The Vatican cardinal whose comments about homosexuals being barred from heaven have sparked quite a furor has said his remarks were misrepresented. Although Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan's clarification doesn't really get him out of the hole he dug on Wednesday, when he told a Rome news outlet that "transsexuals and homosexuals will not enter into the Kingdom of God."
Cardinal Barragan, a Mexican churchman who this year retired as the Vatican's chief spokesman on health care issues, had justified his position by noting that "I do not say this, but Saint Paul does" -- a reference to the first chapter of Paul's Letter to the Romans, when the Apostle says those who rejected God were given over to same-sex relations.
In the original interview, Barragan also got himself into trouble by saying that homosexuality is a choice, not a matter of biology, so homosexuals are responsible for their actions. In a statement sent Thursday to the conservative Catholic news service, ZENIT, the cardinal sought to set the record straight on his earlier remarks:
"This is what the Word of God says, it isn't what I said," Barragan said, referring again to Romans 1:26-27. "Now, I have never said that a particular homosexual cannot be saved, because he can be saved."
"Many times one is not a homosexual through one's own fault; it all depends on one's education and environment. . . . The only thing I can say is that for grave fault to exist, in addition to needing grave matter, one needs full knowledge and full consent: Where one of those three conditions is lacking, there is no grave fault."
Well, that clears things up.
*Wizard's Note: Well blow me down and call me queer! Here we have once again the Church tormenting gays again! You'll not make it to heaven, you will not pass go, you will not collect heavenly benefits. My, what a boring place heaven will be with out us gays and lesbians, not to mention the bisexuals, transgendered and Two-Spirited!
Who will do their hair? Who will decorate their clouds tastefully? Who will use the power tools to remodel the bathrooms? Say it isn't so! Not mentioning the fact that several times, more than I can remember a certain priest telling me that I was going to go hell.... hmm... heaven without people who fit into just one group? How banal!
The Cardinal is I am sure just expressing his freedom of religion -- certainly not practicing homophobia or anything like that! Geez, I guess those of us that are still in the closet, will probably get into heaven, as we haven't told the Church our feelings. Won't he be surprised when we get there! I mean, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for us... I don't remember them saying.. except for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and the like!
Jeesh! get with the times Cardinal Barragan! Those who practice hate are less likely to go to Heaven than those that practice love - love of all people, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation etc...
I expect an apology worthy of a man (he is a man.) that doesn't side-step what he said by blaming it on St. Paul no less! So Cardinal, please click on the picture of The Wizard of OZ in the top right corner and make that apology. Hurry! There is still time to repent! My readers are waiting!
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