Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Believe It Or Not: Francis Quotes

Francis Quotes


Below are actual quotes from Francis over the last few years. The footnotes for each quote contain direct links to the Vatican websites at the bottom of this page, so there are no doubts as to the authenticity of these quotes. What is a Catholic to think?




Teachings of Francis I
Scripture or Past Church Teaching


Atheism

On Heaven and Earth2, pp. 12-13: “I do not approach the relationship in order to proselytize, or convert the atheist; I respect him… nor would I say that his life is condemned, because I am convinced that I do not have the right to make a judgment about the honesty of that person… every man is the image of God, whether he is a believer or not."

"If any one deny the one true God, Creator and Lord of all things visible and invisible, let him be anathema" (Conc. Vatican., Sess. III, "De fide", can. i).

"If anyone shall have said that the one true God, our Creator and our Lord, cannot be known with certitude by those things which have been made, by the natural light of human reason: let him be anathema" (First Vatican Council, Sess III, can. 2/1: Denz. 1806; cf. D. 1785).

And to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels of his power, in a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” II Thessalonians I: 7-9

Francis I response to open letter3 published Sep 2013: “First of all, you ask if the God of the Christians forgives those who do not believe and do not seek faith. Given that - and this is fundamental - God's mercy has no limits if he who asks for mercy does so in contrition and with a sincere heart, the issue for those who do not believe in God is in obeying their own conscience. In fact, listening and obeying it, means deciding about what is perceived to be good or to be evil. The goodness or the wickedness of our behavior depends on this decision.

"...faith is the beginning of human salvation, the foundation, and the root of all Justification; without which it is impossible to please God..." Council of Trent, Chapter VIII




Blessed Trinity

Interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica1, September 24, 2013: “I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God, there is God and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being.”

Comment: Our Catholic God is the Trinity, which is different from the Gods professed by non-Christians:

"the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God." Athanasian Creed

“Q. 1400. Name some of the more essential religious truths we must know and believe. 2.(2) That in God there are three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these Divine Persons are called the Blessed Trinity.” Baltimore Catechism



Capital Punishment (The Death Penalty)

Letter to the President of the International Commission against the death penalty9, March 20, 2015: "Today capital punishment is unacceptable, however serious the condemned’s crime may have been. It is an offence to the inviolability of life and to the dignity of the human person which contradicts God’s plan for man and for society and his merciful justice, and it fails to conform to any just purpose of punishment.".....
All Christians and men of good will are thus called today to fight not only for the abolition of the death penalty, whether legal or illegal, and in all its forms, but also in order to improve prison conditions, with respect for the human dignity of the people deprived of their freedom
The same divine authority that forbids the killing of a human being establishes certain exceptions, as when God authorizes killing by a general law or when He gives an explicit commission to an individual for a limited time. The agent who executes the killing does not commit homicide; he is an instrument as is the sword with which he cuts. Therefore, it is in no way contrary to the commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill' to wage war at God's bidding, or for the representatives of public authority to put criminals to death, according to the law, that is, the will of the most just reason” St. Augustine, The City of God, Book 1, chapter 21

Therefore if a man be dangerous and infectious to the community, on account of some sin, it is praiseworthy and healthful that he be killed in order to safeguard the common good, since "a little leaven corrupteth the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6)” St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Whether It Is Lawful to Kill Sinners?

Even in the case of the death penalty the State does not dispose of the individual’s right to life. Rather public authority limits itself to depriving the offender of the good of life in expiation for his guilt, after he, through his crime, deprived himself of his own right to life” Pius XII, Address to the First International Congress of Histopathology of the Nervous System, 14 Sep 1952, XIV, 328

"The infliction of capital punishment is not contrary to the teaching of the Catholic Church, and the power of the State to visit upon culprits the penalty of death derives much authority from revelation and from the writings of theologians” Catholic Encyclopedia, Capital Punishment



Cohabitation / Concubinage

Address to the Diocese of Rome’s Pastoral Congress, Q&A Session14, Jun 16, 2016: “They prefer to cohabitate, and this is a challenge, a task. Not to ask ‘why don’t you marry?’ No, to accompany, to wait, and to help them to mature, help fidelity to mature.”........ “I’ve seen a lot of fidelity in these cohabitations, and I am sure that this is a real marriage, they have the grace of a real marriage because of their fidelity.”

