Pope partially to thank for Illinois gay marriage passing

The Illinois House of Representatives Catholic democrats decided to vote in favor of same-sex “marriage” because of their interpretation of Pope Francis’ words last summer at the end of world youth day (and repeated in his now famous interview) "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge him?"

That sound bite has had a HORRIFYING effect echoing around the world.  It was strengthened when the Pope gave his subsequent interviews reinforcing his “who am I to judge” attitude.  

It’s really no wonder why uneducated Catholics parrot the Pope’s words with no understanding and then go out and support the gay agenda.  Church Catholics voted for gay marriage in Illinois this week and pointed their fingers at the Pope for helping them form their decisions to back gay marriage.

Quote: “StateRep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D), who had spent much of the summer undecided, voted for the bill on Tuesday, telling the Tribune, "As a Catholic follower of Jesus and the pope, Pope Francis, I am clear that our Catholic religious doctrine has at its core love, compassion, and justice for all people."

And House Speaker Madigan (D) echoed the Pope's words in the Tribune, adding a legal twist: "For those that just happen to be gay – living in a very harmonious, productive relationship but illegal – who am I to judge that they should be illegal?"

Too bad our current Pope didn’t take better advantage of that moment on the plane back in July and during his numerous interviews to actually TEACH Church doctrine and educate not only the Catholics on what the Church believes and why, but also the world. Perhaps this would not have happened if these (and other) Catholic politicians had heard official teaching instead of an off the cuff remark that did more damage than good.

Local Bishops SHOULD be asking their own flocks (ESPECIALLY POLITICIANS) “Have you ever heard of “CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PROPOSALS TO GIVELEGAL RECOGNITION TO UNIONS BETWEEN HOMOSEXUAL PERSONS” written in 2003 by then Cardinal Ratzinger?

Then let them (and the media) do some research and find that the Church very clearly states:

IV. POSITIONS OF CATHOLIC POLITICIANS
WITH REGARD TO LEGISLATION IN FAVOUR
OF HOMOSEXUAL UNIONS

10. If it is true that all Catholics are obliged to oppose the legal recognition of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are obliged to do so in a particular way, in keeping with their responsibility as politicians. Faced with legislative proposals in favour of homosexual unions, Catholic politicians are to take account of the following ethical indications.When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic law-maker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favour of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral.When legislation in favour of the recognition of homosexual unions is already in force, the Catholic politician must oppose it in the ways that are possible for him and make his opposition known; it is his duty to witness to the truth. If it is not possible to repeal such a law completely, the Catholic politician, recalling the indications contained in the Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae, “could licitly support proposals aimed at limiting the harm done by such a law and at lessening its negative consequences at the level of general opinion and public morality”, on condition that his “absolute personal opposition” to such laws was clear and well known and that the danger of scandal was avoided.(18) This does not mean that a more restrictive law in this area could be considered just or even acceptable; rather, it is a question of the legitimate and dutiful attempt to obtain at least the partial repeal of an unjust law when its total abrogation is not possible at the moment.”

It’s unfortunate that SOME of our local clergy (bishops and priests) are so clearly failing to teach the Faith to their flock.  When a public figure Catholic politician OPENLY opposes their own faith they should NOT be allowed the Sacrament of Holy Communion or Marriage etc, UNTIL and UNLESS they repent in Confession and TURN from supporting what the Church declares MORTAL sin. 

Too often SOME of our Bishops (no all) are more interested in immigration reform than they are in the souls of their own flocks.  That is something they will be VERY sorry for one day.

Christ commissioned His Church with the mission of SAVING SOULS- not immigration reform.

If the Church wants stronger EDUCATED Catholics the Church MUST TEACH the official teachings of the Faith.  If the Church continues to be more involved in politics than soul saving more will be lost and that blood with be on the hands of the clergy.

Do I think the Pope INTENDED this outcome?  Nope.

Do I think the Pope could have PREVENTED this misunderstanding of his words?  Yes, but he made the choice not to - so far anyway.  

He COULD have clarified his meaning at ANY time, he's the pope.  He COULD have done so in his interviews, again, he chose NOT to. 

In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/illinois-house-approves-gay-marriage-speaker-cites-pope-134400392.html

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-gay-marriage-illinois-1106-20131106,0,5593474.story?page=1

Link: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20030731_homosexual-unions_en.html

Photo from: http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/52796e7769bedd7c44037936/illinois-house-passes-gay-marriage-bill-and-it-is-set-to-become-law.jpg