My Thoughts on Fiducia Supplicans

[@GospelSimplicity]

The Denny's part really took this to the next level.

[@actsapologist1991]

lol. Thanks!

[@sopadeeletras]

Great video! Glad I found your channel

[@actsapologist1991]

Many thanks! I hope you appreciate my other stuff

[@pistum]

For the dirst time, someone actually describes an sporadic, spontaneous pastoral blessing is like. In Latin America, in certain areas, you might find prostitutes asking for a blessing when they run into a priest. I hope this pastoral realities never end up in Rome as I would not want the success of Saint Peter to consider whether the Church has the power to bless prostitutes.

[@christophlindinger2267]

That's a simple yes, the Church indeed has the power to bless prostitutes. Imagine, it can even bless politicians!

[@johnbrion4565]

Of course the church has the power to bless prostitutes. Get off your high horse.

[@quayscenes]

Somehow I missed the Denny's in the document. While slightly amusing, I fear this trivializes the intent of the document which does give examples such as: "a visit to a shrine, a meeting with a priest, a prayer recited in a group, or during a pilgrimage." Father Martin has done nothing against the document in my judgement. And honestly, it is hard to deny that his influence is not seen in the document. The Christian world has much room for growth in its understanding of LGBT(Qia+) issues. The document emphasizes that "pastoral charity requires us not to treat simply as 'sinners' those whose guilt or responsibility may be attenuated by various factors affecting subjective imputability." While keeping the German Bishops in check is certainly one intention of the document, providing greater pastoral care and a welcoming environment for the marginalized is clearly another.

[@actsapologist1991]

In what ways do you think the Catholic Church needs to grow in its understanding of said issues?

[@quayscenes]

@@actsapologist1991 Primarily in the area of compassion. Christians often use phrases such as, "Hate the sin, love the sinner," or, "God cannot bless sin." And we speak as though these "sinners" are not listening! While technically correct (we are all sinners), this language can come off as cavalier and hurtful. Father James Martin points out that we do not customarily use these phrases for other situations where people are not living in perfect accordance with Church teaching - say otherwise well-behaved teenagers not living in perfect chastity, or "quietly contracepting" married Catholic couples (60% of married Catholics) - or any "good" Church-going person with ordinary besetting sins such as gossip, covetousness, etc. So we can certainly grow in the area of compassion. There is also much room for the Church to grow in its appreciation of the physio-psychological component of LBGT orientations. It is not as simple as "sin". Often these are very holy people that simply have this one "orientation" that has historically placed them in the margins. Father Martin points out that there are many model Christians (and almost certainly some canonized Saints) that we know are/were Gay - individuals who did their best to live a chaste life. We have learned the hard way that so-called "conversion therapy" is on balance a disaster. The best place for such people (all people) is inside a loving Church. Wise and prudent pastoral care is needed. This, I believe, is the spirit and intention of the document. Finally, let's remember that the same Jesus who told the woman caught (trapped) in adultery, "Go and sin no more," also told his disciples to forgive "seventy times seven". God help us from acting as self-righteous, judgemental Pharisees who elevate our own status by looking with scorn on the sins of others.

[@actsapologist1991]

@@quayscenes : With that in mind, what - to your understanding - is the best way to tell people in same-sex romances that their romance is illicit and sinful?

[@quayscenes]

​@@actsapologist1991 I am very cautious here. But let me say firstly, this is "above my paygrade" - I defer to the Magisterium. That said, I would positively affirm the Church's long standing teaching that the proper place for all sexual activity is within a Sacramental Marriage (one man, one woman, open to life, blessed by the Church). All other sexual acts (hetero-/homo-/other) fall short of that ideal and out to be confessed, albeit with a recognition of human weakness. Think of Saint Paul acknowledging human weakness by suggesting those who could not remain chaste in his "more perfect" single life (fully devoted to the things of God) ought to marry. Or think of Moses' writ of divorce that Jesus refers to as less than the ideal - but permitted because of hardness of heart. These are clear biblical examples where an "ideal" is stated but an imperfect human reality is acknowleded. In the Catholic tradition, sexual sins are treated as grave matter - by which many elevate instantly to "mortal" and therefore must be confessed before receiving communion. Witness the hyperfixation on masturbation by many in the Catholic apologetics world (see Jimmy Akin's random comment in his interview on Gospel Simplicity) - "awkward". Now, Bishop Barron's Word on Fire organization supposedly has a policy of not discussing "pelvic issues". Cardinal McElroy has gone further by explicitly stating that we should be less fixated on sexual sins. The Catechism foresaw this years ago with its pastoral instruction that, "one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors that can lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability" (CCC 2352). That statement was specifically about masturbation but we now see similar language being applied to all sexual sin. This, in my opinion, is a healthy development. Uphold the ideal, have abundant grace and mercy towards the imperfect - which is all of us, to varying degrees, in our Christian journey.