“It is a grievous sin for unmarried men to have concubines ...Wherefore, the holy Synod, that it may by suitable remedies provide against this exceeding evil, ordains that these concubinaries, whether unmarried or married, of whatsoever state, dignity, and condition they may be, if, after having been three times admonished on this subject by the Ordinary, even ex officio, they shall not have put away their concubines, and have separated themselves from all connexion with them, they shall be smitten with excommunication; from which they shall not be absolved until they have really obeyed the admonition given them.” Council of Trent, Ch. VIII, Concubinage is severely punished

“13. But in all these affairs, one of your aims should be to instill in the faithful a greater aversion for sins which scandalize others; your priests should share this aim. You are aware of the increase in the number of those who sin in a scandalous manner: those who blaspheme the heavenly saints and the holy name of God as well; those who live in concubinage.....So, make the faithful consider the seriousness of sins of this kind and the heavy penalties for them, both for the guilt of the sin itself and for the spiritual danger in which they place their brothers by the infection of their bad example. For it is written: "Woe to the world because of scandals . . . Woe to that man by whom the scandal comes!"
Pope Pius IX, On the Church in the Pontifical States, December 8, 1849

"The scandal of concubinage is removed by marriage, which should be made known to those who were scandalized, either by the pastor or by the parties themselves." Canon Law 1043

"Hence if both parties intended and expressed the intention in some way or other to enter upon a mere Concubinage, there would be no marriage." Canon Law 1082

"If a marriage is found invalid, as, for instance, among the Gallas, where slaves contract a contubernium or legalized concubinage, the parties must be separated until they are lawfully married" Canon Law 1084

"Therefore concubinage must be given up because incompatible with Christian morals" Canon Law 1124



Communism

Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio4, p. 39: “It’s true that I was, like the rest of my family, a practicing Catholic. But my mind was not made solely for religious questions… I read Our Word and Proposals, a publication by the Communist Party, and I loved every article ever written by Leonidas Barletta, one of their best-known members…

"See to it, Venerable Brethren, that the Faithful do not allow themselves to be deceived! Communism is intrinsically wrong, and no one who would save Christian civilization may collaborate with it in any undertaking whatsoever. Those who permit themselves to be deceived into lending their aid towards the triumph of Communism in their own country, will be the first to fall victims of their error. And the greater the antiquity and grandeur of the Christian civilization in the regions where Communism successfully penetrates, so much more devastating will be the hatred displayed by the godless" Encyclical On Atheistic Communism by Pope Pius XI, 1937

"To this goal also tends the unspeakable doctrine of Communism, as it is called, a doctrine most opposed to the very natural law. For if this doctrine were accepted, the complete destruction of everyone's laws, government, property, and even of human society itself would follow." Encyclical On Faith and Religion by Pope Pius IX, 1846


Contraception

In-flight interview from Mexico15, Feb 17, 2016: “The great Paul VI, in a difficult situation in Africa, permitted nuns to use a form of artificial contraceptives in cases of rape.....On the other hand, avoiding pregnancy is not an absolute evil. In certain cases, as in this one (the Zika virus outbreak), or in the one I mentioned of Blessed Paul VI, it was clear.”

"But no reason, however grave, may be put forward by which anything intrinsically against nature may become conformable to nature and morally good. Since, therefore, the conjugal act is destined primarily by nature for the begetting of children, those who in exercising it deliberately frustrate its natural power and purpose sin against nature and commit a deed which is shameful and intrinsically vicious."
"...any use whatsoever of matrimony exercised in such a way that the act is deliberately frustrated in its natural power to generate life is an offense against the law of God and of nature, and those who indulge in such are branded with the guilt of a grave sin."
"...No difficulty can arise that justifies the putting aside of the law of God which forbids all acts intrinsically evil." Pope Pius XI, Encyclical On Christian Marriage, Dec 31, 1930

