World's youngest cardinal says the church must 'Rethink line on divorce and gays'

[cbayer]

cross posting from Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity (Group) - thanks to urbscotty

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/latest-news/4314

5 July 2012



The Church must rethink its approach to remarried divorcees and gay relationships, the world's youngest cardinal has said.

Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, 55, made his comments in an interview with the German weekly Die Zeit and said that while the Orthodox Church considers only the first marriage sacramentally valid, divorce and a second marriage is tolerated. Asked whether this could be a model for the Catholic Church, he replied that the Church should talk about it.

Commenting on gay men in relationships he said he tried not to see them as just violating natural law but as people trying to take responsibility for each other in lasting partnerships. "We must find a way of allowing people to live without going against church teaching," he said.

[pinto]

1. Interesting tack. The Orthodox hierarchy is, yep, more conservative than the RC hierarchy.

Interesting to see a challenge to the RC modeled on an Orthodox approach. Haven't seen the original Die Zeit piece. Wonder if "tolerated" is the Cardinal's choice of words or the author's. The term always gives me pause.

[cbayer]

2. I found the article, but only in German and French.

This was the best I could find in English.

[benld74]

3. Here's a guy that won't be invited to any of the Pope's Christmas parties,,,,,,

[EvolveOrConvolve]

4. Who wants to wager that he doesn't see another promotion in his life?

[ButterflyBlood]

5. The world's youngest cardinal is 55?

Now that certainly shows a demographic problem with the Catholic hierarchy, why they aren't likely to do what he's suggesting, and why they will continue to fade into irrelevance...

Also I found his name kind of striking just because "Rainer Maria" is also the name of a band I like a lot.

[Goblinmonger]

6. A DUer saying "tried not to see them as just violating natural law"

would get you PPRd. Don't care what kind of feel-good stuff you wrote after it.

I mean, it's great that this guy is making some noise, but let's not paint him as some progressive icon.

[Humanist_Activist]

7. I was raised Catholic, and I still find so called "natural law" as the Church defines it, as so...

much gobblygook. Talk about a misnamed concept!

[Odin2005]

8. The YOUNGEST cardinal is 55???

DANGER WILL ROBINSON, DANGER!!!