Homosexuals in America & the Christian Community Today
      On July 31, 2003 H.H. Pope John Paul II caused an uproar by approving a letter written by Vatican prefect Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger on the subject of homo-sexuals and gay marriage in particular. The document reminded readers of the fact that the Bible has soundly declared homosexuality to be an abomination and that Catholic politicians have a duty to protect the sanctity of the traditional family by voting against extending marriage rights to same-sex couples.
       Immediately there was an outcry against the Holy See, with angry people even taking to the streets around the Vatican to express their outrage. Many in the United States were outraged that the Holy Father would try to influence the voting of elected officials. People paraded the document as an example of Papal high-handedness, while others asserted that, due to the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, the Pope had no business even talking about the dangers of homosexual union.
       What everyone seems to be forgetting is what exactly the Supreme Pontiff is supposed to do, what it is that we would call his "job". The official wording is:
The Pope enjoys, by divine institution, "supreme, full, immediate, and universal power in the care of souls" (CD2) of which the key phrase is "in the care of souls". The Bible clearly states that homosexuality is wrong, and the Pope has a duty to warn those whose souls are in danger because of this sin, that the lifestyle they are engaged in is gravely immoral and that all Christians have a duty to stop it. This issue illustrates clearly that Truth cannot change with the times or popular opinion.
       Today, August 4, 2003 the Episcopal Church of the United States decides on the approval of their first elected Bishop who is openly gay. Issues such as this have forced Christians to make a choice; between following the trends of the world or the absolute command of God, written clearly and plainly in Scripture. The Pope has said that the Catholic Church will not abandon the word of God no matter what public opinion may be. Furthermore, his duty for the care of the souls of the Faithful applies just as much to politicians as it does to any other individual. He has a duty to God, his one and only superior, to warn politicians of the consequences if they choose to endorse or condone a clearly sinful act. The Vatican has spoken out in the past with equal force on the subject of abortion, and what exactly are the consequences for those who in any way support or advance the cause of abortion.
       The charge that the Pope has no right to speak out due to the priest scandal in the Church is the one I find most ridiculous. This attitude would imply that anyone who ever makes a mistake should simply give up and go home. Accusations such as this come from a group that has long been simply prejudiced against the Catholic Church. For those people, I have some bad news: the Church will NOT give up and go home over this latest scandal. For two thousand years it has been preaching and teaching and fighting against wickedness, including homosexuality, and will continue to do so for another two thousand. If the Church of Rome can survive Diocletian, Attila the Hun, Suleiman the Magnificant, Napoleon Bonaparte and Giuseppe Garibaldi, I am confident it can survive a collection of perverts.
       God said, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. All things will pass away but He shall not, we have the ultimate warranty, the word of Christ, that the very gates of Hell will not prevail against His One, Holy, Catholic Church. As more and more Protestant denominations embrace homosexuality there will only further fragment their own community and neccessarily deny the divinie inspiration of Scripture, of which they profess to be the champions (sola scriptura remember). I have heard it said that Episcopals often call themselves "Catholic Lite". Perhaps after the problems of women pastors, gay bishops, and a doctrine that changes every time you turn around, more of the most devout will realize finally the error of Protestantism and return to the embrace of the Church and the rock of the Papacy where truth will always endure.