"A negative precept of natural law which prohibits a thing intrinsically evil can never be lawfully transgressed not even under the influence of the fear of death, (Lib. I, tr. ii, c. iv, dub. 2, n. 1) So that it is not lawful to do a thing which is wrong in itself, even to escape death" Catholic Encyclopedia, Hermann Busembaum



Conversion/Proselytizing

Church of the Assumption, Tbilisi, Georgia16, Oct 1, 2016: “Never fight! Let the theologians study the abstract realities of theology. But what should I do with a friend, neighbour, an Orthodox person? Be open, be a friend. ‘But should I make efforts to convert him or her?’ There is a very grave sin against ecumenism: proselytism. We should never proselytize the Orthodox! L’ Osservatore Romano, October 7, 2016, p. 11

Comment: If proselytizing is a grave sin, why did all of the Catholic missionaries throughout the history of the Church dedicate their lives to it?

"… St. Francis De Sales had volunteered to re-evangelize the Chablais, a region in France south of Geneva consisting of some 72,000 souls, almost all of whom were now Calvinists, since their ancestors had succumbed to Protestantism 60 years before… St. Francis' first few months saw mostly failure, as he spent a very cold winter tramping over the countryside, receiving a frigid welcome and sometimes sleeping in hay lofts at night. So he resorted to writing pamphlets - which he posted on walls and slipped under doors. By this method he was able to reach the souls he was after, such that at the end of 4 years, almost the entire population of 72,000 had returned to the ancient Catholic Faith." The Catholic Controversy, St. Francis De Sales



Ecumenism

Address in St. Peter's Square5, May 18, 2013: “… promote religious freedom for everyone, everyone! Every man and every woman must be free in his or her profession of religion, whatever it may be. L’ Osservatore Romano, May 22, 2013, p. 11.

General Audience with representatives of the world’s various religions11, Oct 28, 2015: "the Church regards with esteem the believers of all religions, appreciating their spiritual and moral commitment…Now, to conclude this Audience, I invite everyone, each one on his or her own, to pray in silence. May each one do so according to his or her own religious tradition.”
L’ Osservatore Romano, October 30, 2015, pp. 3-4
"The Catholic Church is alone in keeping the true worship. This is the fount of truth, this the house of Faith, this the temple of God: if any man enter not here, or if any man go forth from it, he is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation.” Encyclical "Mortalium Animos" (On Religious Unity), by Pope Pius XI in 1928

"Certainly such attempts can nowise be approved by Catholics, founded as they are on that false opinion which considers all religions to be more or less good and praiseworthy, since they all in different ways manifest and signify that sense which is inborn in us all, and by which we are led to God and to the obedient acknowledgment of His rule. Not only are those who hold this opinion in error and deceived, but also in distorting the idea of true religion they reject it, and little by little turn aside to naturalism and atheism, as it is called; from which it clearly follows that one who supports those who hold these theories and attempt to realize them, is altogether abandoning the divinely revealed religion." Encyclical "Mortalium Animos" (On Religious Unity), by Pope Pius XI in 1928

Evangelii Gaudium6, November, 2013: “Non-Christians, by God’s gracious initiative, when they are faithful to their own consciences, can live ‘justified by the grace of God’, and thus be ‘associated to the paschal mystery of Jesus Christ

"Now We consider another abundant source of the evils with which the Church is afflicted at present: indifferentism. This perverse opinion is spread on all sides by the fraud of the wicked who claim that it is possible to obtain the eternal salvation of the soul by the profession of any kind of religion, as long as morality is maintained. Surely, in so clear a matter, you will drive this deadly error far from the people committed to your care. With the admonition of the apostle that "there is one God, one faith, one baptism"." Encyclical On Liberalism and Religious Indifferentism, Pope Gregory XVI, 1832

Condemned: Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.” The Syllabus of Errors 1864 - Pope Pius IX

Condemned: Man may, in the observance of any religion whatever, find the way of eternal salvation, and arrive at eternal salvation.” The Syllabus of Errors 1864 - Pope Pius IX

Vatican radio message8, May 24, 2015: “I feel like saying something that may sound controversial, or even heretical, perhaps. But there is someone who “knows” that, despite our differences, we are one. It is he who is persecuting us. It is he who is persecuting Christians today, he who is anointing us with (the blood of) martyrdom. He knows that Christians are disciples of Christ: that they are one, that they are brothers! He doesn’t care if they are Evangelicals, or Orthodox, Lutherans, Catholics or Apostolic…he doesn’t care! They are Christians.

