Vatican Backtracks: Oops, Our Bad, Gay People Are Still Just Totally Horrible

Dry your tears, Maggie. Via CNN:

Under furious assault from conservative Catholics, the Vatican backtracked Tuesday on its surprisingly positive assessment of gays and same-sex relationships. In a report Monday, the Vatican had said that gays and lesbians have "gifts to offer" the Christian community and acknowledged that same-sex couples can give "precious support" to one other. The statement, an interim report from a closely watched meeting of Catholic clergy here, was widely praised by liberals. It is believed to be the first time the Vatican has said anything positive about gay relationships.

"The message has gone out that this is what the synod is saying, this is what the Catholic Church is saying," said Cardinal Wilfrid Fox Napier, referring to the special meeting of Catholic clergy gathered here through Saturday. "It's not what we're saying at all." In response to such reactions, the Vatican backtracked a bit Tuesday. In a statement, it said the report on gays and lesbians was a "working document," not the final word from Rome. The Vatican also said that it wanted to welcome gays and lesbians in the church, but not create "the impression of a positive evaluation" of same-sex relationships, or, for that matter, of unmarried couples who live together.

Leading the campaign against the pro-gay statement was Cardinal Raymond Burke, who last week declared that it is "evil" to expose children to their gay relatives.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan: Gays Are OK As Long As They Don't Do Anything Gay

Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been the target of withering criticism from Catholics after saying that he'll stay on as the grand marshal of next year's St. Patrick's Day Parade even though the entire celebration is totally going to be ruined by the inclusion of one LGBT group. Dolan responded to his naysayers this week in a lengthy letter published to the website of the Archdiocese of New York. An excerpt:

I haven’t been in this much hot water since I made the comment, right after I arrived as your archbishop five-and-a-half years ago, that Stan Musial—my boyhood hero of my hometown St. Louis Cardinals—was a much better ballplayer than Joe DiMaggio! Now I’m getting as much fiery mail and public criticism over my decision to accept the honor of Grand Marshal of this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. According to the critics, I should have refused, due to the Parade Committee’s decision to allow a group of self-identified Gays of Irish ancestry to march in the parade with their own banner. As with Stan Musial, I’ll stand by my decision.

However, enough of you have courteously expressed some confusion and dismay, that, as your pastor, I owe you an explanation. Let me try. For one, the decision to change the parade protocol was not mine. The archbishops of New York have never been “in charge” of the parade. Although my predecessors and I have always enjoyed friendly cooperation with the Parade Committee—and still do—and deeply appreciate the identity of the Parade as a celebration purely of Irish heritage, intimately linked to the Catholic Faith, we’ve never had a say in Parade policy or the choice of the Grand Marshal. Nor did we expect or want one! [snip]

While a handful have been less than charitable in their reactions, I must admit that many of you have rather thoughtful reasons for criticizing the committee’s decision: you observe that the former policy was fair; you worry that this is but another example of a capitulation to an “aggressive Gay agenda,” which still will not appease their demands; and you wonder if this could make people think the Church no longer has a clear teaching on the nature of human sexuality. Thank you for letting me know of such concerns. I share some of them.

However, the most important question I had to ask myself was this: does the new policy violate Catholic faith or morals? If it does, then the Committee has compromised the integrity of the Parade, and I must object and refuse to participate or support it. From my review, it does not. Catholic teaching is clear: “being Gay” is not a sin, nor contrary to God’s revealed morals. Homosexual actions are—as are any sexual relations outside of the lifelong, faithful, loving, lifegiving bond of a man and woman in marriage—a moral teaching grounded in the Bible, reflected in nature, and faithfully taught by the Church.

At least he didn't put gay into scare quotes. Hey, he even capitalized the word. He respects us! As long as we all vow to live an entire lifetime of untouched, unloved, miserable, tortured solitude. It's what Jesus would want. Praise! Glory!

Pope Francis Excommunicates The Mafia

Via the Guardian:

Pope Francis has issued the strongest condemnation of organised crime groups by a pontiff in two decades, accusing them of practising "the adoration of evil" and saying that mafiosi were excommunicated. It was the first time a pope had used the word excommunication – a total cutoff from the church – in direct reference to members of organised crime. "Those who in their lives follow this path of evil, as mafiosi do, are not in communion with God. They are excommunicated," he said in impromptu comments at a mass before hundreds of thousands of people in one of Italy's most crime-ridden areas. To sustained applause he told the crowd on Sunday: "This evil must be fought against, it must be pushed aside. We must say no to it." He called the local crime group, the 'Ndrangheta, as an example of the "adoration of evil and contempt of the common good" and said the church would exert its full force in efforts to combat organised crime.

