Pastors object to language on gays.As Catholic pastors we have become increasingly disturbed by the tone and, in some cases, content of documents and statements flora the Vatican, bishops' conferences, and individual bishops on issues under the heading of 'homosexual' or 'gay/lesbian,'" begins an open letter from 23 Chicago priests to the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church, Christian church headed by the pope, the bishop of Rome (see papacy and Peter, Saint). Its commonest title in official use is Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. . Over the last several years issues involving gays and lesbians on a broad range of topics such as marriage, health care benefits, adoption, priestly priest·ly adj. priest·li·er, priest·li·est 1. Of or relating to a priest or the priesthood. 2. Characteristic of or suitable for a priest. ordination ordination: see ministry; orders, holy. , and elevation to bishop status in the Episcopal Church Episcopal Church, Anglican church of the United States. Its separate existence as an American ecclesiastical body with its own episcopate began in 1789. Doctrine and Organization have been hotly hot·ly adv. In an intense or fiery way: a hotly contested will. Adv. 1. hotly - in a heated manner; "`To say I am behind the strike is so much nonsense,' declared Mr Harvey heatedly"; "the debated in the halls of government and church. Naturally, the Vatican and U.S. bishops have weighed in on the topics. But this group of priests says the language in these statements and documents from official Catholic representatives has been abusive, violent, and demonizing. Their letter cites examples flora the most recent Vatican document on the subject, "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons," which uses phrases such as "grave detriment to the common good," "approval or legalization LEGALIZATION. The act of making lawful. 2. By legalization, is also understood the act by which a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be lawfully read in evidence. Vide Authentication. of evil," and "harmful to the proper development of human society" to describe homosexuality and homosexual relationships. The priests contend "it is not possible to minister to and with the needs of our homosexual brothers and sisters with language of this tone as a foundation." Cardinal Francis George His Eminence Francis Eugene Cardinal George, OMI, Ph.D, S.T.D. (born January 16, 1937) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as the Archbishop of Chicago and was elevated to Cardinal by Pope John Paul II. of Chicago responded to the priests with a letter of his own, saying he understood the priests' concern that the language about gays is not welcoming and presents a pastoral problem. He said, though, that "pastoring any group of people means more than welcoming them. It also means calling them to conversion in Christ." George said the priests must find the balance between welcome and conversion, and ended with an invitation: "If you, however, cannot resolve that tension ... or if you yourself do not accept the church's moral teaching on the moral use of the gift of sexuality, it would be all the more important for us to talk." |
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