“…because the preceding errors and many others are contained in the books or writings of Martin Luther, we likewise condemn, reprobate, and reject completely the books and all the writings and sermons of the said Martin, whether in Latin or any other language, containing the said errors or any one of them; and we wish them to be regarded as utterly condemned, reprobated, and rejected. We forbid each and every one of the faithful of either sex, in virtue of holy obedience and under the above penalties to be incurred automatically, to read, assert, preach, praise, print, publish, or defend them. They will incur these penalties if they presume to uphold them in any way, personally or through another or others, directly or indirectly, tacitly or explicitly, publicly or occultly, either in their own homes or in other public or private places.” Condemning the Errors of Martin Luther (Exsurge Domine), Pope Leo X, June 15, 1520



False Gods

In 2012, Cardinal Bergoglio held an interreligious prayer meeting in the Cathedral of Buenos Aires with the leaders of false religions including Judaism and Protestant sects. In this prayer meeting he allowed the members of these false religions to pray aloud to their false gods in the Cathedral. Bergoglio has been known to organize other similar meetings (similar to his two predecessors) that are well documented and photographed in the news.
"First Commandment of God: I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not have strange gods before Me"

Q: What else does the First Commandment forbid?
A: The First Commandment also forbids all dealings with the devil, and all association with anti-Christian sects.
The Catechism of Saint Pius X, The First Commandment

When it is said: Thou shalt not have strange gods before me, it is equivalent to saying: Thou shalt worship me the true God; thou shalt not worship strange gods.” The Catechism of Trent, The First Commandment

“As the true God can tolerate no strange gods, the true Church of Christ can tolerate no strange Churches beside herself, or, what amounts to the same, she can recognize none as theoretically justified.” Catholic Encyclopedia, Religious Toleration



Islam

Evangelii Gaudium6, November, 2013: “We must never forget that they [the Moslems] ‘profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, who will judge humanity on the last day’.

Address to the President of Religious Affairs in Turkey and Muslim and Christian political and religious leaders12, Nov 28, 2014: "We, Muslims and Christians, are the bearers of spiritual treasures of inestimable worth. Among these we recognize some shared elements, though lived according to the traditions of each, such as the adoration of the All-Merciful God, reference to the Patriarch Abraham, prayer, almsgiving, fasting… elements which, when lived sincerely, can transform life and provide a sure foundation for dignity and fraternity."

Comment: Catholics and Muslims do not adore the same God (Catholics adore the Blessed Trinity):

"But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 10:33

“For he that shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him the Son of man shall be ashamed, when he shall come in his majesty, and that of his Father, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26

"Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father." 1 John 2:23

“Q. 1400. Name some of the more essential religious truths we must know and believe. 2.(2) That in God there are three Divine Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and these Divine Persons are called the Blessed Trinity.” Baltimore Catechism

"The doctrines of Islam concerning God — His unity and Divine attributes — are essentially those of the Bible; but to the doctrines of the Trinity and of the Divine Sonship of Christ, Mohammed had the strongest antipathy" Catholic Encyclopedia, Mohammed and Mohammedanism



The Jews

On Heaven and Earth2, page 188: “The Jewish People can no longer be accused of having killed God, as they were for a long time. When one reads the account of the Passion, it is clear.

Therefore let all the house of Israel know most certainly, that God hath made both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus, whom you have crucified.” Acts of the Apostles (2:36)

“And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands before the people (the Jews), saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look you to it. And the whole people answering, said: His blood be upon us and our children.” Matt 27:24-25

Francis I response to open letter3 published Sep 2013: “What I can say, with the Apostle Paul, is that God has never stopped believing in the alliance made with Israel and that, through the terrible trials of these past centuries, the Jews have kept their faith in God.
Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.” Matthew 16:15

Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

Evangelii Gaudium6 n. 247: “We hold the Jewish people in special regard because their covenant with God has never been revoked”.