[@actsapologist1991]

@@quayscenes Well, what I would say here is that the Church (and churchmen) need to be able to teach uncomfortable, awkward, and painful truths. If they cannot, then the truth becomes a dead letter. A person can always complain that said truths are being said too frequently or with insufficient charity. However, if that same person cannot give a concrete recommendation about the proper frequency or manner of delivery - then that person becomes functionally indistinguishable from someone who simply wishes for the truth to never be spoken. My policy is that if a person cannot make a concrete recommendation of how to deliver a truth, then that person's critique of others' attempts is best ignored.

[@dryluckycharms2264]

hey apologist why is your character one of the original xbox avatars form like 2001

[@actsapologist1991]

@@dryluckycharms2264 : Because it looks uncannily like me. Also, 2007 was the peak gaming era. Better times, friend.

[@dryluckycharms2264]

@@actsapologist1991 yes better times.

[@johnbrion4565]

What you, and so many others fail to see is the attempt at compassionate outreach to this marginalized community and the reality of the reality of the relationship that exists between homosexual couples, sometimes for years or decades. These are people who have shared their entire lives together, been there for each other in times of sickness, addiction, loneliness and also joy, celebration, birthdays, trips etc. there are good aspects of a relationship between homosexuals. If two people are making the attempt to live a holier life the church welcomes that even if they come together to a priest to ask for help. They’ve done everything in their lives together. And now they’re ready to do maybe the hardest thing they’ve ever had to. This shows tremendous courage and should be applauded. More Christians should engage in self reflection and charity towards their fellow man. Jesus invited all the sinners to table with him first. He did not start by first going to the lost sheep with words of condemnation. And on top of this the priest is to use his own discernment in deciding whether or not this couple is honest and true in their desire to live a holier life. Last I checked Christ said “stop judging that you may not be judged.” Bishop Barron does a far better job at explaining the document than actsapologist.

[@actsapologist1991]

So, what in your mind is the appropriate pastoral care of such a couple? The two people can be blessed with the intention of them achieving their laudable goal. But their relationship as such - which is currently an illicit romance - cannot be blessed. What more ought to be done?

[@GS-cj7rf]

Christ tells us how to judge, and warns that we are to be judged in the same way we judge others-- He never once commands His people to simply not judge at all. What foolishness. Jesus invited sinners to Him, _and specifically and explicitly called them to repent and sin no more._ He never once, not for a single moment, condoned any form of sin. If we are to condone or affirm sin, we are not loving those who are shackled by it. Rather, it is a self-deluding, lazy form of hatred to condone sin under the guise of fake, demonic "love", as defined by the wicked world rather than God or Creator, who Himself is the very source and definer and embodiment of what true love actually is. Real love is found in the truth, in Christ Himself. One cannot have both the world's false sin-loving lie of "love" and also true love, found in the truth and our Lord Jesus Christ.

[@johnbrion4565]

@@GS-cj7rf when did I say the sexual dysfunction of homosexuality is not a sin or should be tolerated? When did I say it should be condoned? Read again what I said carefully because you won’t find it. You should really be charitable to others. Jesus did say judge not lest you be judged. We should be careful applying a standard to others we don’t even meet ourselves. You are acting like so many others, being emotional, not even reading and fully understanding what the church is saying in this issue. Then falsely accuse me of condoning sin. Not a Christian way to behave.