Dec 22 2008
Says the Pope: Saving Gays is like Saving the Rainforest
At first I found this headline shocking, seeing as it sounded like we needed a conservation effort lest homosexual people went extinct. I didn’t think the Pope would be advancing that idea at all..
Of course, the headline was a little misleading. Here’s the article:
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Benedict said on Monday that saving humanity from homosexual or transsexual behavior was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.
Yeah. That sounds more like Catholic doctrine. I’m not mad at the Pope for his statement, but I do see how homosexuals can be a little alarmed at the sentiment – I think, on a global scale, saving the rainforest deserves quite a lot more consideration than saving homosexuals specifically, or in isolation from all of the other things humanity has on its plate (war, hatred, racism, sexism, materialism, godlessness…), and being singled out like that can seem a bit… unfair.
But of course, the Pope’s position isn’t tremendously different from Rick Warren’s (or the Baha’i view, come to think of it). Because of his global stature, President Obama (when he actually becomes that) will welcome an opportunity to meet with the Pope. Will stand on the stage and shake his hand. Will not turn down a blessing if one is offered. Millions of Catholics in the United States would approve. As it turns out, because of Obama’s stand not on abortion, but more saliantly on birth control and conception, I don’t think that blessing is coming.
Similarly, and in fact, even more pertinently, Rick Warren could bring with him the approbation of millions of evangelicals who are ready to think more like Rick Warren, and less like some of the evangelicals who can’t think of anything else but the culture war that has engulfed the nation for decades. Unlike the Pope’s unlikely blessing, however, Obama has already earned, through character and friendship, though not through shared idealogy, the blessing of Rick Warren.
I say score one for Obama.
QT
One Response to “Says the Pope: Saving Gays is like Saving the Rainforest”
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QT,
Being a Catholic I find it curious that the church has a great conundrum. She believes that God will judge a life only after it is over. No one knows the heart, no one knows what God is doing with a particular individual at any given time. The church believes that the Holy Spirit is at work in all to draw individuals to God.
Hmm, this is the problem when you believe God is at work in all, but you’d just like to interfere a little bit on some of them. My response to these things as I encounter them in my faith community is this, the earth is flat.
The same logic was employed toward the round earthists by the flatlanders. I say stop the insanity! I believe we’re on the edge of change, both universally and as Catholics.
I’m with you on thinking Obama is right in his view of letting those who’ve not fully embraced everyone to be next to those who have. I was one who held the prejudice of my ancestors. I got over it by being around those who moved ahead of me and said, “hey what do you think about this….”, led me to realize the views that I needed to revisit and change.
My gay friends are the same friends I had in my various Christian experiences. Now, that they know I love them and care for their lives rather than sitting in judgment toward them we are all more relaxed. I believe the church has to hold on to positions that many don’t believe because change is the last option. Lots of other options will be reviewed prior to any move toward change. The good news is they no longer believe the earth is flat.
bjritz