By these salutary instructions it desires to provide measures whereby Jews and other infidels may be converted to the orthodox faith and converts may remain steadfastly in it.” Council of Basil 1431-1435



Omnipotence of God

Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences10, Oct 27, 2014: “When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so.

And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible” Matt 19:26

Behold I am the Lord the God of all flesh: shall any thing be hard for me?” Jer 32:27

“Q: How can Jesus Christ be present in all the consecrated hosts in the world? A: Jesus Christ is present in all the consecrated hosts in the world by the Omnipotence of God, to whom nothing is impossible” Catechism of Saint Pius X - The Blessed Eucharist



Prayer in Common

Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio4, p. 208: “Not long ago I was in a synagogue taking part in a ceremony. I prayed a lot and, while praying, I heard a phrase from one of the books of wisdom that had slipped my mind: ‘Lord, may I bear mockery in silence.’ It gave me much peace and joy.”

"If any ecclesiastic or layman shall go into the synagogue of the Jews or to the meeting-houses of the heretics to join in prayer with them, let them be deposed and deprived of communion. If any Bishops or Priest or Deacon shall join in prayer with heretics, let him be suspended from Communion" Third Council of Constantinople

"It is not permitted at all for the faithful to assist in any active manner at or to have any part in the worship of non-Catholics." 1917 Code of Canon Law, Canon 1258

“The Code declares the following persons as suspect of heresy: 1. The propagators of heresy and those who participate with non-Catholics in divinis (Can. 2316)” Commentary on Canon Law (Augustine, 1918)

"Speaking generally, the faithful are forbidden to take part in any religious rites, considered as such, of pagans, Mohammedans, or Jews, and all the more to practice them through a kind of survival of their primitive superstitions. If this prohibition is inspired not so much by a fear of the danger of perversion as by the law forbidding the faithful to communicate in sacris with non-Catholics, aversion to false religions and especially from idol worship justifies the rigor of the law" Catholic Encyclopedia, Infidels


Common Declaration with Archbishop of Canterbury17, Oct 5, 2016: “Nor should our (Catholic and Anglican) differences come in the way of our common prayer: not only can we pray together, we must pray together, giving voice to our shared faith and joy in the Gospel of Christ, the ancient Creeds, and the power of God’s love, made present in the Holy Spirit…” L’ Osservatore Romano, Oct 14, 2016, pp. 7-8

Canon 33: No one shall join in prayers with heretics or schismatics” Council of Laodicea (372)

"None must neither pray or sing psalms with heretics, and whosoever shall communicate with those who are cut off from the communion of the Church, whether clergyman or layman, let him be excommunicated" Council of Carthage (398)

Common Ecumenical Prayer at the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund18, Oct 31, 2016: "As Lutherans and Catholics, we pray together in this Cathedral, conscious that without God we can do nothing. We ask his help, so that we can be living members, abiding in him, ever in need of his grace, so that together we may bring his word to the world…” L’ Osservatore Romano, Nov 4, 2016, pp. 3,6

“So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics: for the union of Christians can only be promoted by promoting the return to the one true Church of Christ of those who are separated from it” Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos (1928)



Protestant Reformation

“Joint Statement on the occasion of the Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation18” Oct 31, 2016: “With this Joint Statement, we express joyful gratitude to God for this moment of common prayer in the Cathedral of Lund, as we begin the year commemorating the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation… While we are profoundly thankful for the spiritual and theological gifts received through the Reformation...” L’ Osservatore Romano, Nov 4, 2016, pp. 3,7

CONDEMNED: Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church” Syllabus of Errors, Pope Pius IX, 1864

These reasons suffice to show superabundantly by how many roads Modernism leads to atheism and to the annihilation of all religion. The error of Protestantism made the first step on this path; that of Modernism makes the second; atheism makes the next.” On the Doctrine of the Modernists, Pope St. Pius X, 1907

Address to participants in the pilgrimage of Lutherans (commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation)19” Oct 13, 2016: “I am very happy to meet you on the occasion of your ecumenical pilgrimage which began in the land of Luther, Germany, and ended here at the See of the Bishop of Rome… The Apostle Paul tells us that, by virtue of our baptism, we all form the one Body of Christ. The different members, in fact, form one body. This is why we belong to each other and when one suffers, everyone suffers, when one rejoices, all rejoice (cf. 1 Cor 12:12, 26). Let us continue with confidence on our ecumenical journey… At the end of this month, God willing, I will go to Lund, Sweden, and together with the Lutheran World Federation, we will commemorate, after five centuries, the beginning of Luther’s reformation…” L’ Osservatore Romano, Oct 21, 2016, p. 11

Comment: How can Catholics commemorate one of the greatest disasters ever to befall the Church?

