A Seismic Shift At the Vatican - More Tolerance For Gays & Unmarried Couples

[N'Zinga Shani]

Some Say It Is the Equivalent of a Seismic Shift; Others Call It An Earthquake.   OneWorld says it is a welcome act of leadership.  More Christian leaders need to speak out about seeing other human beings as people first. These are some of the responses to today's NPR and New York Times Reports listed below:

 Vatican Report Expresses More Tolerance For Gays, Unmarried Couples

by Chris Hopkins - October 13, 201410:02 PM ET

 Maybe Pope Francis Is Simply Demonstrating Christian Love As God Commanded

Halfway through a two-week assembly on family issues for Catholic bishops, the Vatican has released a report that's unusually conciliatory toward gays and non-marital ..., both long considered contrary to church doctrine.

NPR's Sylvia Poggioli notes that while the report reflects Pope Francis's call for a more merciful church, it does not constitute any change or decision regarding the church's official stances on homosexual acts or gay marriage. Still one Vatican analyst did describe the report as a "pastoral earthquake."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/10/13/355962499/vatican-rep...

In its report the New York Times says:  At the Vatican, a Shift in Tone Toward Gays and Divorce

VATICAN CITY — In a marked shift in tone likely to be discussed in parishes around the world, an assembly of Roman Catholic bishops convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican released a preliminary document on Monday calling for the church to welcome and accept gay people, unmarried couples and those who have divorced, as well as the children of these less traditional families.

The bishops’ report, issued midway through a landmark two-week meeting, does not change church doctrine or teaching, and will now be subjected to fierce debate and revision at the assembly.

But it is the first signal that the institutional church may follow the direction Francis has set in the first 18 months of his papacy, away from condemnation of unconventional family situations and toward understanding, openness and mercy.  http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/14/world/europe/vatican-signals-more...?

On Sept 19, 2014, the Pope said the Church Is ‘Obsessed’ With Gays, Abortion and Birth Control

"Pope Francis' surprising comments came in a lengthy interview in which he criticized the church for putting dogma before love, and for prioritizing moral doctrines over serving the poor and marginalized.  He articulated his vision of an inclusive church, a “home for all” — which is a striking contrast with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, the doctrinal defender who envisioned a smaller, purer church."   By LAURIE GOODSTEIN

At a time of great turmoil in so many parts of the world, and where so many people are abused and marginalized due to their sexual orientation, it is a welcome act of courageous moral leadership to hear this coming out of the Vatican.  It is all the more important given the history of the Church for the past 25 years.  Bravo to the Pope.  Those of us who would be unkind to someone else due to that person's sexual orientation could learn a thing or two from the Pontiff about not casting stones. If we are truly Christians, then we must also believe that God created everyone.  How then can we despise God's creation?  Too much that is evil and sinful have been done in the name of Christianity, or in the name of God, Jesus or Allah.  It is refreshing to see something thoughtful being done on this scale. When we, the adults, make disparaging or negative remarks about others who we perceive to be different, we are teaching the younger people around us to be hateful; we are teaching them to be malicious towards those "others." Let's think about that and try not to do it.  We inflict pain and suffering with hateful words and deeds.  (N. S. Shäni)

We encourage you to please read the NY Times article, or listen to the NPR report.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/world/europe/pope-bluntly-faults-...?

OneWorld Progressive Institute, Inc produces community information and education programs on Health Literacy, Education and Civic Engagement.  Learn more at: http://www.oneworldpi.org

Find our programs on YouTube and visit us on Facebook at the links below:

http://www.oneworldpi.org/health/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/user/oneworldpi/videos   - OneWorld’s YouTube – Please Visit https://www.facebook.com/pages/OneWorld-Progressive-Institute-Inc/1...