A Vatican spokesman later clarified that the Pope's words did not constitute the "formal legal process" of excommunication but were meant to isolate mafia members from their communities.

MINNESOTA: Archbishop Says He Wasn't Sure Child Molestation Is A Crime

St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson has testified that he's not sure that he has always known that child molestation is a crime. Carlson was deposed regarding abuses that took place while he was a bishop in Minnesota.

During the deposition taken last month, attorney Jeff Anderson asked Carlson whether he knew it was a crime for an adult to engage in sex with a child. “I’m not sure whether I knew it was a crime or not,” Carlson replied. “I understand today it’s a crime.” Anderson went on to ask Carlson whether he knew in 1984, when he was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, that it was crime for a priest to engage in sex with a child. “I’m not sure if I did or didn’t,” Carlson said. Yet according to documents released Monday by the law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates in St. Paul, Carlson showed clear knowledge that sexual abuse was a crime when discussing incidents with church officials during his time in Minnesota. In a 1984 document, for example, Carlson wrote to the then archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, John R. Roach, about one victim of sexual abuse and mentioned that the statute of limitations for filing a claim would not expire for more than two years. He also wrote that the parents of the victim were considering reporting the incident to the police.

During his deposition Carlson admitted that he never once called the police when molestation claims were made.

(Tipped by JMG reader Lynda)

POLAND: Archbishop Blames Divorced Parents For Pedophile Priests

"Many of these cases of (sexual) molestation could be avoided given a healthy relationship between parents. We often hear that this inappropriate attitude (pedophilia), or abuse, manifests itself when a child is looking for love. It (the child) clings, it searches. It gets lost itself and then draws another person into this. How many wounds are their in children's hearts, in children's lives, when their parents go their separate ways?" - Archbishop Jozef Michalik, speaking to the press about the snowballing Polish scandal involving pedophile priests. (Tipped by JMG reader Tofu)

RELATED: Last month the Vatican recalled Archbishop Josef Wesolowski, its official envoy to the Dominican Republic, over accusations that he and another Polish priest had sexually abused boys.

Pope & Ex-Pope: Straight Marriages Only

Today the Vatican released an 82-page document co-written by Pope Francis and former Pope Benedict in which the pair says that marriage is only blah blah blah.

Francis paid tribute to pope emeritus Benedict XVI in the encyclical, saying that the ex-pontiff had "almost completed" the text before stepping down in a historic resignation this year and that he himself had merely added "further contributions." The 82-page text stresses that there is no contradiction between the Catholic faith and the modern world and calls for more dialogue with scientists, other religions and non-believers. It also restates the Catholic Church's position on marriage saying it should be a "stable union of man and woman." "This union is born of their love, as a sign and presence of God's own love, and of the acknowledgement and acceptance of the goodness of sexual differentiation," reads the text.

Also today, Pope Francis met Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby for the first time.

Welby has been opposing legislation in Britain that would legalize same-sex marriage, saying it would undermine family life. Francis said he hoped they could collaborate in promoting the sacredness of life "and the stability of families founded on marriage." Significantly, Francis didn't say that marriage should be between a man and woman, which is how Benedict XVI routinely defined marriage. Vatican officials said it was a diplomatic way of making his point without issuing a provocative pronouncement.

And in more Vatican news, here comes Saint John Paul II.

The Roman Catholic Church will declare the late Pope John Paul II a saint, the Vatican announced Friday. Pope Francis signed the decree Friday morning, the Vatican said. John Paul was pope from 1978 until his death in 2005, and was in a way the first rock star pontiff, drawing vast crowds as he crisscrossed the globe. At his funeral, thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square and chanted "Santo subito" -- Sainthood now! The Polish-born pope was fast-tracked to beatification and became "the blessed" John Paul II barely six years after his death, the fastest beatification in centuries.

Cardinal Dolan Sought Vatican Permission To Shield Millions In Assets From Lawsuits Filed By Victims Of Pedophile Priests

He has denied it for years, but today the truth came out. Via the New York Times:

Files released by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee on Monday revealed that in 2007, the diocese’s archbishop at the time, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, requested permission from the Vatican to move nearly $57 million into a cemetery trust fund in order to protect the assets from victims of clergy sexual abuse who were demanding compensation. Cardinal Dolan, now the archbishop of New York, has in the past emphatically denied seeking to shield church funds as archbishop of Milwaukee, and he reiterated in a statement on Monday that these were “old and discredited attacks.”

However, the files released Monday contain a letter he wrote to the Vatican in 2007, in which he explained that by transferring the assets, “I foresee an improved protection of these funds from any legal claim and liability.” The Vatican moved swiftly to approve the request, the files show, even though it often took years to remove known abusers from the priesthood. Abuse victims demanding transparency and accountability have long pressed for the release of the documents, and the victims’ lawyers had asked a judge to compel their release.