"The Reformation destroyed the unity of faith and ecclesiastical organization of the Christian peoples of Europe, cut many millions off from the true Catholic Church, and robbed them of the greatest portion of the salutary means for the cultivation and maintenance of the supernatural life. Incalculable harm was thereby wrought from the religious standpoint. The false fundamental doctrine of justification by faith alone, taught by the Reformers, produced a lamentable shallowness in religious life. Zeal for good works disappeared, the asceticism which the Church had practised from her foundation was despised, charitable and ecclesiastical objects were no longer properly cultivated, supernatural interests fell into the background, and naturalistic aspirations aiming at the purely mundane, became widespread. The denial of the Divinely instituted authority of the Church, both as regards doctrine and ecclesiastical government, opened wide the door to every eccentricity, gave rise to the endless division into sects and the never-ending disputes characteristic of Protestantism, and could not but lead to the complete unbelief which necessarily arises from the Protestant principles..." Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Results and Consequences of the Reformation



Sacrament of Confession

Vatican radio7 June 15, 2013: “True reconciliation means that God in Christ took on our sins and He became the sinner for us.  When we go to Confession, for example, it isn’t that we say our sin and God forgives us.  No, not that! We look for Jesus Christ and say:  ‘This is your sin, and I will sin again‘.  And Jesus likes that, because it was his mission:  to become the sinner for us, to liberate us.

In the Sacrament of Penance the repentant Christian confesses his sins to a duly authorized priest, who, standing in the place of God, pronounces the absolution by means of which they are forgiven.” The Catechism Explained (Spirago-Clarke, 1899), Sacrament of Penance

Q: How many conditions are necessary to make a good confession?
A: To make a good confession five things are necessary: (1) Examination of conscience; (2) Sorrow for having offended God; (3) A resolution of sinning no more; (4) Confession of our sins; (5) Satisfaction or penance” Catechism of Saint Pius X, The Sacrament of Penance



Sacrament of Marriage

Address to the Diocese of Rome’s Pastoral Congress, Q&A Session14, Jun 16, 2016: "....the great majority of our sacramental marriages are null. Because they say ‘yes, for the rest of my life!’ but they don’t know what they are saying. Because they have a different culture. They say it, they have good will, but they don’t know.”

“Marriage enjoys the favor of the law; therefore, in case of doubt, its validity ought to be maintained until the contrary be proved…” Canon Law 1917, Canon 1014



Same-sex marriage / Homosexuality

Press conference on flight from Brazil, July 28, 201313: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?

"Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10

“Neither fornicators nor adulterers, nor the effeminate nor sodomites shall possess the kingdom of God.” Catechism of the Council of Trent, The Sixth commandment, Other Sins Against Chastity Are Forbidden

On Heaven and Earth2, p. 114: Concerning same-sex marriage: “Religion has the right to give an opinion as long as it is in service to the people.” “The religious minister does not have the right to force anything on anyone’s private life. If God, in creation, ran the risk of making us free, who am I to get involved? We condemn spiritual harassment that takes place when a minister imposes directives, conduct, and demands in such a way that it takes away the freedom of the other person. God left the freedom to sin in our hands.” He later adds: “I insist that our opinion about the marriage between two people of the same sex is not based on religion, but rather on anthropology.

