Many are projecting or lobbying for a change in the Church’s attitude toward homosexuality, however a passive toleration and support for decriminalization is probably the most for which dissenters can hope. Anything more would constitute heresy. Marriage as a natural bond and sacrament between a man and a woman can never be extended to same-sex unions.
The Church can also never turn a blind eye to the sins of fornication and adultery. Similarly, there is no way the Church can retract its teachings in defense of the right to life, no matter how enthusiastically she might applaud the rights of women.
Pope Francis has made inroads into satisfying those who are concerned about the environment, but such must always focus on the place of humanity first and on human stewardship of creation. It would constitute a false religion to divinize nature. Indeed, it would constitute the heresy of pantheism. Such is why orthodox voices were quick to criticize the Amazonian Pacha Mama or Mother Nature. Those who sought to appropriate the Mother of God within the iconography and cult risked distorting Our Lady from a blessed creature into goddess signified by a pagan idol. (I do not think this was ever the intent of the Vatican but rather it was a concession of respect that got out of hand.)
Filed under: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Blogger Priest 