africa, they gave us the bible and told us to close our eyes and pray. When we opened our eyes, the Europeans had the land and we had the bible.” Ever since we have held on dearly to the bible and can’t give it up while they are reaping the riches out of Africa.
      Yes, we are connected to everything natural unlike the Europeans. Being religious is not going to deliver us in any way.
      1979, like you said, “the church has disintegrated into nothing more than another tool for the state to use, to brainwash and subdue a populace.”
      Our people just can’t see the damage being done to them mentally and spiritually. Being spiritual and religious are two different things.
      Religion will tell you that god is in heaven but spirituality means that we are gods having a human experience. Everything that we need to operate in this life is in us and around us and nothing comes from the sky like we have been taught.
      Our ancient Egyptian ancestors called the man god and called the woman godess. We have to redifine who we are and stop accepting what was given to us.
      I remember the priests in days gone by giving us all kinds of European names. That’s how much control the catholic church had over our parents. These names had nothing to do with our race. Every other race can trace their ancestry except us. We do not even want to be affiliated with Africa because of our brain washing. We have been made to see our African brothers and sisters as our enemies.
      IT IS HIGH TIME THAT WE WAKE UP FROM OUR SLEEP AND BE ENLIGHTENED. LET THE RELIGIONS GO AND ADOPT OUR ANCESTORS’ SPIRITUALITY. THEY WERE ONE WITH NATURE AND WERE HIGHLY CIVILISED AND INTELLIGENT. ALL OTHER NATIONS COPIED FROM OUR ANCESTORS BECAUSE THEY WERE THE FIRST.
      ONE LOVE.

    • November 15, 2014

      “…enlightment is within…”?

      No my friend! enlightment is not WITHIN unless you have received Christ who is the “light of the world”.

      Enlightment is in the Word of God which is a “lamp for our feet and a light for our path”.

      If you want light on the subject subject of homosexuality you will read Romans 1:26,27, 1 Corinthians 6:9,10, 1 Timothy 1:9,10, and Jude vs. 7.

      Those who reject the light of God walk in darkness. You don’t have to look far to see the chaos, suffering, and loss they have caused in our world today. On the other hand those who walk in the light have a much better better life.

      Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D., International Evangelist. Diploma in Christian Counselling.

  10. Freethinker
    October 14, 2014

    Increased acceptance of homosexuality is a progressive move. How sad that so many of us in the island are conservatives with too little education about the rest of the world to understand why liberalism and tolerance for our fellow human beings is the way to move forward, not conservative religious politics. If adults consent to a sexual act, why should it be wrong? Is the god of the entire vast universe so petty as to care what one species of primate does in the bedroom?

    • LTT
      October 14, 2014

      can two adults who consent to kill,steal or bear false witness against your neighbor be wronge to ? You just for it cause u in it……

      • October 17, 2014

        This argument is the worse foolishness I have ever seen.

        It shows the absolute lack of logic of a people who have lost their ability to be objective.

        They do not have any terms of reference so it would be impossible to stage a debate with them.

        Freethinker is saying whatever two adults consent to do must be O.K. On what grounds? Because they consented to do it? Good grief! The men who brought down the Twin Towers on 9/11 consented!

        Don’t tell me that two men consenting to bugger each other is different because they are hurting no one.

        A airline steward after he tested positive for HIV continued to have unprotected sex until he had infested over 200 men literally from coast to coast in the USA. Was he hurting no one?

        There are many more who have done the same thing on a smaller or larger scale infecting others until AIDS has spread world wide and is now an epidemic in many places. Innocent wives have been infected, children have been born HIV positive. and children have been left orphaned. Are those who indulge their lust at such a cost to humanity doing nobody else any harm?

        Men and women have abandoned their marriage partners and children to live with somebody of the same gender. Wives, husbands, and children have been left devastated when the one they loved and trusted took a turn against nature and violated God’s covenant. Are they hurting nobody else?

        None of these things would happen if everybody lived according to he code of conduct God has given us in the New Testament.

        Romans 1:26,27

        1 Corinthians 6:9,10

        1 Timothy 1:9,10

        Jude vs. 7

        Those who live by the commandments of God are not the ones who are suffering this pain and loss. Those who reject the blueprint God has given us for an abundant life not only
        destroy themselves they also damage countless others.

        Freethinker wants us to believe it is all O.K. as long as those who are doing it consent.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist..

    • October 14, 2014

      The answer to your last question is YES :!:

      Because HE is God :!:

      That one species happens to be the ONE He created in HIS own image and likeness.

      It is the One He gave the law to, the ONE that sinned, the ONE His Son died on the cross to redeem.

      Freethinker, I have not seen anything progressive about homosexuality. I think I read gthat WHO has told us a homosexual man is 1

      • October 14, 2014

        Sorry. My computer malfunctioned…

        I think I read that WHO has said a homosexual man is 19 times more likely to become infected with HIV than a heterosexual.

        My ministry has taken me into the slums of Toronto and many other big Canadian and American cities. I have seen homosexuality come full cycle. I have seen people dying of AIDS, broken hearts and broken homes

        I had a friend who was married with two little boys. He was a health care professional in a big Toronto hospital. But Charlie began drinking. He became part of he gay scene. The last time I was talking to him he told me he was living with a male partner, a bank manager. We lost contact. Later I heard he been infected with AIDS and committed suicide. I checked this story out and found it was true.