"Q: Which are the sins that are said to cry to God for vengeance?
A: The sins that are said to cry to God for vengeance are these four: (1) Willful murder; (2) The sin of sodomy; (3) Oppression of the poor; (4) Defrauding laborers of their wages." The Catechism of Saint Pius X, The Vices and Other Very Grievous Sins

"As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighboring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire" Jude 1:7

In-flight press conference from Azerbaijan to Rome20, Oct 2, 2016: "Last year I received a letter from a Spanish man who told me his story from the time when he was a child. He was born a female, a girl, and he suffered greatly because he felt that he was a boy but physically was a girl....He had the operation....He changed his civil identity, he got married and he wrote me a letter saying that it would bring comfort to him to come see me with his bride: he, who had been she, but is he. I received them. They were pleased.”  L’ Osservatore Romano, Oct 7, 2016, pp. 8-9

Comment: It's possible the Church has not taught specifically on something so perverse. Requires more research


Sex Education

Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio4, p. 111: “The Church is not opposed to sex education. Personally, I believe that it ought to be available throughout children’s upbringing, adapted to different age groups. In truth, the Church always provided sex education, although I acknowledge that it hasn’t always been adequate.
 
Another very grave danger is that naturalism which nowadays invades the field of education in that most delicate matter of purity of morals. Far too common is the error of those who with dangerous assurance and under an ugly term propagate a so-called sex-education, falsely imagining they can forearm youths against the dangers of sensuality by means purely natural, such as a foolhardy initiation and precautionary instruction for all indiscriminately, even in public; and, worse still, by exposing them at an early age to the occasions, in order to accustom them, so it is argued, and as it were to harden them against such dangers.” Pope Pius XI, Dec. 31, 1931



Suicide

On Heaven and Earth2, pp. 92-93: “There was a time when they did not perform funerals for those that committed suicide because they had not continued on towards the goal; they ended the path when they wanted to. But I still respect the one who commits suicide; he is a person who could not overcome the contradictions in his life. I do not reject him.”

"Q: Why does God, in the Fifth Commandment, forbid the taking of one's own life or suicide?
A: In the Fifth Commandment God forbids suicide, because man is not the master of his own life no more than of the life of another. Hence the Church punishes suicide by deprivation of Christian burial.” Catechism of Saint Pius X, The Fifth Commandment



Footnotes:

Footnote 1: The interview as printed in La Repubblica can be seen here: http://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2013/10/01/news/pope_s_conversation_with_scalfari_english-67643118/
Footnote 2: “On Heaven and Earth” is a book by Francis I containing conversations he had with Rabbi Abraham Skorka when he was Cardinal Bergoglio. The book can be found in many online bookstores
Footnote 3: In mid-2013, newspaper editor and atheist Eugenio Scalfari had written two open letters to Francis I, both of which were published in Scalfari’s Italian daily La Repubblica. Francis I replied with a 3-page response which was published in the same paper September 2013 (http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/it/letters/2013/documents/papa-francesco_20130911_eugenio-scalfari.html)
Footnote 4: “Conversations with Jorge Bergoglio” is a biography of Francis I published in April 2013, and can be found in many online bookstores
Footnote 5: This address is published on the Vatican website here:
Footnote 6: Evangelii Gaudium was an “Apostolic Exhortation” given by Francis I to all the clergy and faithful of the world in November 2013. It can be found on the Vatican website here: Http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html
Footnote 7: This address made on Vatican radio can be found on the official Vatican network website here: http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-the-christian-life-proclaims-the-road-to-reco
Footnote 8: This address made on Vatican radio can be found on the official Vatican network website here:
Footnote 9: Letter to the President of the International Commission against the death penalty, which can be found on the Vatican website here: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20150320_lettera-pena-morte.html
Footnote 11: General Audience with representatives of the world’s various religions: https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2015/documents/papa-francesco_20151028_udienza-generale.html
Footnote 12: Address to the President of Religious Affairs in Turkey and Muslim and Christian political and religious leaders: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2014/november/documents/papa-francesco_20141128_turchia-presidenza-diyanet.html
Footnote 16: Church of the Assumption, Tbilisi, Georgia:
Footnote 17: Common declaration with Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury
Footnote 18: Common ecumenical prayer at the Lutheran Cathedral of Lund
Footnote 19: Address to participants in the pilgrimage of Lutherans
Footnote 20: In-flight press conference from Azerbaijan to Rome


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