Bolding above is mine. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee declared bankruptcy in 2011.  Dolan has responded to today's revelation on his blog.

Unfortunately, we have already seen how the release of these documents will cause some to raise old and discredited attacks – like priest-abusers having been “paid” to apply for laicization, (like it or not, bishops do have a canon law obligation to provide basic support like health care and room and board for their priests until they have finally moved on) or that establishing a perpetual care fund from money belonging to cemeteries and designated for that purpose – as required by state law and mandated by the archdiocesan finance council – was an attempt to shield it from the bankruptcy proceedings. While certain groups can be counted-upon to take certain statements or events out of context, the documents released show plainly that the bishops have been faithful to the promises made over a decade ago: permanent removal from ministry of any priest who abused a minor; complete cooperation with law enforcement officials; and, strict child-safety requirements.

Catholic League blowhard Bill Donohue:

Under questioning by Jeffrey Anderson, an activist lawyer, Cardinal Dolan gravely disappointed the enemies of the Catholic Church: they were denied their “gotcha” moment. Indeed, pint-sized Anderson didn’t lay a glove on the big guy. Boring. That is the most accurate word to describe the deposition. Here is a list of the topics that Anderson pursued: the statute of limitations; a public list of accused priests; the process of handling deceased and elderly priests; laicization; false and substantiated allegations; compensation for priests let go from ministry; cemetery funds; parish finances; the scope of an archbishop’s authority; the effect of the scandal on Catholics. In short, there was nothing new—it was another fishing expedition conducted by a man who believes there should be one standard for the Catholic Church, and another for the rest of the world.

OREGON: Catholic Priest Sentenced To Six Years For Child Molestation

Wearing only his underwear, last year Father Angel Armando Perez chased a 12 year-old Oregon boy down the street after pulling the sleeping child's pants down to take a cell phone photo. Yesterday Perez was sentenced to six years in prison.

The Rev. Angel Armando Perez, 47, pleaded guilty in Marion County Circuit Court to charges of first-degree sexual abuse, driving intoxicated and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Accusations of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and tampering with evidence were dismissed. He will serve six years and three months in prison for the sexual abuse charge, the mandatory minimum for that Measure 11 crime. He will serve the penalty for the other charges concurrently. Marion County Circuit Judge Courtland Geyer also ordered Perez to register as a sex offender. The boy told investigators that he was awakened by an apparent flash from a camera. He found his shorts and underwear at his knees and Perez next to him on an air mattress. The priest had the boy's genitals in one hand and a cell phone in the other, court documents said.

Perez claimed that he was so drunk that he has no memory of the incident. The victim's parents had given Perez permission for the boy to sleep at his house before a camping trip. The Archdiocese of Portland paid Perez' legal fees and says it has not yet decided on whether to fire him. Seriously. That's what the above-linked article fucking says. (Tipped by JMG reader Dale)

Cardinal Dolan's Message To Gays

New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan appeared on ABC News This Week this morning where George Stephanopoulus asked him: "What do you say as a minister, as a pastor – to a gay couple that comes to you and says, 'We love God. We love the Church. But we also love each other, and we –– want to raise a family in faith.' What do you say to them?"  Dolan's response:

“Well, the first thing I’d say to them is, ‘I love you, too. And God loves you. And you are made in God’s image and likeness. And – and we – we want your happiness. But – and you’re entitled to friendship.’ But we also know that God has told us that the way to happiness, that – especially when it comes to sexual love – that is intended only for a man and woman in marriage, where children can come about naturally,” Dolan said. “We got to be – we got to do better to see that our defense of marriage is not reduced to an attack on gay people. And I admit, we haven’t been too good at that.

"We try our darndest to make sure we’re not an anti-anybody. We're still – we're – we're tryin'. We're tryin' our best to do it. We gotta listen to people, like the couple that you just described – that say, 'We don't feel comfortable here.' Jesus died on the cross for them as much as he did for me. But you got a point. Sometimes we're not as successful or as effective as we can be in translating that warm embrace into also teaching what God has told us about the way He wants us

Dolan added that in some ways the Catholic Church is always going to be behind the times because "we’re always supposed to be thinking of the beyond, the eternal, the changeless."  Dolan was one of the most vigorous opponents to sames-sex marriage in New York state. As the head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops he continues to work to thwart LGBT rights nationwide.

UDPATE: Here's the clip.

From SF Archbishop Drunk Driver

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone has posted the above mockery of the most famous profile avatar in Facebook history.  The scriptural reference does seem apt:  "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division."  At this writing over 200 angry comments have been posted under the photo.  It doesn't appear that the archdiocese is moderating the page.

