Brazil Catholic Priest Excommunicated over Support for Gays

[UrbScotty]

Last edited Tue Apr 30, 2013, 08:23 PM - Edit history (1)

A Catholic priest in southeastern Brazil was excommunicated on Monday after publicly resigning from his duties to protest against the church's opposition to homosexuality.

...

The 48-year-old priest, who renounced his church duties over the weekend, was accused of "heresy" and "schism" by the church hierarchy in the world's biggest Catholic country, which will welcome Pope Francis in late July during a major youth festival in Rio de Janeiro.

"Father Beto," as his parishioners call him, announced on social networks that he was giving up the priesthood, urging the Church to modify its views on homosexuality and bisexuality to adapt to "new realities."

"We should simply be considered as gendered beings and not as homosexuals or bisexuals since love can spring at all these levels," the priest said in a video posted on YouTube.

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/81364-brazil-catholic-priest-excommunicated-over-support-for-gays

Not just removed from the priesthood - but removed from the entire Church. What a shame.

[hrmjustin]

1. He stood on his principles and I am glad for him.

I hope the Church reconsiders.

[UrbScotty]

8. Many others have stood up to the Church hierarchy over the centuries

...some of whom are now saints.

Sometimes, standing up for Christ requires us to disagree with those in authority. That goes for civil/political authority, and that also goes for the hierarchy of the Church.

I too am happy that there are people like Fr. Daniel in the Church.

[rug]

2. I wonder what Archbishop Marini thinks of this.

[georges641]

3. Is this the main theme of this group?

To bash the Church over her teachings about morality?

Those teachings will NEVER change.

And it's not just about homosexuality. That is often unfairly taken out of context as if the Church exists to pick on gay people. The Church teachings about sexual morality include such concepts as fornication, lust, masturbation, pornography, adultery, etc.

The Church will never water down the doctrine to please anyone. It is up to us to allow Christ's Church to change US, not the other way around.

[hrmjustin]

4. The Church can be wrong.

[georges641]

5. Individuals can be wrong but not "The Church."

To be clear, I'm referring to the Catholic Church whose head, the Vicar of Christ, the Successor of Peter, is the Holy Father or the Pope. I'm not referring to schismatic churches which call themselves catholic, but in their case, the "church" can most definitely be wrong and depending upon the sect, is very often in error.

[hrmjustin]

6. Ok we disagree but I am not going to give you a hard time on that because you really believe

it. What I will do is remind you is that not all Roman Catholics agree on every issue. This is a liberal site and the Roman Catholics you meet here will not just accept the Church's teachings on all issues. You can be a faithfully and observant Roman Catholic and challenge the church's teaching.

The Roman Catholic Church is wrong on homosexuality. It is not a sin!

[rug]

7. No, that's not the Statement of Purpose.

This is:

Discuss Catholic and/or Orthodox Christian beliefs, share faith experiences, post prayer requests, discuss Catholic/Orthodox liturgies, traditions, saints, etc.

That said, it is a place that Catholic beliefs and practices can be discussed - and critiqued - in an atmosphere free from gratuitous bashing.

Seriously, feel free to post a thread on something that interests you. Whether all agree or not, it will be discussed civilly. We all may learn something.