Papal envoy breaks ranks on gay couples

[Quetzal]

Papal envoy breaks ranks on gay couples

The Pope's ambassador to one of Europe's leading Catholic countries has hinted that the church should "acknowledge" gay partnerships - a significant crack in the Vatican's resolute opposition to "evil and deviant" gay relationships.

Monsignor Manuel Monteiro de Castro told a conference of Spanish bishops at the weekend: "The new political situation in which we are living in Spain sets new challenges in the spreading of the gospel and we must meet those challenges in an appropriate manner."

Departing from his prepared speech, the papal nuncio added that although the law in Spain, and many other countries, defines marriage as the union of a man and a woman, "there are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised".

The uncommonly outspoken remarks, reported in the Spanish press, will cause extreme annoyance within a papal circle desperate to stop the encroachment of what it sees as decadent sexual morality.

more...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/gayrights/story/0,12592,1209663,00.html

[Sinistrous]

1. Oooooohhh! Ratzinger is going to be pissed.

For those not up on the Roman Catholic bureaucracy:

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger is head of the Catholic Church's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose mission is to "to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world" (John Paul II).

[IndianaGreen]

2. Cardinal Ratzinger is the head of the former Inquisition office

CARDINAL RATZINGER: PROFILE
BBC TWO Thursday 18 December 2003 midnight-12.30am

Schooled in the Nazis' power of rhetoric during his childhood in Bavaria, Ratzinger later deserted the German Army during World War II, only to be sent to a POW camp when the Allies reached his hometown.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH

Founded in 1542 by Pope Paul III with the Constitution "Licet ab initio," the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was originally called the Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition as its duty was to defend the Church from heresy. It is the oldest of the Curia's nine congregations.

The only curial organism which is older is the Secretariat of State, whose forerunner, the Apostolic Secretariat, was created by Innocent VIII on December 31, 1487, with the Constitution "Non debet reprehensibile."

Pope St. Pius X in 1908 changed the name to the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. It received its current name in 1965 with Pope Paul VI. Today, according to Article 48 of the Apostolic Constitution on the Roman Curia, "Pastor Bonus", promulgated by the Holy Father John Paul II on June 28, 1988, «the duty proper to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world: for this reason everything which in any way touches such matter falls within its competence.»

The congregation is now headed by Prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. It has a secretary, His Excellency Mgr. Angelo Amato, S.D.B., an under-secretary, P. Joseph Augustine Di Noia, O.P., a Promotor of Justice Mgr. Charles Scicluna, and a staff of 33, according to the 2002 "Annuario Pontificio" or "Pontifical Yearbook." It also has 25 members - cardinals, archbishops and bishops - and 28 consulters. Given the nature of its task, congregation work is divided into four distinct sections: the doctrinal office, the disciplinary office, the matrimonial office and that for priests.

http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_14071997_en.html

[burrowowl]

3. de Castor is

a brave man.

[mulethree]

4. wonder if the Pope is aware of this fight?

Came across this list recently which makes the current Pope look quite tolerant compared to the older popes. I wonder if he's still in charge? I get the fealing he would side with the Monsignor over the Cardinals. Hopefully thats why this guy is the Pope's ambassador

http://www.truecatholic.org/heresiesjp2.htm

[xchrom]

5. you know there must be significant divisions

within the vatican on issues regarding gay people and women -- it's refreshing to hear that some of these people are not being stifled.