Cardinal Blase Cupich and Fr. James Martin SJ are bosom buddies when it comes to LGBTQ.
Compare the statement from the former, below, with the article of the latter, in which he feigns adherence to the teachings of the Church on the subject, but really just uses it to silence those who try to call him out. It's a clever tactic -- he used it against Robert George, who in good faith asked him to clarify his position. He is a careful, albeit deceptive, writer, and an equally careful reading will reveal his equivocation.*
Their approach is the same. Instead of demonstrating confidence that God's law is for our flourishing (including the flourishing of sinners -- meaning salvation), it's all about not being mean and imputing meanness, even rampant aggression, to any expression of discipline or curtailment of abuse.
It's so tiresome.
Statement of Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, on Same Sex Unions
March 15, 2021
Today’s response, issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, offers nothing new on the Church's teaching on the Sacrament of Matrimony. Regardless, it needs to be read in the context of the teachings in the Catechism and the encouraging statements of Pope Francis to LGBTQ persons about their relationship to the church, as well as his urging that pastors welcome them with respect and sensitivity, recognizing, as the Congregation response does today, the many positive elements in same-sex relationships, “which are in themselves to be valued and appreciated.” Yet, the understandable reaction among many to this response will be disappointment. This should prompt us in the Church and in the archdiocese to redouble our efforts to be creative and resilient in finding ways to welcome and encourage all LGBTQ people in our family of faith.
The subject matter of Cardinal Cupich's statement is this CDF response to the question of blessings for same-sex relationships, found here. A milder and more reasonable statement cannot be imagined. Cardinal Cupich simply cannot let it stand. The LGBTQ "company line" that anyone following the most basic Christian teachings is somehow a discriminatory monster must be trotted out, no matter what.
*Without going into a line-by-line examination, let me just point out that in this article, Fr. Martin simply states what the Church teaches, not omitting to correct terminology by his own lights and to put challenging phraseology in scare quotes. He highlights one point in the Catechism that cautions against unjust discrimination (not without irony, as today we live under an LGBTQ regime; I cannot walk into the grocery store without facing a decal telling me the policy of that establishment with regard to the sexual preferences of its employees, and those preferences get a month every year of celebration... ).
Nowhere does he say that he himself holds these teachings to be true. His only personal affirmation is this parenthetical remark: "(As a Catholic priest, I have also never challenged those teachings, nor will I.)" Not intending to challenge a teaching says precisely nothing about whether that person holds the teaching himself.
Yes, this is a parallel I have attempted to draw for some friends who don't understand, the idea that any kind of sinful inclination, be it sexual or emotional or whatever, must(should) be fought and not embraced. It seems logical enough to them that my inherent tendency to blow up on my kids when I have had enough or am being torn from my selfish desires by them needs to be tamed or ignored or what have you, but as soon as you say "YES, and soooooo too with sexual tendencies that are harmful to the individual and othersć, you've lost them.
ReplyDeleteAlso and FYI, it won't allow me to publish either anonymously or with a name/link, not sure why. I try and avoid google, but that's the only way commenting is allowed. In case you have any control over this and want to mess with it.
DeleteHi Maria,
DeleteThe comment below is me testing the anonymous posting. It seems you have to wait for the "captcha" thingy to load etc.
It took a few extra seconds but did work for me.
This is a test
ReplyDeleteThe “I’ve never challenged the teaching” has always seemed so “wink winky, nudge nudgy” to me... as though “not challenging it” in so many words is just as good as actually embracing it. Also, how can he challenge a teaching he doesn’t actually talk about!! I’ve never heard Martin say a word about WHAT the church teaches in terms of Gods GOOD design of human beings and what they were meant for.
ReplyDeleteYes exactly!
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