"every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided". Any decent human being would simply say "All discrimination in their regard is wrong". But of course, the bigoted and homophobic RCC has to give themselves the loophole that just discrimination is fine and dandy. Which they of course will argue covers all of the discrimination that they practice and would like to see imposed as law everywhere because, well, gawd said so!

This is the same institution that fiercely lobbied against ENDA, fires their LGBT employees if they get married and forces their teachers to sign horrid, anti-gay contracts. But I guess all of that qualifies as "just" discrimination.

Anyway, this is the same line they've been putting out there for years. It's as meaningless now as it has ever been.

I was speaking specifically of the institution's policies in the U.S. In some African nations the bishops and archbishops have actually backed anti-gay laws that would put LGBTs in prison, ostensibly for life.

In Uganda for instance, the Catholic Archbishop Kizito Lwanga is one of the leading proponents of the re-tabling of the country's expunged anti-homosexuality act, a controversial law that criminalized homosexuality provided for life imprisonment for same sex relations... http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/20/opinion/uganda-homosexuality-opinion/

So we get another helping of meaningless rhetoric about "unjust" discrimination. But I'm sure there are still those anxiously waiting to line up with their empty bowls to ask, "Please, sir, may I have some more?"

they changed, quite literally, nothing. Is it any surprise to anyone?

They are so far behind the curve on this. I don't know what it will take for them to make that seismic shift. Perhaps a new generation of younger cardinals.

I don't mean to be heartless but I think that's what it will truly take. Then replace them with younger priests and allow women into the priesthood.
Speaking of old farts... that crazy Cardinal Burke is at it again. I figured he was waging a very personal feud with Francis but it seems to be really heating up.
http://www.religionnews.com/2014/10/31/cardinal-catholic-church-pope-francis-ship-without-rudder/

A couple of days ago a writer for The Guardian was wondering aloud if there might be signs of a schism, however remote, starting to appear. I think the chances are extremely remote but something has got to change.

that is ready to move forward, but the old guard has the power and they aren't budging.

Whoa! Wasn't aware of the antics of Cardinal Burke. Is he suggesting some kind of impeachment?

I agree that a schism seems very unlikely, but it has happened in the past.

I wasn't raised Catholic so I have no idea what the significance is, though it was obviously important enough to be noticed... something about some of the Cardinals refusing to salute the Pope at the end of the synod?

I have read that things got very heated and that there was booing and signs of open rebellion. The information that is coming out seems to indicate that the very conservative bishops won and shut down any hope of moving ahead.

The old farts who die off are replaced by newly arrived old farts. The positioning of the continuing overt homophobia and misogyny of the RCC as some sort of "old guard" problem is total bullshit. Pope Frank isn't being held back from transforming the church by these old farts, he is engaged in a PR campaign to make the façade more palatable, and that is all he is doing.

from their own ranks. And who chooses new members of the old farts club? That very same pope. It's a closed circle, with very strong and effective mechanisms for ensuring that people who deviate in any meaningful way from the fundamentally bigoted doctrine of the church never find their way into it.

I guess the fading hope is that perhaps the next generation of cardinals will be less conservative than their predecessors but to date we've seen no evidence that might happen.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/10/18/catholic-bishops-backtrack-statements-gays/
Catholic bishops backtrack from statements on gays
The Washington Blade
Oct 18, 2014

(excerpt)
...The church’s opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples has not waned in spite of Francis’ more moderate tone towards the issue.

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who is the papal emissary to the U.S., attended an anti-gay marriage rally at the U.S. Capitol in June the National Organization for Marriage organized. Lima Archbishop Juan Luís Cipriani has publicly spoken out against a proposal that would allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions in Peru.

San Juan Archbishop Roberto González Nieves is among the Puerto Rican religious leaders who continue to oppose efforts to expand rights to the U.S. commonwealth’s LGBT residents.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has sought to block anti-discrimination measures and other pro-LGBT bills and initiatives in the country. Church doctrine still says gays and lesbians are “intrinsically disordered.”

Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo last year described gay U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic James “Wally” Brewster as a “faggot” after President Obama nominated him to the post.

- See more at: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/10/18/catholic-bishops-backtrack-statements-gays/#sthash.X9vZJpLe.dpuf

Church doctrine still says gays and lesbians are “intrinsically disordered.”

Which only confirms what many of us have been saying (and getting attacked for) all along: Blank Frank is a PR pope. He's saying just enough to fool people into thinking things could change, but not actually changing anything.

Meanwhile, our LGBTQ allies are suffering.

Do you think religious people, specifically Catholics, are allies?

Of, course, the answer depends on the goal of your alliance.

Your disdain for religion, period, is palpable and well-documented. In fact, you rarely post about anything else. Is that your goal, to seek adherents to that view?

As it is, it sounds more like divisive trolling than progressive alliance.

They sued the government over the ACA.
They fought tooth and nail, spent, lobbied, and " target="_blank">lied to kill physician assisted suicide in my state.
They lobby and work to limit abortion, OTC emergency contraceptives and other reproductive freedoms nationwide (to say nothing of worldwide).
They lobby against comprehensive sex ed.
They lobby against same sex marriage.
They refuse employees' same-sex partners any sort of benefits.





With 'allies' like these...


Edit: I don't know what the fuck DU thinks is wrong with that link that won't render, but suffice to say (and you can find an entire entry in the WA I-1000 Wikipedia article on it) Martin Sheen, a Catholic, lied his way through the ad referenced there on youtube, from the moment he took his fake fucking glasses off in a dramatic sweep, to the very end of the video. Quell surprise.

The Knights of Columbus is one of the primary funders of The Beckett Fund. Also think LEGATUS when you want to talk about big money backing right wing, anti-woman, anti-gay legislation. A lot of the money for the lobbying and lawsuits doesn't come from the church directly but from groups such as those.

Happy to be part of the peanut gallery.

progress of a sort, I suppose.

He's a rabidly homophobic conservative in the mold of Burke but is much younger and (smartly) has held back in openly opposing Francis. But he's also very powerful and a conniver with a wealth of connections to right wing Republicans. He also holds the position of USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. I'm just waiting to see what his next move will be.

scares me on some level. Even if what they say matches up with what I like.

Just the latest example:
http://ebar.com/blogs/episcopal-bishop-detained-at-cordileone-installation/

His war against gay rights & equality isn't over by a long shot. Mark my words.

“men and women with a homosexual tendency ought to be received with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

As long as the discrimination is "just"....keep on keepin' on...

Nice.