If you check back at my posts, I didn't say he did. What I did say in short is that his approach with those who are gay is more understanding and less judgmental than what one often sees with the more conservative bishops. And because of this, and sometimes so other factors, they are not too pleased with PF.
Yet - he still claims that homosexual behavior is sinful - so how is he less judgmental?
All your talk about "genes" dictating our behavior is a ploy to absolve everyone of responsibility for their actions - therefore sin - which Pope Francis would definitely disagree with.
The Church does indeed condemn homosexual behavior, but what I was saying is that the tone with PF is not judgmental towards those who are gay.
I guess I don't see it.
The idea that a gay person can't go to heaven makes about as much "sense" as if one said that if one masturbates or have sexualized thoughts they can't go to heaven.
That's completely false.
According to the Catholic understanding of the scriptures - a person who considers themselves "gay" - meaning a person who has embraced their same-sex attraction - is a person who has no desire to repent of the sin of homosexual behavior.
You may believe that a person who has a same-sex attraction is "gay" - but that is not how Pope Francis or even the Bible would see it.
A person can have a same-sex attraction - act based on that attraction and engage in homosexual behavior - yet later repent of that behavior and change their ways.
This is a person who is doing as the Lord directs and I cannot think of a reason - based on the limited example - for why he/she should be denied anything.
A person who consistently abuses themselves (masturbation) without ever repenting is a person who will be denied things in the life hereafter.
A person who consistently indulges in lustful thoughts without ever repenting is a person who will be denied things in the life hereafter.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is predicated on repentance - not perfection - so as long as people are doing their best to repent and change their ways - they will be well.
So - if the individual makes no effort to repent - by claiming to be "gay" and living as such - they will be denied many blessings.
We know through research on humans, apes, and monkeys that homosexual impulses are active with a minority of those within these species and that this largely relates to genes and hormones.
Paul referred to this and other weaknesses as "thorns in the flesh".
If the goal of this mortal life is to overcome the obstacles given us - we cannot blame the obstacles for getting in our way - because that is the whole reason for us being here.
Thus, if we believe God made all, then why would those who have that drive based on genetics be considered to be sinful?
Because we are not mindless automatons following our genetic programming and the Lord has promised us that no temptation given us will be too great for us to resist.
So - I may have no genetic "thorn" that gives me an attraction to the same-sex - but don't worry - I got all kinds of other "thorns" that keep prodding me toward other sins.
Same-sex attraction isn't a "special" weakness in our flesh and deciding to be "gay" isn't any different than someone deciding to never repent of other sins.
And we have to remember that thousands of years ago people would have 0 understanding about "genes" and "hormones".
It wouldn't matter even if they did. It would have changed nothing.
So, I would suggest that "God doesn't make junk" and that I'm not in the position to tell who may or may not go to heaven, nor should I even try.
I agree that the Catholic view on Heaven and Hell is not completely correct - but their views on sin are pretty spot on.
God has given all of us weaknesses in our flesh - these "thorns" - with the intention that they keep us humble - because having them will drive us to seek Him out and come to rely on His strength.
It is definitely not "junk" - but it isn't an excuse to commit sin either.