        Nothing progressive. Just so much to pity. So much brokenness.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

    • 1979
      October 14, 2014

      the circle is a symbol of perfection….. the moral which we now see as trivial…we will, through our own learning and discernment, come to understand and embrace…we are NOTHING on earth…the time we spend here alive is INCOMPARABLE to the moral wisdom of old… take for example….i think eventually..women will start using long skirts again…be it through fashion or a genuine adoption and appreciation for modesty and virtue… what was before…often comes again….and things we forget and take for granted we are reminded of and learn to appreciate again….

      • The Facts
        October 14, 2014

        Life is short. All these things are temporary. And then the end comes for eternal judgment for all to face the Master, The Creator, The Lord of all, King of Kings, our Savior and Just Judge for what we have done in the body. Do not deceive yourself otherwise.

      • Freethinker
        October 15, 2014

        The moral wisdom of old? Like what? God ordering the massacre of the Caananites? God ordering Abraham to murder his son, Isaac, to show his faith? Women being executed for marrying without being virgins? Non-Christians being murdered and raped and their towns pillaged? Being stoned to death for being a “witch?” This is barbaric and all of these verses are in the Bible’s Old Testament–the same place the anti-gay verses are.

        And how dare you dictate how anyone dresses? Women in the West fought for so long to be free enough to wear trousers and what was formerly “men’s” clothing. You sound like a typical sad old man trying to dictate what men and women do, thinking fondly of “the good old days” of the bible without having ever read the bible cover to cover, as I have done.

    • Views Expressed
      October 14, 2014

      Free Thinker…..Let me say something to you because i do not think that ou have comprehended this nastiness fully.
      This free thing you refer to, why can`t everyone, anyone with a free thinking mentality do, request, demand what they want under the banner of freedom and liberty.
      So, after we tolerate this gay Nonesense what next….men now demanding rights that they can have a 12 year old GIRL CHILD TO BE HIS WIFE because it is liberal to do so…..and she, the 12 year old is a virgin, clean, etc so she can be my wife and I can marry HER.
      Where is the decency in humanity…where is it….and soon a man will ask for 2, 3 , 4 wives and yes, what about the woman , 1, 2 , 3, 4 husbands and then what…>>?? What is becoming of us…really. SODOM.
      I am of the belief that these homosexual advocates are reading the message from the Vatican wrongly. The VATICAN IS NOT promoting neither are they condoning homosexuality…they are addressing the human being and not the act…just as we recognise an addict, drugs , alcohol or homosexuality, and not promote these anti social , anti human being behaviour promoted….IT IS WRONG, UNGODLY, THAT IS UN WORLDLY…..INHUMAN AND MUST NOT BE PROMOTED.
      GOD PLEASE GUIDE US..

    • Unique Gem
      October 14, 2014

      sick

    • A Voice
      October 14, 2014

      If adults consent to a sexual act, why should it be wrong?

      Let me ask you this, if these two adults happen to be mother and son or brother and sister, would it not be wrong?

      Don’t matter what you guys do, you all cannot justify this abomination…

    • The Facts
      October 14, 2014

      I would not say acceptance but tolerance. People live their lives in whatever manner they wish. In the end they have to answer to God for their actions.

    • Anonymous
      October 15, 2014

      idk about you free thinker but i am not a primate. Nor did i evolve from monkeys. If that was the case, why do we still have monkeys? what happen those that are here just havent turned into humans yet? they still evolving? Understand that although every human being has rights to live in freedom, safety, to earn a living etc, being gay/homosexual does in NO WAY POSSIBLE further the human race. If the worls as we know it ends today with technology destroyed and there are only gay people left, guess what? they will have to ungay (once a buller, always a buller) themself for human life to continue. It is a perversion and a preference. like preferring grafted mangoes to mango long.

      • Freethinker
        October 15, 2014

        Evolution is a fact of science. Humans are primates; we share a common ancestor with chimpanzees and bonobos. It is not a simplistic matter of “evolving from monkeys”; it is a matter of specific species evolving from a specific ancestor, and the family tree branching out from there. All species on the earth are connected to each other via evolution. So your argument about “why are there still monkeys” is absurd and misunderstands evolution completely.

        Moreover, homosexuality exists in over 1,600 species of animals. Are they “perverted” by the devil, too? Why would anyone choose to be gay in anti-gay societies like here? It is an orientation, not a choice. And there are far more heterosexual than homosexual people in the world, so your ridiculous scenario of the world ending because of there only being gay people is ludicrous.

        Do some research, seriously…you make me sound like I am teaching a class to a five-year-old.

      • October 15, 2014

        Freethinker:

        I see you are still beating the evolution drum. I admire your ability to articulate the theory but you have some catching up to do.

        Forty four percent of the scientists in America now go to church on a regular basis. This does not make them Christians but it is a strong suggestion that they believe in God.

        I encourage you to read the book CREATION by Grant Jefffrey, Ph.D. I have read many books against evolution by Ph.D. scientists but none as irrefutable as this one by Dr. Jeffrey.

        Dr. Jeffrey shows that at the moment of the big bang a fine tuning had to take place that set the universe in motion to become what exists to day. Only an intelligent designer could have determined how much of this and how much of that would be necessary. A tad less or a tad more and we would not be here. Yet the chance of it just happening is less that that of a wind hitting a used car junkyard and leaving behind a brand new car from the parts and pieces.

        Page after page, chapter after chapter, Dr. Jeffrey makes his case in true Ph.D style, documenting each statement with quotations from scientists, and recent discoveries.

        Find a mistake. Uncover an inconsistency. Then let me know and I will stop recommending this book.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available