Do We Have a New Teaching In The Catholic Church? No, No, No!! – Homosexual acts are still intrinsically disordered

Thank you very much Rev. Fr. Raymond Osei Tutu for explaining this. My view when I saw the story this morning is that Christ came to save us from sin, and yes He came for sinners and would welcome sinners to come to Him. But from Christ engagement with the adulterous woman in John 8:11 ‘No one, sir,’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus. ‘Go away, and from this moment sin no more.’. The charge to all of us is to go and not continue to sin. So the Pope would not be telling people to go and continue sinning by engaging homosexuality through civil union.

Thank God for Ghana homosexuality is a crime in Ghana, but convicted criminals also have rights. But for all of us, we are told to turn away from our sins. Read what Rev. Fr. Raymond Osei Tutu had to say; 

In a new documentary “Francesco” by Oscar-nominated director Evgeny Afineevsky that was released on Wednesday on 21/10/20, Pope Francis is heard to have said:  “Homosexual people have a right to be in a family. They are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be thrown out or be made miserable over it,” ….. “What we have to create is a civil union law. That way they are legally covered. I stood up for that,”.

Some have commented that the Pope appeared to be referring to when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires and he opposed legislation to approve same-sex marriages but supported some kind of legal protection for the rights of gay couples. For others too, this is one clear move by the Church or the Pope to validate LGBTQ.

This is neither here nor there. The Catholic Church has clear lines of giving out its doctrines and the last time I check documentaries were not one of those means. This is about the Pope in a documentary about himself and his papacy but not an official statement by the Church. Many, if not most Catholics, have heard statements like, “the Pope cannot err in matters of faith and morals”. This statement is absolutely true, and simply restates in a different way the Church’s teaching on the official pronouncements of the Pope. Canon 749.1 says that by virtue of his office, the Supreme Pontiff teaches infallibly when he proclaims, by a definitive act, a doctrine to be held concerning faith or morals. First of all, nothing is ever proclaimed infallibly if it does not pertain to faith or morals. Secondl]y, the canon indicates that when the Pope speaks about doctrinal matters, he does not speak infallibly when he does not intend to. For example, many Catholics are familiar with Pope Benedict’s book, Jesus of Nazareth. Since the book deals directly with many aspects of Christ’s life and how it impacts on the Church’s teachings, it is assumed by many that the content of the book is infallible. But the Pope specifically states at the beginning of the book that it is not to be regarded as an exercise of papal infallibility, but rather expresses his own “personal search for the face of the Lord.” Similarly, in this case, we are dealing with a documentary by an independent director.

I can understand desperate ears and curious minds that want to hear the Pope or church saying LGBTQ is legit by the Catholic Church, but sorry this is not and will not be a statement of changing the goal post. This means that we only have to find a way of understanding what the Pope said in the light of the Catholic deposit of faith and not in the light of what we hope to be hearing. This propaganda will not work, sorry! The Catholic Church teaches that “Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.” They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved.” (cf.”Chastity and homosexuality”, CCC 2357-2359 – Article 6: The sixth commandment).

Christianity frowns on practices like polygamy and yet people in polygamy enjoy certain rights given them by the civil law (of some countries). They are being protected by law does not confirm that their marriage is acceptable within the Christian community or teaching. In the light of the Church’s teachings, I want to believe this is what the pontiff may be referring to. But what I am clear and convinced about is that the pontiff does not intend to give new teaching, because there are clear ways he would have employed. So, until then let’s wait to hear more and clearer explanations on the pontiff”s words, rather than judge or insinuate his intentions. I would rather err on the side of caution than make a rush judgement in this case.

I submit, there is no new teaching in the Catholic Church on Homosexuality, and all well-meaning Catholics must stay put. Don’t be moved by headlines and propaganda.

Thank You (By Fr. Raymond Osei-Tutu)

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