Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia today. Speaking in heavily accented English, Francis gave a blessing, and then delivered his homily in Spanish, pausing regularly for an English interpreter.
In Philadelphia Pope Francis called for a “much more active engagement on the part of the laity.” I think the laity in Ireland spoke when they voted to approve same sex marriage this summer. My favorite article on this total upending of Catholic intransigence said that this happened because of all those pained and difficult conversations that began; “I have something to tell you.” Can Francis listen?
I have heard that the pope is deeply homophobic. He seems to have settled down enough that he still is still polite to the President of Argentina, a woman who supports same sex marriage in Argentina, the pope's home country. This is the best the pope can do, "It's a defeat for humanity."
Pope Francis’ own man, Archbishop Chaput has shut out, excluded, dismissed, and sent as far away as he could the GLBTQ persons who wanted to part of this World Meeting of Families Congress. They wanted to offer their experiences of family. I have so many anecdotal stories that if I could speak them, I think they would silence the archbishop and maybe nudge Pope Francis to welcome GLBTQ people to the table and to that World Meeting of Families Congress in Philadelphia. In true form, however, Archbishop Chaput does not want to hear those stories. For the archbishop, I guess those stories are not important and really don’t count. Francis if you don’t hear those stories, I will completely doubt all your sincere calls to; “Hear the cry of the poor.” I will distrust all your invitations to dialogue. I may send a prayer even a good wish your way, but will you send a welcome to GLBTQ persons?
Pope Francis! We have heard your support for religious freedom which echos all those frantic and looking for money fortnight calls of US bishops to shun GLBTQ persons especially if they have formed long lasting and committed unions or simply desire to do that. I'd like to believe that you respect the religious freedom of GLBTQ persons. Why don't you welcome us?
Fr. John McNeil SJ is one of those people who has been a voice in the wilderness and a strong and intelligent advocate for GLBTQ persons. He is also a Jesuit like yourself. You must have heard something about him even as you visited out country because Fr. John McNeil, sj died while you were in New York, John McNeil’s city. I met him, I think in 1994, at the Gay Pride Celebration in New York that year. I was in the midst of my own coming to terms with how to live out my gay identity. It was also the 25th. anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
Pope Francis, if you and your bishops, continue to exclude, despite all those nice words that everyone is welcome at the table and continue to exclude GLBTQ persons from the table, you might just as well stayed home in Vatican City. Pope Francis, you speak of dialogue, but at this very Congress on Family a significant segment of the population living out their lives in family is excluded. There is no welcome so there is no dialogue.
EXAMPLES OF INFANTS BAPTISM IN SCRIPTURE? BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteHow many examples of infant baptism are found in the Bible? Answer: NONE. Infant baptism is a man-made doctrine.
An example given to support infant baptism is the conversion of the jailer. (Acts 16:23-34.) The reasoning being that the jailer's whole household was baptized.
1. Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."(NASB)
The whole household was required to believe. The jailer could not believe for his household. Infants are not capable of believing the gospel of Christ.
2. Acts 16:32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house.(NASB)
The word was spoken to all in the house. Babies have no capacity to understand the word of the Lord. No infant responded to the gospel that night.
3. Acts 16:33-34......and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believe in God with his whole household. (NASB)
Who was baptized that night? Answer: The Jailer and all his household. What preceded their baptism in water? They all believed in God. No, infants were baptized that night. Infants cannot believe in God. Infants cannot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no example in Scripture of infants being baptized. You can only find infant baptism in man-made creed books and other writings of men.
The is no example in the Bible of unbelieving adults nor of unbelieving infants being forced to be baptized in water. There is no Scripture of any non-believers being baptized in water, period.
Jesus said in Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved...(NASB)
Men say "Baptize unbelieving infants for forgiveness from original sin and then teach them to believe and they shall be saved."(Note: The doctrine of original sin is also a man-made teaching.)
If you can baptize unbelieving infants then you can baptize unbelieving adults as well.
Galatians 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com
But that´s the point. Here is a Pope whose words speak louder than actions. We are now at the stage that his words have little or no value on anything. If his words are not offensive (patronising women,insulting couples wthout kids etc), they are,literally,incredible. Some will always believe that he is wonderful, the rest of us see the reality.
ReplyDelete