UPDATE: The post has been deleted after 350+ comments, not one of which was supportive.

Argentina Wins Vatican Idol!

The new pope is Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina.  From Wikipedia:

He strongly opposed legislation introduced in 2010 by the Argentine Government to allow same-sex marriage. In a letter to the monasteries of Buenos Aires, he wrote: "Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere bill, but rather a machination of the Father of Lies that seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God." He has also insisted that adoption by homosexuals is a form of discrimination against children. This position received a rebuke from Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who said the church's tone was reminiscent of "medieval times and the Inquisition".

Bergoglio's drag name will be Pope Francis I.

White Smoke At The Vatican

Stand by for the name of the Next Top Pedophile Enabler. After party at the Vatican-owned bathhouse! First fifty cardinals get in free! Pick up your altar boy gift bag at the door!

No Winner In Vatican Idol First Round

Bishops Order Priests To Encourage Attendance At NOM's Hate March

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a letter to all American dioceses that orders every parish to consider encouraging parishioners to attend NOM's hate march on the Supreme Court.

We are grateful for this opportunity to express support for the Marriage March and to encourage participation in this event. We realize that the march will occur during the solemn days of Holy Week, but we ask that you consider promoting this event in your diocese and parishes and encourage participation where possible.  The march will be a significant opportunity to promote and defend marriage and the good of our nation, to pray for our Supreme Court justices, and to stand in solidarity with people of good will. It also complements well the bishops’ Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty (http://www.usccb.org/life-marriage-liberty) that was approved last November. This is a decisive time for marriage in our country. We are deeply grateful for any support you can offer for this march.

Pretending that he himself is not a defacto Vatican employee, Brian Brown reacts: "We welcome the active participation and support of the Catholic Church in the march."

Pope: The Lord Snoozed On Me

"There were moments of joy and light but also moments that were not easy. There were moments, as there were throughout the history of the Church, when the seas were rough and the wind blew against us and it seemed that the Lord was sleeping. I took this step in the full knowledge of its gravity and rarity but with a profound serenity of spirit." - Benedict Palpatine, in today's farewell address.

The Pope Waves Goodbye Behind His Bullet-Proof Shield From God's Wrath

Pope Uses Final Tweet To Express Pity For Anybody Who Isn't A Christian

NOM Spokesman Jennifer Roback Morse: Gays KNOW They Are An Abomination

"I’ve noticed in my encounters with men who are same-sex attracted particularly that they have a sense of shame. Have any of you ever noticed this? I’ve noticed that a lot of the people who are very active in the movement to redefine marriage will describe that when they were teenagers that they had a sense of wrongness — of being wrong — and of God thinking they were an abomination, like they all knew that verse. So they have this sense of wrongness and I think that many of them believe that redefining marriage is going to make them feel better. I think they think that if all of us will approve of them that they will feel better. Making yourself feel good about doing something that is deeply wrong for you is not in the end going to work." - NOM spokesman Jennifer Roback Morse, speaking at the Catholic Women's Conference in Florida. Yesterday Morse testified against same-sex marriage before the Illinois House. (Via Zack Ford at Think Progress)

Cardinal Roger Mahony: Stop Condemning Me For Shielding Child Rapists

"I can't recall a time such as now when people tend to be so judgmental and even self-righteous, so quick to accuse, judge and condemn.  And often with scant real facts and information.  Because of news broadcasts now 24/7 there is little or no fact checking; no in-depth analysis; no context or history given.  Rather, everything gets reported as 'news' regardless of the basis for the item being reported--and passed on by countless other news outlets.

"We have ended up with a climate in which it's the norm to instantly pass judgement on one another, taking in and repeating gossip, sharing someone else's judgment as the truth, no regard for other people who may be harmed.  Whatever happened to the norm of giving others the benefit of a doubt until hard evidence proves otherwise?" - Cardinal Roger Mahony, complaining on his blog that people are super-mean to to him just because he shielded pedophiles from the police.

Oh, and guess where Mahony is today?

Philly Archbishop To Bus Parishioners To NOM Hate March On SCOTUS

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput has issued the above letter in support of NOM's hate march on SCOTUS and tells Catholic Vote that he'll be organizing buses from all five of his districts.

RELATED: In 2011 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that it was investigating 37 active priests on suspicion of child molestation.  In June of 2012, high-ranking Philadelphia Archdiocese official Father William Lynn was convicted of child endangerment for shielding the crimes of pedophile priests. Father Charles Englehart was convicted of molesting an altar boy last month. More trials are coming. NOM's hate march is surely a welcome diversion for Archbishop Chaput.